Ford 1.8 TDCi issues - 2008 cars onwards.

R.O.R wrote: »

We'd have a good few on fleet, and I really can't remember any issues with any of them.

Hasn't that engine been about since 1960 or something?

OP - any reasoning behind the request? I'm guessing from some of your very knowledgable previous posts that you are a mechanic?

The only thing I'll say about the 1.8Tdci lump is that it's pretty crap in the S-Max/Galaxy/Mondeo. Lag is horrific and it's incrediby easy to stall.

I had a chat with a buddy in the UK who tells me that they are seeing particlar problems affecting this engine in the cars mentioned from 08 on. I don't want to start saying I heard "this rumour and that rumour" and then this causes all sorts of misplaced reponses. I'd like to judge on what people have genuinely experienced with that cars in question over here.

The issue with lag in the cars you mentioned ROR might have a bearing on this. Once such issue relates to excess sooting of the vanes in the turbo, and this causes overboost problems. A clean out, PCM upgrade to modify EGR operation, and a good hard drive is the prescribed cure for that one! I am told that before the overboost occurs (when the vanes jam in the max boost position), the time it takes the turbo to spool up (lag) increases noticeably.

The other issue potential / alleged issue I heard of is that a batch of faulty injectors may have been fitted to some 08/09 Focus's 1.8 TDCi's, and this manifests itself as lumpy or poor running, the car going into limp mode, and fault code being stored for the injector concerned.

In the case of both issues I've heard above, there does not seem to be issues with them here in Ireland, but they are supposed to be known in the UK. It might be down to the fact that they drive more diesels over there than we do here. Anyone, not wishing to cause alarm, but one to watch if you are in the trade

Just to add that this engine originally stated life in the early 80's as a 1608cc diesel in the Fiesta and Escort producing around 45bhp. It was the first engine I did a timing belt on!! It was bored out to just under 1800cc in the late 80's. It was turbocharged in the Mondeo and Escort in the mid '90's. It received a fly-by-wire pump and direct injection head for the Focus from '99 onwards, and common railed in 2002. It also got a VGT a year or two later and subtle updates and DPF now have it at 115bhp and Euro5 compliant. Ford call it the Lynx engine now. In all the time I've worked on one, I have never seen one blow a head gasket or put a conrod through the block. It is a very very strong engine!

Sikie wrote: »

Have this engine in a Galaxy and I was told on the last service that a noise in coming from the gearbox could be a dual mass flywheel going.
Between the reaction of the service manager to a pointed question on why this should be failing and the car with only 40k km so I thought this sounds like a ford design fault. Googling through UK motor forums has reinforced this theory for me. However the car is now outside the warrant

Would that not be the VAG unit in that? Or are they using the 1.8's on that now too? Either way, deperately bad luck that the DMF has gone so soon.