Hi.

Has anyone just had the sump removed and oil pick up pipe cleaned instead of the full wetbelt replacement.

If so, how much was it please?

 

Thanks 

2 hours ago, pauljack said:

Has anyone just had the sump removed and oil pick up pipe cleaned instead of the full wetbelt replacement.

Why would you even think about doing that on a 2017 Ecoboom ?

The amount of work involved would be about half the cost of getting the belts replaced. Remember that the 10 year life expectancy is a maximum age, it is not a target that has to be reached before you can change the belts.

Because not everyone has £1400-2400 for a cambelt change buddy. The sump removal is approx a 3 hour job not a 10 hour job plus parts. If it is not clogged or showing signs on a 32k miles car then all good for a while. If it is then a full wetbelt can be carried out.

I get you don't like ecoboosts. I've seen your replies to previous posts. "Ecoboom" is such an old and boring term now. 

 

I tend to agree. Removing the sump is not  a repair job, it is an inspection in order to prevent engine failure. Using the right oil and changing it at 50% oil life from new protects against wet belt failure in most cases but a proper inspection is worth the effort. The part you have to be careful with is the removal of the exhaust due to the possibility of snapped bolts. Clean, apply wire brush and penetrant (not WD, Plus-Gas if you want to win,)and go careful. Mine has just run 50,000 miles and it will have the sump removed in the spring when the weather improves. There isn't a Ford dealer for 30 miles and there isn't one to trust for 150 here. Any part needs to be ordered and will take a week to get here so careful is a way of life!

Regarding Unofix, the easiest way to bait him is to suggest that Ecoboost engines can be reliable and that stop start systems are worthwhile. Both statements are true  by the way. Just looking after the engine, warming it up and cooling it down properly makes a big difference. Thrash it from cold and it will not last long, but there are plenty of Ecoboosts with well over 100000 miles on them now that will be run into the ground until the belts go because they are not worth fixing IN THE UK! Elsewhere, where you won't be dragged from your bed by the junta and kicked to death for owning a three year old car, you worthless peasant, cars get repaired because they are regarded as tools that cost a lot of money, not fashion statements. Twenty year old family hatchbacks here in France are expensive, a 2005 Citroen C4 being around 5,000 Euros at 220,000 miles(!) which makes the cost of a belt change very worthwhile on a Fiesta!

26 minutes ago, anon said:

I tend to agree. Removing the sump is not  a repair job, it is an inspection in order to prevent engine failure. Using the right oil and changing it at 50% oil life from new protects against wet belt failure in most cases but a proper inspection is worth the effort. The part you have to be careful with is the removal of the exhaust due to the possibility of snapped bolts. Clean, apply wire brush and penetrant (not WD, Plus-Gas if you want to win,)and go careful. Mine has just run 50,000 miles and it will have the sump removed in the spring when the weather improves. There isn't a Ford dealer for 30 miles and there isn't one to trust for 150 here. Any part needs to be ordered and will take a week to get here so careful is a way of life!

Regarding Unofix, the easiest way to bait him is to suggest that Ecoboost engines can be reliable and that stop start systems are worthwhile. Both statements are true  by the way. Just looking after the engine, warming it up and cooling it down properly makes a big difference. Thrash it from cold and it will not last long, but there are plenty of Ecoboosts with well over 100000 miles on them now that will be run into the ground until the belts go because they are not worth fixing IN THE UK! Elsewhere, where you won't be dragged from your bed by the junta and kicked to death for owning a three year old car, you worthless peasant, cars get repaired because they are regarded as tools that cost a lot of money, not fashion statements. Twenty year old family hatchbacks here in France are expensive, a 2005 Citroen C4 being around 5,000 Euros at 220,000 miles(!) which makes the cost of a belt change very worthwhile on a Fiesta!

Hi  Thanks for a sensible reply. The car is showing no signs of belt failure (touch wood). Obviously after Xmas I don't have that amount of spare cash so I thought instead of ignoring it, I could have the pick up cleaned and fresh oil. Even though I changed the oil 500 miles ago. If it is showing significant wear or blockage then ofcourse it will have to be done. So it really is just a check/maintainance than repair. I could do it myself but who wants to do it in this weather.....hence I was asking about rough costs. Triggered people should really stay out of "Ecoboost" posts. I don't know why you would want to comment....? 

Yes we all know the wetbelt design is not the greatest invention. But the "Ecoboom" saying is really old now.

I know cars on the continent are expensive at the moment. And prices are stupidly high. 

Thanks for the imput buddy. 👍

 

Do you know the labour rate that your local garage uses?  Rates vary so much across the country that it's difficult to quote for a labour-only job on a national forum.

I'd estimate around £350-£500 for sump removal and cleaning plus fresh oil & filter.

22 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Do you know the labour rate that your local garage uses?  Rates vary so much across the country that it's difficult to quote for a labour-only job on a national forum.

I'd estimate around £350-£500 for sump removal and cleaning plus fresh oil & filter.

Hi buddy.

I appreciate that. I was just trying to get some experience of anyone who has had it done. Not quotes, just approx how much it cost them. 

My local Ford Garage charges £114 per hour  

Regarding Anon, just remember what an excellent driver you are. What happened to your last car ?

I've now added you to the ignore list, so I won't have to read any more of your #######

On 1/6/2025 at 8:13 AM, pauljack said:

Because not everyone has £1400-2400 for a cambelt change buddy.

I fully understand that, and it was not my intention to cause you offence unlike others in this thread.

The point I was trying to make is that in less than 2 years you will have to replace the wet timing belt. The money you spend on inspecting the sump would be better put towards getting that work done sooner. As I said earlier the 10 year age on getting the belts changed is a maximum. Many engines fail long before that.

If the sump is inspected and it is found to contain large deposits of debris from the belts, you are going to be left in an awkward position of what to do.

There is now quite a number of independent garages who have become quite expert in changing the wet belts between £800 and £1000 which makes things a little better.

 

32 minutes ago, unofix said:

I fully understand that, and it was not my intention to cause you offence unlike others in this thread.

The point I was trying to make is that in less than 2 years you will have to replace the wet timing belt. The money you spend on inspecting the sump would be better put towards getting that work done sooner. As I said earlier the 10 year age on getting the belts changed is a maximum. Many engines fail long before that.

If the sump is inspected and it is found to contain large deposits of debris from the belts, you are going to be left in an awkward position of what to do.

There now quite a number of independent garages who have become quite expert in changing the wet belts between £800 and £1000 which makes things a little better.

 

Hi thanks for that.

I appreciate what you said and it does make sense. I have already looked into the wetbelt change comprehensively. The cheapest place near me is £1400 and that is an hour away.

I have had a quote for £1200 from a local garage but they are not as experienced in the change. I'm finding most garages won't quote for just the pick up cleaning and go straight to "oh if you need the oil pick up cleaning you most likely need a new engine" senerio.

If I had £1400 spare I really wouldn't have posted my question. "Normal" Cambelts are usually around £500 ish.... so obviously £1400 is a nightmare. Ford want £2400.  Which is not possible to Swallow after Christmas.

Also finding somewhere that does these regularly is difficult around Lincolnshire.

I will probably end up doing the sump removal myself. I am pretty handy and do most things myself. You Tube has some really detailed vids on the sump removal and pick up cleaning. Just with the horrible weather I'm not looking forward to it.

Thanks for getting back I appreciate it. 👍

A cheaper option would be to drain the Oil through a very fine Kitchen Sieve. If there are any bits of Belt they won't all be sticking to the Pump Pickup, not as good as taking the Sump off though.

I did that on mine because I have a Wet Oil Pump Belt and intend doing the same from now on.

36 minutes ago, Tizer said:

A cheaper option would be to drain the Oil through a very fine Kitchen Sieve. If there are any bits of Belt they won't all be sticking to the Pump Pickup, not as good as taking the Sump off though.

I like that idea. It kind of gives you a bit of an indication with out going all out and removing the sump.

4 hours ago, Tizer said:

A cheaper option would be to drain the Oil through a very fine Kitchen Sieve. If there are any bits of Belt they won't all be sticking to the Pump Pickup, not as good as taking the Sump off though.

I did that on mine because I have a Wet Oil Pump Belt and intend doing the same from now on.

Great minds...... When I changed the oil a few months ago I changed the oil and couldn't see any bits. But....I did wish at the time I had used filter paper to check the old oil. 

I think for the sake of some oil and a filter it is probably a good first step.

I think I can go from there 

9 minutes ago, pauljack said:

I think for the sake of some oil and a filter it is probably a good first step.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/watera-Strainer-Colander-Sieve-Scoop/dp/B0D12LV1RB/ref=asc_df_B0D12LV1RB

That's the kind I use, I bought it from a Supermarket so I could see how fine the mesh was,.

Filter paper would be better but would take ages, I just let the Oil drain through it on its way to the used Oil Basin. 

22 hours ago, unofix said:

Regarding Anon, just remember what an excellent driver you are. What happened to your last car ?

I've now added you to the ignore list, so I won't have to read any more of your #######

I suffered a blackout at the wheel, spent some time in a foreign hospital and the car was written off. That's what happened to my last car but thanks for the gratuitous insult. It tells us more about you than it does about my driving. You might notice that I spent several months looking for one of the same specification which would give some idea of what I thought about it.

 

I've bought some "Jam Muslin" so I can filter the oil better. Will take longer but I thought it would yield better results.

Will let you know how lt goes 👍

2 hours ago, pauljack said:

Will let you know how lt goes

Post a few photos of the process as you're doing it, just so we can get an idea of just how much or how little there is of anything in the oil. 😀

I like the idea of jam muslin but here's another one. Some light aircraft have oil changes every fifty hours. The filter is opened up with a tin opener and inspected for FOD. My last filter is in the shed, having not yet gone to the dechetterie, so I think I'll give that a try.

19 hours ago, anon said:

I like the idea of jam muslin but here's another one. Some light aircraft have oil changes every fifty hours. The filter is opened up with a tin opener and inspected for FOD. My last filter is in the shed, having not yet gone to the dechetterie, so I think I'll give that a try.

Good idea. Bit messy but will give it a go. Not sure what will be inside as only changed the oil a few hundred miles ago. But we will see

 So all done. Took ages for the oil to go through the Muslin. 

I don't think a sieve would show as good results. 

There is definately belt in the old oil. Bearing in mind that was fresh oil a few months ago. There are no big pieces but I think I'm going to have the wetbelt done. 

Looks like one bit of valve stem seal in there as well.

15 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Looks like one bit of valve stem seal in there as well.

Wow you can tell that by a picture. Not sure which bit you are referring to?

 

2 minutes ago, pauljack said:

Wow you can tell that by a picture. Not sure which bit you are referring to?

There were no metal bits

The orange bit.  Right hand side, bottom picture.

30 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The orange bit.  Right hand side, bottom picture.

Don't know where that bit is I've just had another check. There was no orange bit. I can see what you mean in that pic but I would have noticed an orange bit as that is so obvious and I looked over it with fine tooth comb. All I could see was black bits. 

Weird