Whistling Turbo

[Scurfield]

I recently had to have the engine replaced on my 2010 reg. Zetec TDCi and there is now a whistle which I am told is gas escaping from the turbo. Not sure if this is linked to the fitting of the engine, but I took the car back and they initially thought a flange on the turbo might need replacing. However, this was apparently not the case; they said soot could be seen where the gas was escaping and they added some treatment to the fuel, saying it may or may not work. It didn't work, and if anything the whistling is getting worse.

This is obviously causing me concern and I'd value some opinions from people who are more mechanically minded than me. Is this likely to be faulty workmanship by the garage? Is the turbo ultimately going to need replacing? Comments welcome.

[FOCA]

What capacity is the engine? eg 1.6/ 1.8 2.0 ? - some of these engines are completely different, made by different manufacturers, in different factories/ countrys

Was the replacement engine new/ refurbed/ secondhand? - what sort of warrantee was provided?

Was the complete engine replaced, including the turbo, or was your old turbo used?

[Scurfield]

Engine capacity 1.8 and it was a new engine. There is a 12 month unlimited mileage warranty. I assume the old turbo was used but I'm not certain.

[FOCA]

Engine capacity 1.8 and it was a new engine. There is a 12 month unlimited mileage warranty. I assume the old turbo was used but I'm not certain.

The warrantee may only be on the engine itself, and not on the old turbo

The VNT vanes/ mech on the turbo get coked up over time, this can have knock-on effects - even if the engine is brand new, if the turbo is 4 year old - well, its 4-year old

Its ridiculous to assume fuel additives will help with escaping gas - the garage is taking the pi$$/ fobbing you off

if you could post up some pictures of the leak/ where the soot is escaping

[ZeEscort]

It sounds like your turbo is on it's way out, I had this happen and it blew on M5 shattering turbines in turbo.

[Scurfield]

Thanks for the replies.

I've booked the car in at a different garage next week, so we'll see what they have to say.

A 4 year old car with just over 100,000 on the clock, which already has a new engine and now might need a new turbo - not a good advert for Ford.

[ZeEscort]

Thanks for the replies.

I've booked the car in at a different garage next week, so we'll see what they have to say.

A 4 year old car with just over 100,000 on the clock, which already has a new engine and now might need a new turbo - not a good advert for Ford.

A 100k between two engines if it's not been replaced with original engine sounds about right, my first one went at around that mark.

But an engine replacement on a 10 plate, I'd be asking for my money back through small claims. I've never owned a car, that has had to have an engine replacement and I've had them right through to 150k+. Even old Escorts mk3 & mk4, I used to run these until bits dropped off. It puts me off, wanting to own a newer car. Give me an old banger any day.

[FOCA]

Thanks for the replies.

I've booked the car in at a different garage next week, so we'll see what they have to say.

A 4 year old car with just over 100,000 on the clock, which already has a new engine and now might need a new turbo - not a good advert for Ford.

Were you the first owner/ did you have the car from new?

What went wrong with the engine that it had to be replaced?

[AdeMk1]

You need to ask which bits from your old engine have been reused on the new one, not only so you know but so the other garage can be fully informed.

Could simply be a case of a leaking gasket, or could be that, depending on the reason for the old engine failing, fragments of the engine could have made their way through your turbo.

[Scurfield]

FOCA - bear in mind that what I know about mechanics could be written on a postage stamp, but this is the situation as I understand it...

I bought the car in February this year with 87k on the clock and a full service history. The first thing I did was get the cambelt & pulleys replaced. However, there was another belt which was not replaced - I was told it connects the crankshaft to the fuel injectors - and this seized, taking the cambelt and the engine with it. The garage that replaced the engine said they have seen this on a few of the newer Fords. They seemed to be implying that it is a potential problem which is not widely known about in the industry... I think perhaps the crank/injectors are connected by a chain on most models?

[FOCA]

FOCA - bear in mind that what I know about mechanics could be written on a postage stamp, but this is the situation as I understand it...

I bought the car in February this year with 87k on the clock and a full service history. The first thing I did was get the cambelt & pulleys replaced. However, there was another belt which was not replaced - I was told it connects the crankshaft to the fuel injectors - and this seized, taking the cambelt and the engine with it. The garage that replaced the engine said they have seen this on a few of the newer Fords. They seemed to be implying that it is a potential problem which is not widely known about in the industry... I think perhaps the crank/injectors are connected by a chain on most models?

Yes, post 2007 there are 2 cambelts , pre 2007 the 1.8 has a chain from the fuel pump that never needs changing (apparently)

Thats "progress" for you

the belt is probably more efficient (less drag) and quieter (important, in the modern marketplace) - the belt is also probably cheaper to make/ fit :)

i know which i would rather have

replacing both belts (post 2007) can cost £600+ (approx 100k miles)

My mk3 never had a DPF it has "tough as nails" TDDI injectors, (simple/ basic Bosch mechanical injectors - runs on anything including veg oil/ not like the "soft" TDCI delphi ones of the period/ made for high sulphor diesel) it now has no CAT (shhh) no DMF (SMF solid flywheel hd cabon/ kevlar clutch) and no EGR - it has the tougher mtx75 and not the softer mmt6 one (plastic parts!?) (and a maintenence free/ zero cost camchain) - so all the garbage that f--ouls up is not on the car/ cannot go wrong

just MOTd cost under £200 including test and replacing parts of the suspension - probably wont need any other work for a year now (its 12 years old) - its economical at 40mpg and very fast (the sort of fast you would expect 20mpg / too fast)

Its not just Fords, all modern cars (especially diesels) have all the useless junk of the day stuck on the car, (much of it supposedly to help emmisions, often making emmisions worse than ever when the car gets older) and its just more to go wrong