[TimeToFocus]

Hi,

I currently own a Ford Focus Mk3.5 Zetec S (15) with the 1.5l Ecoboost (150) and I am ready for a change...

My initial thought was to go for the Mk4 ST-Line (which is effectively the new Zetec S level) but looking at the basic spec I have convinced myself that I want the part leather heated seats, 18in alloys, etc. of the ST-Line X which aren't an option on the lower trim.

At my budget (£17,500) that limits me to the 1.0l Ecoboost (125) - though the car I am looking at has a good number of extras like the park assist and B&O stereo, 7k mileage, 68 plate.

If I want to get the 1.5l Ecoboost (182) I am looking at going minimum £700 over budget (for an 18 plate, none of the extras) or £2k over budget to have the same toys, age etc...

OR dropping to the 1.5l (150) in ST-Line spec which I can get cheaper but without even so much as parking sensors, or for a little more than my budget but still without the ST-Line X additions...

I'm not really a 'car' person, though I love driving the car I have, and having read some negative things about the 1.0l I am worried that I will be making a mistake going for such a small engine? My first car was a K reg Fiat Uno and that had a 1.0l engine! though I appreciate it's an entirely different kettle of fish.

- Is the 1.0l really that bad compared to the 1.5l (150) I have now?
- Is the 1.0l a potential time bomb of problems later being a supercharged small engine?
- Is it enough to warrant losing a lot of spec/toys etc?!

Your opinion will help me make up my mind!

 

[TreborB]

There is nothing wrong whatsoever with the 1 litre Ecoboost.
Don't forget it has been proven over a number of years now.
All these stories, hyped up by our wonderful media!!!
Early ones, up to approx 2015 did suffer failure, BUT, it was caused by a water hose, NOT the unit itself.
I would prefer to go for the more powerful unit, purely on performance, but no problem with the 1 litre as an engine

 

[TimeToFocus]

Cheers, I'm in the same boat to say I would much prefer the 1.5 but I don't think I care enough to sacrifice the trim/toys or pay more than my budget UNLESS people generally recommended that the 1.0l isn't very good in which case I'd have to rethink.

That's one vote in favour of the 1.0l!

 

[TreborB]

Forgot to say, I know 2 people who are running 1 litre Mondeos!! both have done over 150,000 miles and no probs whatsoever with engines.

Also the new 8 speed auto in the mk4 focus is very good

 

[TimeToFocus]

Maybe I am just behind the times! In my head a 1l engine is the domain of little Fiat runarounds, not big old Mondeos!

For those interested, the car I have my eye on is Desert Island Blue, ST-Line X, 68 plate, 7k and has Active Park Assist and B&O speakers. I'll see if they've added any other extras when I see it in person. £17,000.

 

[TreborB]

Yes, we have moved on drastically, and I am very "old school"!!
Even the BMW318 IS A 3 Cyl unit of only 1.5 litres (very confusing) that is also used in one of their Mini vehs.

 

[TimeToFocus]

For those of us less in the know, how do they get the additional power from a smaller engine? Is it just the turbo or is more at work?

 

[TreborB]

Just a mixture of so many things as engineering and design advances really.
Things like twin scroll turbo's, variable valve timing, perfect fueling, 4 valves per cyl, smart charging system (reduces power loss to engine), list is pretty endless.

 

[TimeToFocus]

I guess it's like computers - there was the relentless march towards more and more GHz then it halted and the speed improvements came from improvements in architecture and multiple cores etc.

 

[raynkar]

Ive got a mk3.5 ST line with the 1.5 150hp engine. Mine has 180hp and for me is more than good enough for commuting or normal driving on small roads or motorways.

While it overtakes well I don't think I'd want to drop down to a 125hp version. While it would still be ok for normal driving the engine would need to be working harder.

At the moment I'm think of replacing it with a mk4 Focus. Some of them are a leap ahead of the mk3.5 in tech and gadgets.

 

[Mark M]

Is the 1.5l 180 the same as the one in the current Kuga???

If it is I wouldn't go anywhere near it from experience as ours has blown up after 4000miles..... twice!!

 

[TreborB]

So, the bottom line is a simple question guys
Is the 1.5 Ecoboost in the new Focus a 3 Cyl or a 4 Cyl.
Please post up the answer

Marks 1.5 Kuga is a 1.5 4 Cyl - it did not actually blow up but suffered a single piston failure - see Kuga Section.
Mark, each of your two engines to date have each lasted 4,000 miles. Personally I would not expect that by any means to be caused by a faulty piston etc, and unless the dealer finds out the actual cause the third engine will also fail.
The cause is probably due to something like incorrect fueling or timing issues

 

[Mark M]

So, the bottom line is a simple question guys
Is the 1.5 Ecoboost in the new Focus a 3 Cyl or a 4 Cyl.
Please post up the answer

Marks 1.5 Kuga is a 1.5 4 Cyl - it did not actually blow up but suffered a single piston failure - see Kuga Section.
Mark, each of your two engines to date have each lasted 4,000 miles. Personally I would not expect that by any means to be caused by a faulty piston etc, and unless the dealer finds out the actual cause the third engine will also fail.
The cause is probably due to something like incorrect fueling or timing issues

Looking at the Kuga Forums though there were 3 engines last year with the same fault and a further 2 this year on top of ours. As there was no sign of damage to the top of the pistons and no clean spots it would suggest that fuel was sufficient and that ignition was sufficiently retarded to prevent det. Too much boost would have blown a gasket before a ring so in my humble opinion, and that of a fella that knows people working at Ford Dunton, the 1.5 ecoboost (4cyl) has a known mechanical problem.

 

[TreborB]

2 engines in the same car having the same end result at the same mlg - hmmmmm

 

[Al1966]

So, the bottom line is a simple question guys
Is the 1.5 Ecoboost in the new Focus a 3 Cyl or a 4 Cyl.
Please post up the answer

Marks 1.5 Kuga is a 1.5 4 Cyl - it did not actually blow up but suffered a single piston failure - see Kuga Section.
Mark, each of your two engines to date have each lasted 4,000 miles. Personally I would not expect that by any means to be caused by a faulty piston etc, and unless the dealer finds out the actual cause the third engine will also fail.
The cause is probably due to something like incorrect fueling or timing issues

1.5 Ecoboost engine in new Focus is 3 cylinder with cylinder deactivation feature. Mine is coming up for a year old with around 9500 miles on it.

Al

 

[raynkar]

So, the bottom line is a simple question guys
Is the 1.5 Ecoboost in the new Focus a 3 Cyl or a 4 Cyl.
Please post up the answer
Marks 1.5 Kuga is a 1.5 4 Cyl - it did not actually blow up but suffered a single piston failure - see Kuga Section.
Mark, each of your two engines to date have each lasted 4,000 miles. Personally I would not expect that by any means to be caused by a faulty piston etc, and unless the dealer finds out the actual cause the third engine will also fail.
The cause is probably due to something like incorrect fueling or timing issues

1.5 Ecoboost engine in new Focus is 3 cylinder with cylinder deactivation feature. Mine is coming up for a year old with around 9500 miles on it.

Al

Cylinder deactivation is great.
I know of someone who gets over 100mpg with half the cylinders shut down in his petrol skoda.

Edit: 100 is he top end, with 80-90mpg being more usual.

 

[Mark M]

2 engines in the same car having the same end result at the same mlg - hmmmmm

2x engines with 2x sets of coils, 2x sets of plugs, 2x sets of pistons, 2x sets of injectors that knackered 2x different pistons.

If both engines were built with the same pistons made of the same chocolate then it stands to reason they're going to fail at the same mileage, the only other possibility is a faulty ECU controlling it.

 

[TreborB]

Mark, I can understand your frustrations and I have full sympathy, but, the failure rate, and info available to us plebs, is not conclusive.
The market is nowhere near flooded with complaints like we have with Mondeo flat battery syndrome or steering rack/pump failure.
Plus the added problem that most of the stirring media lump all Ecoboost problems in the "same bag", plus people, including posters on here, don't even know if it's a 1.5 litre 3 or 4 Cyl they are talking about but just slag it off anyway.
As I have said before, I am certainly not supporting Ford, far from it, I am no way that sort of person, but it is facts we need, not opinions

 

[Mark M]

The other problem we have when trying to get the info is that people don't seem to know what they're buying. You ask them what they're car is and all you get is "1.5", that's all well and good but they're are

120/150/180 (now detuned to 176 with worse emmisions for some reason)

awd/fwd

a 1.5 petrol a 1.5 diesel

and now a 3 cyl to go with the 4 cyl.

From what bits we can glean tough, most people (with the Kuga) went with the 120 and 150 so it's an even smaller group to focus on when looking at 180 failure rates.

 

[chriscatt]

Forums are always going to have a bias towards those who have issues because that's why the majority use them. Unless the issues are in the thousands within a forum they are minor compared to the number of cars sold. Two ford models being in the top ten and the focus numbered over 50,000 in 2018...