Ford Focus 1.6TDi issue?

Maidhci

Currently in the process of buying a used car and have the Ford Focus 1.6TDi as one of my preferred choices along with a Golf 1.6. Interested in 2012 models onwards. A friend has mentioned that there appears to be some turbo related issues with the Ford Focus 1.6TDi and also has said that it has been present in the 1.6 models going back several years. He also mentioned that the issue is related to 1.6 models only, due to a Peugeot engine and is not present in the 1.8 models. I have been unable to get any authoritative views on this and would appreciate if anyone here knows if there is any substance to this?

bazz26

Any talk of turbo issues would have been primarily with the older generation 1.6 TDCi found in the MkII Focus. The MkIII Focus has the heavily reworked version of that 1.6 TDCi engine and I haven't heard of any nightmare stories with it yet. 1.8 TDCi engine was dropped when the MkIII Focus was launched.

Maidhci

bazz26 wrote: »

Any talk of turbo issues would have been primarily with the older generation 1.6 TDCi found in the MkII Focus. The MkIII Focus has the heavily reworked version of that 1.6 TDCi engine and I haven't heard of any nightmare stories with it yet. 1.8 TDCi engine was dropped when the MkIII Focus was launched.

Thanks for that information bazz - do you know what year the Mk11 focus was discontinued and Mk111 launched. As I stated in my original post, I am interested in 2012 and later model years. Thanks again.

bazz26

The cross over was 2011 - both old and new model Focus would have been sold then.

Mk II Focus:



Mk III Focus:


I'd imagine a 2012 would be a Mk III.

Maidhci

bazz26 wrote: »

The cross over was 2011 - both old and new model Focus would have been sold then.

Mk II Focus:



Mk III Focus:


I'd imagine a 2012 would be a Mk III.

Many thanks bazz - you have been extremely helpful here. Thanks again.

Bpmull

Although ford have most of the problems sorted with that engine it's still ultimately the same 1.6 Psa engine. I suppose their fine while their under warranty. Unless the focus was substantially cheaper than the golf I wouldn't even consider the focus as the golf is more reliable, cheaper to buy parts for, a lot nicer inside and out that's just my opinion. My dad just bought a new golf and test drove a focus too. He did like the focus but the golf is a lot more comfortable and just a nicer overall car. I suppose that's just my opinion on it I've had older models of both a 07 focus 1.6tdci and now have a golf 07 tdi.

It really depends on price too if the focus was 5k cheaper or something like that it might be worth considering.

Maidhci

Bpmull wrote: »

Although ford have most of the problems sorted with that engine it's still ultimately the same 1.6 Psa engine. I suppose their fine while their under warranty. Unless the focus was substantially cheaper than the golf I wouldn't even consider the focus as the golf is more reliable, cheaper to buy parts for, a lot nicer inside and out that's just my opinion. My dad just bought a new golf and test drove a focus too. He did like the focus but the golf is a lot more comfortable and just a nicer overall car. I suppose that's just my opinion on it I've had older models of both a 07 focus 1.6tdci and now have a golf 07 tdi.

It really depends on price too if the focus was 5k cheaper or something like that it might be worth considering.

Thanks Bpmull - I am currently driving a Golf 06, my 3rd. Golf and I absolutely agree with your views.

braddun

The Ford Focus C max tdci is fitted with a 16 HDI engine, this engine suffers badly from turbo problems and has a serious oil sludging problem. When you combine this with poor servicing then you cause an oil circulation problem, this is the main cause of turbo failure on Ford Focus tdci. The turbo needs a constant oil supply at engine oil pressure to keep the bearings lubricated, the oil must also get through the turbo and circulate back round the engine. If the oil supply to the turbo is interrupted for any time then the bearings in the turbo will fail and the turbo will shake it self to bits. Replacing the turbo is simply not enough on the Ford Focus 1.6 tdci, the only way out of this problem is by doing the following. Remove oil sump from bottom of engine, wash it out and thoroughly dry it, replace the main oil pick up pipe which bolts onto the bottom of the oil pump, there is a wire mesh type filter inside the pick up pipe which can get blocked very easily, refit the sump. Replace the oil feed pipes and oil return pipes going to the turbo as they are probably blocked up with gunge, remove all breather pipes and clean them out, replace all crankcase breather filters, they are normally on top of the rocker cover or on the air box. Remove and clean out the oil filter housing, refit it and fit a new oil filter, fill the engine with oil, start it up and run it at idle for 20 mins, then take it for a drive until the smoke clears. turbo problems with the Ford S Max 1.8 tdci, they don't seem to have the same oil circulation problems as the 1.6 tdci engine but it seems that the variable vanes in the turbo stick quite often which causes a fault with the electronic actuator. If the variable vanes stick then it also causes damage to the turbine inside the turbo so unfortunately the turbo will need completely rebuilt.

Maidhci

braddun wrote: »

The Ford Focus C max tdci is fitted with a 16 HDI engine, this engine suffers badly from turbo problems and has a serious oil sludging problem. When you combine this with poor servicing then you cause an oil circulation problem, this is the main cause of turbo failure on Ford Focus tdci. The turbo needs a constant oil supply at engine oil pressure to keep the bearings lubricated, the oil must also get through the turbo and circulate back round the engine. If the oil supply to the turbo is interrupted for any time then the bearings in the turbo will fail and the turbo will shake it self to bits. Replacing the turbo is simply not enough on the Ford Focus 1.6 tdci, the only way out of this problem is by doing the following. Remove oil sump from bottom of engine, wash it out and thoroughly dry it, replace the main oil pick up pipe which bolts onto the bottom of the oil pump, there is a wire mesh type filter inside the pick up pipe which can get blocked very easily, refit the sump. Replace the oil feed pipes and oil return pipes going to the turbo as they are probably blocked up with gunge, remove all breather pipes and clean them out, replace all crankcase breather filters, they are normally on top of the rocker cover or on the air box. Remove and clean out the oil filter housing, refit it and fit a new oil filter, fill the engine with oil, start it up and run it at idle for 20 mins, then take it for a drive until the smoke clears. turbo problems with the Ford S Max 1.8 tdci, they don't seem to have the same oil circulation problems as the 1.6 tdci engine but it seems that the variable vanes in the turbo stick quite often which causes a fault with the electronic actuator. If the variable vanes stick then it also causes damage to the turbine inside the turbo so unfortunately the turbo will need completely rebuilt.

Thanks braddun for a very detailled explanation - it appears from your post that there is an inherent problem which, when coupled with poor servicing etc, brings the issue to a head.

I presume therefore, that by having the Focus serviced at a Ford service centre is not a guarantee that the problem can be avoided?

bazz26

braddun wrote: »

The Ford Focus C max tdci is fitted with a 16 HDI engine, this engine suffers badly from turbo problems and has a serious oil sludging problem. When you combine this with poor servicing then you cause an oil circulation problem, this is the main cause of turbo failure on Ford Focus tdci. The turbo needs a constant oil supply at engine oil pressure to keep the bearings lubricated, the oil must also get through the turbo and circulate back round the engine. If the oil supply to the turbo is interrupted for any time then the bearings in the turbo will fail and the turbo will shake it self to bits. Replacing the turbo is simply not enough on the Ford Focus 1.6 tdci, the only way out of this problem is by doing the following. Remove oil sump from bottom of engine, wash it out and thoroughly dry it, replace the main oil pick up pipe which bolts onto the bottom of the oil pump, there is a wire mesh type filter inside the pick up pipe which can get blocked very easily, refit the sump. Replace the oil feed pipes and oil return pipes going to the turbo as they are probably blocked up with gunge, remove all breather pipes and clean them out, replace all crankcase breather filters, they are normally on top of the rocker cover or on the air box. Remove and clean out the oil filter housing, refit it and fit a new oil filter, fill the engine with oil, start it up and run it at idle for 20 mins, then take it for a drive until the smoke clears. turbo problems with the Ford S Max 1.8 tdci, they don't seem to have the same oil circulation problems as the 1.6 tdci engine but it seems that the variable vanes in the turbo stick quite often which causes a fault with the electronic actuator. If the variable vanes stick then it also causes damage to the turbine inside the turbo so unfortunately the turbo will need completely rebuilt.

Which C Max are you referring to, the Mk I or Mk II?

Maidhci

bazz26 wrote: »

Which C Max are you referring to, the Mk I or Mk II?

I am interested in the Ford Focus 1.6TDCi, 2012 or 2013, according to an earlier poster, it is the Mark 111.

Sorry, just realised that your question was not addressed to me.

bazz26

Maidhci wrote: »

I am interested in the Ford Focus 1.6TDCi, 2012 or 2013, according to an earlier poster, it is the Mark 111.

Sorry, just realised that your question was not addressed to me.

The reason I asked was because the issues the poster describes don't seem to be carried over to the MK III C-Max or Mk II Focus. It just needs to be mentioned again that the 1.6 TDCi engine in the Mk I C-Max and Mk II Focus was heavily revised in the MK II C-Max and Mk III Focus. The same revised engine is also used in various Volvos, Mazdas, Peugeots, Citroens and MINIs.