Reliability Focus 1.0 VS 1.5 Ecoboost Motor

[thatone]

Hi All,

Which is potentially more reliable/dependable motor the 1.0 or 1.5 Ecoboost for the III.1 (facelift) Ford Focus?

I couldn't find any statistics on the internet, so I am reaching out for your experience.

I am looking to buy a used 2015-2016 focus estate with max 90-100k KMs (not miles). I do plan to do around 15-20k KMs per year after that, including commuting, holidays/road-trips with family and loads of stuff.

A friend of mine claims that bigger displacement engines are more appropriate/dependable for this kind of use. But are they really? And is this particular 1.5 really more dependable than the 1.0 Ecoboost? And how many trouble-free KMs can I expect with proper servicing?

Thanks!

[TomsFocus]

Both of those engines have common issues with the cooling system which can lead to engine failure.

Days are gone where bigger engines are automatically more reliable than smaller ones.  Each engine has to be considered individually.

The 1.0 engine uses a wetbelt (timing belt in oil) which adds another potential failure point to those.

[unofix]

In my opinion the 1.5 will be better for two reasons. (1) as mentioned the 1.0 has a wet timing belt which has a poor track record and can fail long before it should. (2) asking a little 1.0 Ecoboost to drag round a Focus size car is likely to be frustrating to drive and may lead to it been driven hard to achieve what feels like acceptable performance.

[Eric Bloodaxe]

Given what we know now I can't say I'd have much enthusiasm for either in a Focus size car with the use intended.

I'd incline more to a 2.0 diesel if the financial figures can be made to stack up in your location.

[sparkymatt]

I've had a couple of  1.0 Focus's and as long as you get for the 125PS version, it's fine. Has enough power. Just don't go for the 100PS engine. Only 5 speed manual and no go what so ever.

These 1.0 engines have more power than mk2 1.6 Focus. 

[thatone]

On 6/3/2023 at 3:07 PM, TomsFocus said:

Both of those engines have common issues with the cooling system which can lead to engine failure.

Days are gone where bigger engines are automatically more reliable than smaller ones.  Each engine has to be considered individually.

The 1.0 engine uses a wetbelt (timing belt in oil) which adds another potential failure point to those.

So the 1.5 engine is not using a wet-belt? That could be a serious improvement if the engine is really more reliable than the 1.0

Btw are you referring to the 3- or 4-cyclinder 1.5 engine? I got confused from the specs I found

Ford 1.5L EcoBoost Dragon Engine (3-cylinder)

Ford 1.5L EcoBoost I4 Engine (4-cylinder)

[thatone]

On 6/3/2023 at 3:15 PM, unofix said:

In my opinion the 1.5 will be better for two reasons. (1) as mentioned the 1.0 has a wet timing belt which has a poor track record and can fail long before it should. (2) asking a little 1.0 Ecoboost to drag round a Focus size car is likely to be frustrating to drive and may lead to it been driven hard to achieve what feels like acceptable performance.

Does that mean that on highway speeds I might be burning more lt/km with the 1.0 (which on paper is more economical) compared to the 1.5)?

Any actual experience with this?

[TomsFocus]

3 minutes ago, thatone said:

So the 1.5 engine is not using a wet-belt? That could be a serious improvement if the engine is really more reliable than the 1.0

Btw are you referring to the 3- or 4-cyclinder 1.5 engine? I got confused from the specs I found

Ford 1.5L EcoBoost Dragon Engine (3-cylinder)

Ford 1.5L EcoBoost I4 Engine (4-cylinder)

Correct.  Dry belt on the Mk3 1.5 EcoBoost.

It is the 4 cylinder engine in the Mk3 Focus.  That's the one with cooling issues. 

The 3 cylinder is fitted to the Mk4 Focus, that one is more reliable. 

 

[thatone]

On 6/3/2023 at 3:34 PM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Given what we know now I can't say I'd have much enthusiasm for either in a Focus size car with the use intended.

I'd incline more to a 2.0 diesel if the financial figures can be made to stack up in your location.

Unfortunately where I live diesels are very heavily taxed. I did have a Fiesta tdci 1.6 once which was pretty awesome.

[Eric Bloodaxe]

1 hour ago, thatone said:

Unfortunately where I live diesels are very heavily taxed.

That's a shame. 

There's no easy answer to this one. I've recently swapped from a 1.0 "wet belt" ecoboost myself (Fiesta 140 ST-Line) after 5 years with zero issues. BUT it was purchased new with benefit of full warranty and I ensured it had oil/filter changes annually.

Rather a different scenario to buying a 7/8 year old only 2/3 years away from that very expensive cambelt change and no way of 100% verifying the service history.

A stretch to a Mk 4 Focus might be a good idea if at all possible (both the 1.0 and 1.5 have the revised engine with chain cam drive though the oil pump is still belt). No one can predict the future but so far we've seen a lot fewer issues on here with those.

Otherwise there are always other brands to consider. For example, I've noticed my local taxi drivers have gone for Toyota hybrids - Corolla and the older Auris- in a very big way. I always have a chat with the drivers about their cars if possible and they all seem very satisfied and some have done astronomical mileages.

Plenty of other makes fans on here if you're looking for advice on non-Fords, btw.

 

[thatone]

18 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

That's a shame. 

There's no easy answer to this one. I've recently swapped from a 1.0 "wet belt" ecoboost myself (Fiesta 140 ST-Line) after 5 years with zero issues. BUT it was purchased new with benefit of full warranty and I ensured it had oil/filter changes annually.

Rather a different scenario to buying a 7/8 year old only 2/3 years away from that very expensive cambelt change and no way of 100% verifying the service history.

A stretch to a Mk 4 Focus might be a good idea if at all possible (both the 1.0 and 1.5 have the revised engine with chain cam drive though the oil pump is still belt). No one can predict the future but so far we've seen a lot fewer issues on here with those.

Otherwise there are always other brands to consider. For example, I've noticed my local taxi drivers have gone for Toyota hybrids - Corolla and the older Auris- in a very big way. I always have a chat with the drivers about their cars if possible and they all seem very satisfied and some have done astronomical mileages.

Plenty of other makes fans on here if you're looking for advice on non-Fords, btw.

 

Indeed, I actually bought  last year a used 2013 Focus 1.0 Titanium 100pk at 140K KMs, whose engine went bust at 156K KMs (damaged cylinders, probably from the timing belt). I suspect it was due to improper/untimely maintenance from the previous owner. I sold it off broken for peanuts (with a load of money down the drain). I've had 3 LEASE fiestas before that, but never beyond the 120K KM/6 years-old point. At that point, I swore not to get a Ford again.

I am now looking for another used gasoline family car at that 5-8 year old with max 100K KMs. I am trying to figure out which make/engine is more reliable, but my extensive research didn't make me any wiser: I concluded that most of other manufacturer's newer boosted/direct-ingestion engines  suffer from similar and other issues. Back at square one. 😖 As I cannot afford a MK4 focus, I am now investigating if the Ford Ecoboost 1.5 engine is as reliable as other compertitor's engines (incl. VW 1.2/1.4 TSI [for 3rd gen. skoda octavia, seat leon] or PSA 1.2 PureTech [for Peugeuot 2008 or 308] or Opel 1.2/1.4  Turbo [i.e for Astra K] or equivalent Hyundai  i30 or Kia Ceed).

[Eric Bloodaxe]

1 hour ago, thatone said:

or PSA 1.2 PureTech [for Peugeuot 2008 or 308]

You may have seen that coincidentally this got a mention on another thread:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/145013-2019-fiesta-wet-belt-replacement/#comment-996747

It seems to suffer similar wet belt issues as the 1.0 ecoboost - plenty about it on the web.

However don't think any of the others on your list use a wet belt which is at least one bonus!

You don't see much negative press reliability-wise on the Hyundai and Kia, which of course in the UK have sold in much smaller numbers than Ford, VW etc. Might also reflect the 5 and 7 year warranties respectively. 

The VW TSi found in the 2013+generation particularly the 140/150ps versions are very good to drive and conventional dry belt which does need changing every 4/5 years. I have a couple of friends whose cars are now approaching the 10 year mark with no issues, though again they were bought new/nearly new and have been properly maintained.

[TomsFocus]

The VAG TSI engines use a dry belt...but they do suggest replacement every 4 or 5 years (age dependent), so that ends up costing a lot if you buy used and then own it for say 6 years or so...

Worth noting that they don't often snap though, and many people push them past that recommendation without a problem.

[thatone]

Thanks for the good hints and advice everyone!

I've been very recently introduced to Honda Civic 1.8 9th gen (2015), naturally aspirataed/no turbo. I did a test drive and I liked it. From what I gather the engine is solid. But there are of course substantial differences in the consumption..

 

Any experience?

[RayC333]

On 6/3/2023 at 1:26 PM, thatone said:

Which is potentially more reliable/dependable motor the 1.0 or 1.5 Ecoboost for the III.1 (facelift) Ford Focus?

I am looking to buy a used 2015-2016 focus estate with max 90-100k KMs (not miles). I do plan to do around 15-20k KMs per year after that, including commuting, holidays/road-trips with family and loads of stuff.
 

Reliable/Dependable? ............90-100k KM's on it!............... 15-20k KM's per year!

Just don't. Take a look at the Ford Ecoboost Nightmare Facebook page. You have been warned.

[thatone]

1 hour ago, RayC333 said:

Reliable/Dependable? ............90-100k KM's on it!............... 15-20k KM's per year!

Just don't. Take a look at the Ford Ecoboost Nightmare Facebook page. You have been warned.

Very informative! I also had a 2013 focus  1.0 ecoboost that needed engine replacement at 150k kms. I am fully aware that these engines are risky!

But then the question is which manufacturers engine/car would yu recommend  as significantly more reliable, considering similar in  concept/frugal engines with turbo, direct injection etc, that all manufacturers have inevitably turned to?

[RayC333]

I wouldn't like to make a direct recommendation. Most manufacturers and their cars are being built without a DIY owner in mind with cost cutting thinly veiled as technological advancement.

Less consideration of longevity Vs customer expectation that things won't go wrong is bound to end in tears for those unable to own fairly new vehicles 

But enough of that, I've also driven the Civic and liked it a lot. Comfortable, responsive and I'm comparing that with dozens of different cars I've driven in the last year or so.

I also like the Hyundai range of vehicles. They've come a long way over the years.

[IrishFocus-ST-Line]

On 6/3/2023 at 8:36 PM, sparkymatt said:

I've had a couple of  1.0 Focus's and as long as you get for the 125PS version, it's fine. Has enough power. Just don't go for the 100PS engine. Only 5 speed manual and no go what so ever.

These 1.0 engines have more power than mk2 1.6 Focus. 

what your thoughts on the 155ps auto? have you drove one? 

[sparkymatt]

4 hours ago, IrishFocus-ST-Line said:

what your thoughts on the 155ps auto? have you drove one? 

Unfortunately I never got to drive the 155ps version so can't comment but I'd imagine that to be a good drive.

[IrishFocus-ST-Line]

21 minutes ago, sparkymatt said:

Unfortunately I never got to drive the 155ps version so can't comment but I'd imagine that to be a good drive.

fair enough, bought this car without a test drive, the dealer didn't have a 155 auto onsite and couldn't source one for me to drive. 

[sparkymatt]

3 minutes ago, IrishFocus-ST-Line said:

fair enough, bought this car without a test drive, the dealer didn't have a 155 auto onsite and couldn't source one for me to drive. 

To be honest, I never test drove any of the cars I bought either. Just knew I wanted them. Except for the 100ps mk3.5 focus. That was a mistake lol. Especially coming from a 250ps ST.