Hi all,

my 2012 1.0 eco boost focus was not running correctly about 3 months ago so i dropped into the garage to have a look. They found that the spark plugs were badly corroded and replaced all 3(is it three?). They also said water was getting in around the valves.

So a couple of weeks ago the car starts sounding very unsmooth and is juddering when i put the foot down. I brought it back and the spark plugs were badly corroded again and they found water in and around the valves or something like that.  The garage got some advice from a focus specialist and apparently he said it could be a cracked head gasket i think. 

Is it worth trying to get this fixed? Is this a know issue? How much would i be looking at cost wise to get this done?

I suppose the big risk is what else would you find when the engine is being repaired?

Just out of curiosity, when were the two wet belts (timing & oil pump) replaced ?

Water is obviously getting into the combustion chambers. There was a well known issue with the coolant hoses on early ecoboost Focuses. Later versions had modified hoses.

If there has been a coolant leak the engine would overheat rapidly, so if this has occurred at some point you could be looking at any or all of cracked head, block, or failed gasket. Other damage could also have ocurred.  Dismantling the engine to assess the damage is obviously costly, plus as @unofix suggests, if the wet belt has not been changed (due at 10 years) that is now needed and an expensive job also (up to £1400 at UK main dealers).

Best solution may be to look at a replacement engine if you want to keep the car, or simply sell it for whatever you can get.

Hi Tom, I see you had a look at my question a couple of hours ago. I assume from the lack of response you haven't replaced the wet belts. So as Roger has said it's time to think of replacing the engine.

Hi guys thanks for getting back to me- I couldn’t reply as I was locked out and I was waiting on a password reset link. 
Anyway I will check the service book to see when the wet belts were done- they haven’t been done in over a year anyway since I’ve had it. 
 

2 hours ago, unofix said:

Hi Tom, I see you had a look at my question a couple of hours ago. I assume from the lack of response you haven't replaced the wet belts. So as Roger has said it's time to think of replacing the engine.

ok so ive had a look at the book and there is nothing in the book or receipts about getting the wet belts done. There are some receipts to show the MOT getting done and various other small things but nothing about the belts specifically. 

Maybe its time to look at getting rid.............? 

Ive been offered €4000 for a trade in..............................

Awful pity as the wife loves the car. 

 

If the belts have not been done then you are living on borrowed time !

These engines are well known for the belts disintegrating and going 'boom' The current price in the UK for the belt change by a Ford main dealer is now at £1500, although a few are still charging the old price of £1400

I'd take the trade in, but don't wait too long to do it.

does it have welch plugs alongside the spark plugs possible leakage also as with ford is it tracking from the washer jets, just my 2 cents worth