45 minutes ago, Chris Ibbotson said:

 Hi there Tom, I have been doing a lot of reading, and extreme stressing, about potential wet-belt problems on the EcoBoost engines.  I have a 28.09.2018 (68 plate) Focus Ecoboost 1.0 (125PS) ST-Line.  I know virtually nothing about cars and engines but my engine looks very similar to Charlie Taylors.  Desperate to know if I urgently need to consider changing the car.  Scared to drive it now after spending 9 hours last night looking through forums, youtube etc. Potential catatosphic engine failure problem and accident waiting to happen if its a wet belt.  Reading horror stories of engines cutting out with zero warning, brakes also failing.  I can attach other photos if needbe.  Need confirmation if it looks like wet or chain. Car looks like a Mk4 ST-Line.  Sticker on engine says "Craiova Engine Plant 07 JUN 18"  Are chains safer or should I still consider changing?

Hi Chris, that is indeed a Mk4 Focus with the chain engine.  June 2018 makes it one of the earliest chain engines built.

There is still a wetbelt for the oil pump which has the same potential to degrade if the wrong oil or engine flush is used.  So far we have only seen 2 or 3 those fail though.  Correct servicing is still highly recommended.

I did a lot of research to find a totally reliable engine in 2020 and realised that there wasn't one from any manufacturer.  It's your choice whether to look elsewhere or not.  But I'm afraid the days of total reliability are long gone. 

17 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

But I'm afraid the days of total reliability are long gone. 

Indeed. I do a lot of forum lurking and can't think of one without issues of some sort.

Interestingly, the Mk 8 Fiesta 1.5 ST has a similar chain and oil pump belt set up, except for the very early cars which have a gear driven oil pump arrangement. The only failure I've seen reported in ST forums was the drive gear itself on one of those. You can't win!😀

Perhaps one difference is some manufacturers deal with issues better than Ford. Also some give a much better warranty - e.g. Toyota up to 10 years if serviced within the dealer network.

 

28 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Hi Chris, that is indeed a Mk4 Focus with the chain engine.  June 2018 makes it one of the earliest chain engines built.

There is still a wetbelt for the oil pump which has the same potential to degrade if the wrong oil or engine flush is used.  So far we have only seen 2 or 3 those fail though.  Correct servicing is still highly recommended.

I did a lot of research to find a totally reliable engine in 2020 and realised that there wasn't one from any manufacturer.  It's your choice whether to look elsewhere or not.  But I'm afraid the days of total reliability are long gone. 

Thank you Tom that brings me some small comfort. I have rarely had any trouble with Focus's in well over 20 years so never even considered doing any research on the EcoBoost.  I just assumed it was a new and better engine system.  All my previous diesel Zetecs had lower performance compared to the 1 Lt which gave me 125PS.  Think the last 1.6 diesel had 115PS.  Worrying that you say all cars are not reliable, makes changing an even bigger gamble.  I am overdue a service so perhaps I should book one in.  If using a non Ford service centre do I need to confirm the type of oil?  Concious my last service was with KwikFit late 2022.  I had no idea about wet-belts etc back then.

Chris

2 minutes ago, Chris Ibbotson said:

Thank you Tom that brings me some small comfort. I have rarely had any trouble with Focus's in well over 20 years so never even considered doing any research on the EcoBoost.  I just assumed it was a new and better engine system.  All my previous diesel Zetecs had lower performance compared to the 1 Lt which gave me 125PS.  Think the last 1.6 diesel had 115PS.  Worrying that you say all cars are not reliable, makes changing an even bigger gamble.  I am overdue a service so perhaps I should book one in.  If using a non Ford service centre do I need to confirm the type of oil?  Concious my last service was with KwikFit late 2022.  I had no idea about wet-belts etc back then.

Chris

If you still have the receipt from the previous service then you could check to see if the oil type was itemised on there.  If not, it can't do any harm to confirm the oil type when you book.  If you're ever offered an engine flush, always decline that.

Ford recommend an oil change on these every 2 years.  Though due to the potential for wetbelt issues, most of us would recommend a yearly oil change.

Air filter and spark plugs are recommended every 4 years on this engine.

4 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

If you still have the receipt from the previous service then you could check to see if the oil type was itemised on there.  If not, it can't do any harm to confirm the oil type when you book.  If you're ever offered an engine flush, always decline that.

Ford recommend an oil change on these every 2 years.  Though due to the potential for wetbelt issues, most of us would recommend a yearly oil change.

Air filter and spark plugs are recommended every 4 years on this engine.

I cannot find the receipt which surprises me as it was costly as my car needed two new front tyres, front discs and pads plus the service. They may have information on their system if I call in with them tomorrow.  I assume the correct oil type is mentioned in the Owners Manual?  Manuals seem to have numerous variations in the models covered.

Are you 100% sure about my engine being a chain rather than wetbelt?  There's no chance there is still a rubber cam belt being used despite the newer engine design?  I just need to be sure, may call into a Ford Dealership on the way to the office tomorrow morning. Thanks for your advice so far. 

Chris

1 hour ago, Chris Ibbotson said:

Are you 100% sure about my engine being a chain rather than wetbelt?  There's no chance there is still a rubber cam belt being used despite the newer engine design?  

Yes, the engine in your photo is 100% the revised design with chain cam drive and wet belt oil pump as Tom stated earlier. The Mk 4 Focus never had the wet belt engine.

 

1 hour ago, Chris Ibbotson said:

I cannot find the receipt which surprises me as it was costly as my car needed two new front tyres, front discs and pads plus the service. They may have information on their system if I call in with them tomorrow.  I assume the correct oil type is mentioned in the Owners Manual?  Manuals seem to have numerous variations in the models covered.

Are you 100% sure about my engine being a chain rather than wetbelt?  There's no chance there is still a rubber cam belt being used despite the newer engine design?  I just need to be sure, may call into a Ford Dealership on the way to the office tomorrow morning. Thanks for your advice so far. 

Chris

The oil specification is in the handbook.  For the 1.0 EcoBoost it's 5w20 and must meet the Ford spec: WSS-M2C948-B

Yes, I'm 100% sure this is a cam chain.  Just a small wetbelt for the oil pump.

1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

Yes, I'm 100% sure this is a cam chain.

But are you really, really sure or might they have built a special one with a wet belt for Chris ? 🤔

21 hours ago, unofix said:

But are you really, really sure or might they have built a special one with a wet belt for Chris ? 🤔

Lol thanks guys 

Anyone here wether or not a chain based one will swap into a belt? 

Mechanical issues of turbo relocation aside, will it play nice with the ecu and cluster? 

 

If not can the heads and gears swap, effectively converting a belt to chain? 

3 minutes ago, chiiandme said:

Anyone here wether or not a chain based one will swap into a belt? 

Mechanical issues of turbo relocation aside, will it play nice with the ecu and cluster? 

It'd be considerably easier and cheaper to just maintain your belt-based engine properly.

I think this one has been asked before. You'd still have the issue of the wet belt driving the oil pump, unless that could be converted also. No one seems to have tackled it commercially so far.

There are of course wet belt to chain conversions for some engines (e.g. 1.8tdci) and I spotted this recently via one of the Peugeot forums which suggests a conversion may be possible on the Puretech wet belt engine.

https://puretechtimingchain.com/

At 10yrs or the replacement intervals, the cost by having the wet belt oil pump drive would be approximately the same and since the cam chain would have to be removed, it should be renewed at the same time. 
Only benifit is a better chance of making that interval.

If you're going to swap to the chain engine, do it properly and get the 155ps MHEV in there.  Standard 125ps engine is not worth all the hassle. 

The 155 ECU would need to be unlocked but that's not difficult for a remapper with the correct tools. 

Cluster is an interesting one.  If this is for a Mk8, the cluster swap would be easy enough even if the original doesn't work.   

(By this point, you might as well have sold the wetbelt Fiesta and just bought a chain one though)

Hi I have my 1.0 turbo EcoBoost here. 20 plate. Is this wet belt or chain? Thanks

Both. Chain drive for the cams, wet belt drive for the oil pump.

8 hours ago, E Clarko said:

 1.0 turbo EcoBoost here. 20 plate. Is this wet belt or chain? Thanks

 

Hi Ewan. As above - chain cam, wet belt oil pump drive.

2020 was the year the revised (chain cam) engine was introduced to the Fiesta, so there are quite a few queries relating to this year.

To add to the pool of information, could you advjse:

What power your car is (could be 95ps, 125ps or 155ps)

Is it MHEV (mild hybrid - some cars have an "Ecoboost hybrid" tailgate badge)

Manual or auto

On 9/3/2025 at 9:48 AM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Hi Ewan. As above - chain cam, wet belt oil pump drive.

2020 was the year the revised (chain cam) engine was introduced to the Fiesta, so there are quite a few queries relating to this year.

To add to the pool of information, could you advjse:

What power your car is (could be 95ps, 125ps or 155ps)

Is it MHEV (mild hybrid - some cars have an "Ecoboost hybrid" tailgate badge)

Manual or auto

Hi it is

125ps

None hybrid ( standard EcoBoost)

Manual 6 gears 

 

Thanks 

 

19 hours ago, E Clarko said:

None hybrid ( standard EcoBoost)

Thanks, Ewan. That's interesting. We thought the revised 125 with revised engine, manual box, but non-MHEV was pretty rare in the Fiesta, but quite a few have turned up on here now.

On 9/7/2025 at 2:53 PM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Thanks, Ewan. That's interesting. We thought the revised 125 with revised engine, manual box, but non-MHEV was pretty rare in the Fiesta, but quite a few have turned up on here now.

Hi

You can add mine to the list. 20 plate 125ps st line with 6 speed manual and no mhev.

Hi all, I’m looking to buy this eco boost 1.0 fiesta 2020, I’m sure from the pics on here that this is  the chain version, can anyone confirm . Thanks 

1.0L Ecoboost engines have a wet belt for the oil pump, even though the camshafts are driven by a timing chain in engines from 2019 onwards.

 

- Usually as Dave wrote those with turbocharger in the front side have wetbelt for timing chain.

9 hours ago, Dogwalker said:

Hi all, I’m looking to buy this eco boost 1.0 fiesta 2020, I’m sure from the pics on here that this is  the chain version, can anyone confirm . Thanks 

Yes, that is the later chain engine, but the oil pump is still driven by a wet belt.

Stick to yearly oil changes, use correct oil, do NOT use any additives