Simon Middleton Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 Hi I could do with some advice, I have just inherited a 2012 focus Titanium 1.0 ecoboost, it has only done an unbelievable 6,000 miles!!!!!!!! I have been looking on forums re changing the belt and realised that this is quite a costly and serious job. I note that it recommends being changed every 100,000 miles or 10 years, but as it has only done 6,000 miles does it need doing??? How sturdy are the belts if they havent been used? With kind regards Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JW1982 Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 Yes, it is definitely required to change the wet timing belts (wetbelts). The WSS-M2C948-B specification engine oil is very sensitive for degradation. On a car that has done so little Miles it is highly likely that the engine oil has previously been affected by condensation. The condensation causes the engine oil to degrade rapidly. It is usually the degraded engine oil (or the wrong type of engine oil) that causes the belts to fail prematurely. Low milages are considered to be special conditions. On a car with such a low mileage the reduced service intervals apply as prescribed by Ford (6-Month service interval instead of 12 Month). 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agraham Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 I'm going to be contrarian! Doing the belt is going to cost at least 50% of what the car is worth. Dealer prices seem to be around £3500 but you probably wouldn't get that as a private buyer - specially if the belt hasn't been changed. In the light of its low mileage if it were me I'd give it an immediate oil and filter change with the correct oil (no flush) then just drive it as is until something goes wrong. With that low mileage there won't have been much heat degradation, nor stress degradation on the belt so I'd just wing it myself. EDIT: Depending on the usage pattern I'd probably do at least an annual oil change if not more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomsFocus Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 57 minutes ago, agraham said: With that low mileage there won't have been much heat degradation, nor stress degradation on the belt so I'd just wing it myself. The biggest problem with the wetbelt is oil degradation/contamination. It'll be worse on a low mileage car than any other. Means it's either going long periods with no use, or very short regular trips. Both a disaster for a wetbelt, never burning off the moisture in the oil. Honestly, I'm surprised it's lasted this long. I would recommend changing asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agraham Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 38 minutes ago, TomsFocus said: The biggest problem with the wetbelt is oil degradation/contamination. It'll be worse on a low mileage car than any other. Any credible links proving that assertion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanfp Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 6 hours ago, agraham said: Dealer prices seem to be around £3500 The low mileage ones are £7k - £8k on Autotrader for mileages of 20k - 35k as far as I can see, if that helps the OP to decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomsFocus Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 12 hours ago, agraham said: Any credible links proving that assertion? JW1982 is a very credible link! Plus the increase in failures we saw shortly after the lockdowns confirmed it, when cars were suddenly only doing short journeys or getting one trip a week. If anyone's got some time and cash spare, they could always do a proper experiment for us. Buy a few wetbelts and partially submerge them in oil with various contaminants (water, petrol, diesel, engine flush, etc...). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 On 3/18/2023 at 6:53 PM, agraham said: Dealer prices seem to be around £3500 but you probably wouldn't get that as a private buyer - specially if the belt hasn't been changed. £3500? That's more than double the quotes I've seen from main dealers and more than 4 times as much as independent garages specialising in Ecoboost wet belts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agraham Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 You misunderstood. £3500 is the price for the car I found on a few dealer sites. As I said the cost of the wet belt is about 50% of that, especially if you have an oil pump and filter change as well as the cam belt replaced. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Oh! My bad, apologies 🙂 Yeah - sorry, just re-read it, you were perfectly clear, I'm obviously distracted 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT70 Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 Yes, change it and ensure you use correct oil and never use flush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agraham Posted March 20, 2023 Share Posted March 20, 2023 On 3/19/2023 at 1:39 AM, alanfp said: The low mileage ones are £7k - £8k on Autotrader for mileages of 20k - 35k as far as I can see, if that helps the OP to decide. Yes, you're probably right. In retrospect I think I looked up prices for the wrong car when I said £3500. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Middleton Posted March 20, 2023 Author Share Posted March 20, 2023 Hi thank you for all of your advice I think I am going to get the belt changed just to be on the safe side. The car is in such good condition I could get quite a number of years use out of it. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 23 hours ago, agraham said: Yes, you're probably right. In retrospect I think I looked up prices for the wrong car when I said £3500. I picked up my 48k Tit X Estate 2013 on a 62 plate in Jan this year at £7895, but it was Ford main dealer and had the belt done as part of the pre-sale preparation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomsFocus Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 15 minutes ago, dontpannic said: I picked up my 48k Tit X Estate 2013 on a 62 plate in Jan this year at £7895, but it was Ford main dealer and had the belt done as part of the pre-sale preparation. Prices are mad now. I bought a 42k 2012 Titanium in 2018 for £5800. Sold it 6 months later for about £5300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 35 minutes ago, TomsFocus said: Prices are mad now. I bought a 42k 2012 Titanium in 2018 for £5800. Sold it 6 months later for about £5300. Yeah - not helped by it being peak ULEZ season as well. I live and work within the proposed expanded area so had to regrettably get rid of my E46 330D Touring, which went for stupid money (far less than it was worth 12 months ago) 😞 Rather like the Focus as a replacement though, much less thirsty, plenty of toys, rides and handles well etc and £30 a year to tax. Can't complain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wino Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 3 hours ago, TomsFocus said: Prices are mad now. I bought a 42k 2012 Titanium in 2018 for £5800. Sold it 6 months later for about £5300. Too true Tom, our previous focus is up for sale @ £6495 with 70k on the clock 4yrs after we got £5500 px with just 42k. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scudney Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 Better safe than sorry, would personally get the belt changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcaouolte Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 As this discussion is a year old, I expect that the belt was done a while ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agraham Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 10 minutes ago, pcaouolte said: As this discussion is a year old, ???? As far as I can see it started 3 weeks ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcaouolte Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 2 minutes ago, agraham said: As far as I can see it started 3 weeks ago! The last post before the revival was dated March 21 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcaouolte Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Thinking about it now that I am awake something strange has gone on because I hadn't realised that we were in 2023 now! 🥵 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomsFocus Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 2 minutes ago, pcaouolte said: The last post before the revival was dated March 21 That's March 21st...as in the 21st day of March... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcaouolte Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Just now, TomsFocus said: That's March 21st...as in the 21st day of March... Oh 🤬. I really am cracking up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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