I have an automatic (7DCT300) Ford Puma 1.0 ecoboost 125cv 2020 (non-hybrid) and I am from Italy.

I've read several discussions about Ford Focus engines (even those with new-generation EcoBoost) suffering from oil pump belt wear (on automatic models with a balance shaft). Could my automatic Ford Puma also have this problem? I read about a recall in the United States (No. 23S64) for other automatic Ford models with the same problem.

Hi,

Given that it's the same engine/gearbox combination, unfortunately that's quite possible.

The US recall was for the earlier (wet belt) engines, but it's looking like the issue is still there on the revised version.

I don't think we've yet seen a definitive explanation or any sign of a recall or other action by Ford?

No, there hasn't been any recall from Ford at the moment.

What do you recommend I do? The car is only 5 years old and has 55,000 km on it. Should I replace the pump oil belt now?

I guess that depends on how worried you are, and how long you are planning on keeping the car. The usual advice on here is to change no later than 8 years, and ensure oil/filter are changed at least annually, or even more frequently for very low mileage use.

At least one UK specialist  (https://northwestengines.co.uk/oil-pump-belt-replacement) is recommending replacement at 40,000 miles (approx 64,000km) but you're still some way from that, and it is a very expensive job, at least here in the UK.

A compromise might be to drop the sump and inspect the condition of the belt and oil pump pick up strainer. as mentioned in this thread:

 

32 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

At least one UK specialist  (https://northwestengines.co.uk/oil-pump-belt-replacement) is recommending replacement at 40,000 miles (approx 64,000km) but you're still some way from that, and it is a very expensive job, at least here in the UK.

They're also suggesting that the Ford belt material is the problem.  I'm not sure we've seen any evidence to back that up? 🤔

 

3 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

They're also suggesting that the Ford belt material is the problem.  I'm not sure we've seen any evidence to back that up? 🤔

I don't recall seeing anything either. Do we know who makes the OEM belts? - I would imagine more than one supplier, anyway. 

The thing that continues to puzzle me is why you see so few comments about the 1.5 Dragon which is a similar design. The Fiesta/Puma ST version in particular with its higher power/torque (and often further tuned and "enthusiastically" driven) - yet the only failure I've seen mentioned was on an early example with a gear driven oil pump. Could it simply be because the official service interval is 12 months/12,500 miles rather than 2 years/18,000 for the 1.0?

 

4 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I don't recall seeing anything either. Do we know who makes the OEM belts? - I would imagine more than one supplier, anyway. 

Don't think I've seen anything concrete for that either.  I thought it was Dayco as I know some of the dry belts were Dayco.

2 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Could it simply be because the official service interval is 12 months/12,500 miles rather than 2 years/18,000 for the 1.0?

The official Service Interval for my 1.5 Dragon Engine was 2 years/18,000 miles when my car was new, the same as the 1.0 Engines. Maybe because the 1.5 (in the case of the Focus)has Duel Port Injection, which must be superior to just Direct or just Port Injection, so less contamination.

I've moved onto 6 to 9 month Oil changes because I'm not doing enough mileage now and I strain my old Oil to check for bits of Belt, none found so. far as per a previous photo I uploaded.

How do I make sure my Ford Puma has an oil pump belt tensioner? The engine is a B7JA (2020) with an automatic transmission.

Since the Ford Focus engine (B7DA) has a torque converter gearbox, while the Puma has a dual clutch gearbox, could there be any differences?

The Focus MK4.5 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV automatic also has the DCT7 Powershift transmission.

With the changeover from the MK4 to the MK4.5 Ford changed the automatic transmission of the 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV in the Focus from the 8-Speed 8F24 torque convertor transmission to the 7-Speed DCT7 transmission.


However, since exploded diagrams of the DCT7 version are not yet available to the public it is hard to determine whether the DCT7 version of the 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV still has a belt tensioner and balance shaft or not.

The only way to obtain this information is from someone who has dealer level access to the Ford technical workshop and parts software.

The oil pump belt tensioner question is still unresolved as Wilco says..

I've seen quite a few listings for the balancer shaft module on the revised 1.0 ecoboost, though, eg:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/388707575694?msockid=384d1632efb6621f1d1500baee916328

 

 

The Focus MK4 1.0 EcoBoost (both MHEV and non-MHEV) torque converter automatic does 100% certainly have a balance shaft assembly and belt tensioner.

This is a similar setup to the older 1st generation 1.0 EcoBoost torque converter automatic that has been used in the Focus MK3.5. However, not a single part of the balance shaft/tensioner is identical between the 1st generation and the 2nd generation of the 1.0 EcoBoost.


The Focus MK4.5 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV DCT dual clutch automatic however is the big unknown. From a technical perspective there is no longer a real need for the balance shaft assembly and belt tensioner since the DCT version has a regular flywheel similar to the manual transmission version.

The big question is whether Ford kept using the specific automatic transmission version of the engine with the balance shaft and tensioner, introduced a new specific version of the engine without the balance shaft and tensioner or standardized to a single version for both the manual and automatic.
 

14 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

The Focus MK4 1.0 EcoBoost (both MHEV and non-MHEV) torque converter automatic does 100% certainly have a balance shaft assembly and belt tensioner.

This is a similar setup to the older 1st generation 1.0 EcoBoost torque converter automatic that has been used in the Focus MK3.5. However, not a single part of the balance shaft/tensioner is identical between the 1st generation and the 2nd generation of the 1.0 EcoBoost.


The Focus MK4.5 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV DCT dual clutch automatic however is the big unknown. From a technical perspective there is no longer a real need for the balance shaft assembly and belt tensioner since the DCT version has a regular flywheel similar to the manual transmission version.

The big question is whether Ford kept using the specific automatic transmission version of the engine with the balance shaft and tensioner, introduced a new specific version of the engine without the balance shaft and tensioner or standardized to a single version for both the manual and automatic.

Exactly, I tried to search online but there is no information anywhere

10 minutes ago, Urnic-12 said:

Exactly, I tried to search online but there is no information anywhere

Likewise. I've just been having another look (while waiting for a parcel delivery😀). A lot of people on various Ford forums are asking the same question but no-one seems to have found an answer yet.

1 hour ago, JW1982 said:

The Focus MK4 1.0 EcoBoost (both MHEV and non-MHEV) torque converter automatic does 100% certainly have a balance shaft assembly and belt tensioner.

This is a similar setup to the older 1st generation 1.0 EcoBoost torque converter automatic that has been used in the Focus MK3.5. However, not a single part of the balance shaft/tensioner is identical between the 1st generation and the 2nd generation of the 1.0 EcoBoost.


The Focus MK4.5 1.0 EcoBoost MHEV DCT dual clutch automatic however is the big unknown. From a technical perspective there is no longer a real need for the balance shaft assembly and belt tensioner since the DCT version has a regular flywheel similar to the manual transmission version.

The big question is whether Ford kept using the specific automatic transmission version of the engine with the balance shaft and tensioner, introduced a new specific version of the engine without the balance shaft and tensioner or standardized to a single version for both the manual and automatic.
 

Does the fact that it is MHEV or non-MHEV change anything regarding the presence of the balance shaft? Since my Puma model has the petrol-only B7JA engine.

Whether it is an MHEV or a non-MHEV should not matter in relation to the balance shaft/belt tensioner.

I went to an official Ford parts dealer, and after entering my car's VIN, it turns out that my EcoBoost 1.0 version with an automatic transmission does not have an oil pump belt tensioner.

It also seems that versions with a flywheel transmission (like the 7DCT300 or manual) do not have a balance shaft.

I don't know if this information from the Ford parts dealer is reliable, but this is what I got.