Last week my Focus ST-Line 1.0 ecoboost started with flashing engine light out of the blue!

We stopped using it straightaway and had it towed to a Ford garage as we thought it was a major fault. 
 

It turns out we needed 3 new spark plugs only and the oil was a little low! 

The garage replaced the spark plugs and we bought new oil and began to fill it up. 
 

The dip stick wasn’t reading any oil until we had added around 4 litres!!

The last service (oil check) was only 12 months ago! 

At no point has there been an oil warning light - from a very amateur point of view - surely it not being even to be read on the dip stick until 4 litres were added should have given us a warning! 
 

Just looking for a little bit of advice about it as I’m worried I’ve absolutely knackered the engine due to having minimal oil in the car!?!

It has run with no issues since we’ve added the oil and have new spark plugs!

Cheers

1 hour ago, Holly FS said:

from a very amateur point of view - surely it not being even to be read on the dip stick until 4 litres were added should have given us a warning! 

It's an oil pressure light, not an oil level light. However if your engine has been running for a period of time with up to 4 litres short then you can expect catastrophic engine failure in the not to distant future.

So should the oil pressure light have come on though if that much oil was ‘missing’ ??

The 1.0 EcoBoost is difficult to take an accurate oil level reading from.  I suspect it is now over-filled.  Only check the level on a flat surface an hour or more after the engine has been switched off.  Ideally leave it overnight and check first thing in the morning if possible.

19 minutes ago, Holly FS said:

So should the oil pressure light have come on though if that much oil was ‘missing’??

The question is : if that amount of oil really was 'missing' where did it go?

The oil pressure light will obviously only come on if there is loss of pressure, either because the level has dropped below the pick-up pipe, the pick-up strainer is blocked, the pressure relief valve is faulty** or the pump is failing.

** not sure if the Ecoboom has one of these. I believe it has a variable-output pump.

Hi Holly, just a few observations.

Does the oil pressure warning light come on as normal before starting the engine and go out immediately after starting? If so you may be lucky to have escaped major damage.

4 litres is an awful lot to have to top up. Check for overfill as Tom has suggested. I do know that the oil pick up in these engines is very low in the sump so what was left may have just been enough to prevent loss of pressure.

You say that your last service was around 12 months ago and the oil was only checked? If you can I would recommend at least the oil filter is replaced - sooner than later.

I don't know how old your car is or what mileage, but are you aware of the wet belt deterioration issue and the need to get it replaced earlier than Ford originally recommended?

Keep a regular check on the oil level. If it is definitely using the amount of oil mentioned it may not be worth investing in a cambelt replacement.