Went to a used car dealer today and spotted this. It's a 2011 model but if you look closely there's oil to the front of the engine near the turbo.

The main bay (shiny new hose noticed)

Closer look:

As close as I could get:

Dealer called this the result of "turbo mist" saying "they all do that". Those cars that have no oil there have been "pressure washed". This is apparently a well regarded local dealer but something smells a bit. One of the hoses looks new - wonder if it cracked and got replaced? Doubt the dealer will know.

What you do guys think? It drives just fine.

'' Turbo mist '' ! !

Err . . . nope - more like a leaking connection to the turbo or a cracked turbo body - exhaust gases are or were likely escaping somewhere near the turbo body

'' Turbo mist '' is not normal imo

Spoke about this with my brother-in-law who knows about these things. Suggests there could be a particular model of turbo that "breathes" a little which could result in this, but it's not very likely.

His suggestion is to get them to take off the pipework (intercooler or air intake - which?) and check for oil. If there's none, go ahead and buy.

Seem sensible?

I suggest the new pipe is there because the old one failed & leaked the oily '' mist '' - which they haven't cleaned off.

I've never seen any '' mist '' on any turbo diesel I've owned in over 10 years / 80,000 miles

There's often a fine oil residue in the intercooler pipe due to the EGRV operation ( unless it's blanked ) - but it should be on the inside & not outside

No oil there on my 1.6 TDCi... I do degrease and pressure wash it though lol.

As above, it's not 'normal' but that's likely to have been from a split pipe. There will be oil in the intercooler pipes from the breather so removing the pipe won't tell you much.

So you would guys be worried about buying it? Or is it "low-risk"?

Next door to that car is an '11 1.6 Petrol Sport on 38k. They both drive just fine. The Petrol has a higher tax and will need four new tyres within the next year.

Oh indecision!

Not that I can see any exterior changes between the Zetec TDCI and the Sport Petrol. Only interior cloth seems the difference.

That's an impossible question to answer as I've not physically seen the car & you're only identifying this one issue - if in doubt pay for a R.A.C. / A.A. inspection.

The issue I'd have is the dealers knowledge - i.e. the '' turbo mist joke '' & the fact that they state it's '' normal '' when it is far from normal, but as previously stated the '' mist '' was probably down to a failed hose - which has been replaced.

How much is the car ? & what's the mileage ? & does it have any service history ? & how many owners ?

On the subject of dealer integrity :

They either lied to you about '' turbo mist '' , or had little to no knowledge about it & simply fobbed you off.

So . . . would you buy a car off a dealer that exhibits the above failings . . . ?

That's not to say it's definitely a lemon & I'd want a years warranty at the very least.

The tdci in question is 2011 with 35k clocked and three service stamps priced at £5995. They also have a 2011 Sport petrol 37k two service stamps priced the same. Both need service plus mot (included in price).

Elsewhere we find a '60 plate 1.6 tdci titanium with 50k clocked and FSH also at £5995. This one I am thinking could be the safer buy despite it having higher mileage - should I say more in line with expectations.

35 or even 50k is not high mileage for a diesel & the 3 stamps means a full service history, the only downside in theory with the diesels is the issue of the DPF & EGRV

A 2011 for under £6k? Is that a main dealer? Didn't realise they were depreciating so quickly now. :(

No the first two are an rac approved independent while the titanium is an independent on an industrial estate (been there four years he says).

Oh ok, still cheaper than I was expecting lol!

ford's in general don't hold there price that well unless rs models of old

you mean an AR S E Turbo lol

:-)

Jamie

mine doesn't do that, and the splatter pattern on the DFP suggests that it is or has been leaking for a while.

Dealers will try anything to sell a car, one dealer told me that the 1.8 tdci focus is a terrible engine an one to watch, the 1.6 being much better and more reliable, needless to say, when it smells like crap, it usually is.

DPF? I thought that was part of the exhaust? I would not expect to see that under the bonnet?

Yes the DPF is part of the exhaust & can cause issues if a diesel car isn't driven correctly - a diesel with a DPF is no good for pottering around town driving

The DPF is the top part of the exhaust, it has to be connected to the engine obviously. ;)

It's that massive lump just under the turbo there!