Ford 1.0 Ecoboost engine

Ford’s lineup of vehicles received the company’s small Ecoboost 3-cylinder engine in the fourth quarter of 2011. It has a cast-iron cylinder block with an open cooling jacket, and a light alloy cylinder head with integrated exhaust manifold. The cooling system is equipped with two thermostats: in the cylinder head circuit and in the cylinder block circuit. Thanks to this, the engine warms up in seconds and spends much less energy, which allows to call it more economical.

At the start of sales of this engine Ford representatives called one of its features the absence of a balancer shaft. And it’s true – most 1-liter Ecoboost engines don’t have a balancer.

There are six counterweights on the crankshaft, in addition, balancing masses are present on the flywheel and crankshaft pulley.

But the 1-liter Ecoboost, which functions in conjunction with the 6-speed. 6F15 automatic transmission, had a balancer shaft. This combination can be found on the updated Focus 3.

In the oil pump of such an engine, the performance can certainly be adjusted. The drive in it, however, works due to a toothed belt. The camshafts with phase shifters on each are driven by a toothed belt lubricated with engine oil.

Fuel injection takes place directly. The fuel system is manufactured by Bosch. Gasoline is injected by electromagnetic injectors at a pressure of up to 150 bar.

On the 1.0 Ecoboost motor there is also a turbocharger, even though the atmospheric type is also present. The turbocharger from Continental is low-inertia and has the ability to spin up to 260,000 rpm. It has a system of liquid cooling, which continues even after the engine stops due to a separate system electric pump.

Specifications

1-liter Ecoboost began to equip Ford cars in the second half of 2011. Initially, this engine was used in Focus and C-Max models, and after some time in Fiesta, B-Max, Ecosport, Mondeo, as well as in all Transit models (Connect, Courier, Custom). With a turbocharger, this engine is capable of developing 100 or 125 hp, but there is also a 140-horsepower version – it is less common. In the atmospheric type, these cylinders are capable of producing only 65 or 80 hp.

Reliability of the engine 1.0 Ecoboost

This motor three times was recognized as the best engine of the year among engines up to one liter. However, even such a significant recognition does not guarantee that this motor is an ideal option. Moreover, in the years following its presentation, this motor was often subject to replacement and return due to malfunction.

Overheating

The main problem with the motor is overheating, which occurs when antifreeze leaks out of the turbocharger cartridge.

Typically, this problem occurred in models that were manufactured in 2011-2-13. The malfunction was detected by car buyers in the process of operation, which led to the need to change the motor in the service center. Only models in which the thin tube is reinforced and has greater strength were lucky.

Antifreeze leaks out in cases when the expansion tank is cracked. The expansion tanks on Ford vehicles have always been short-lived. However, the company has since changed the expansion tank cap to a more modern one (5193938).

Thermostat

Thermostats on the 1.0 Ecoboost engine rarely cause the engine to overheat. Typically, the thermostat keeps the engine from warming up quickly and not reaching the temperature limit. One thermostat is located at the rear of the cylinder head in a plastic splitter, and the other is located in the cylinder block on the exhaust manifold side.

Turbocharger

Continental turbochargers for the liter Ecoboost 100 hp and 125 hp motors may have different catalog numbers – you should pay attention to this in the showroom.

Such turbochargers do not have problems with shaft performance. Most motorists change the oil at a mileage of 10,000 km, and this positively affects the functioning of the engine. However, even Continental turbos have occasionally needed diagnostics and repairs.

During the first few months of use, some motors had insufficient boost pressure and because of this you could hear a metallic sound. This sound was coming from the relief valve plate. To remove the noise, it was necessary to replace the bypass valve plate.

Right engine mount

Unfortunately, the right engine mount of the compact liter engine does not have an unlimited resource. Its damper undergoes destruction after 100,000-150,000 km, and then the vibrations of the motor pass to the body.

Crack in the cylinder head at the junction with the muffler flange

Most buyers of cars with 1.0 Ecoboost faced with a formed crack on the exhaust duct. The fusion delaminates due to poor catalytic converter passage and overheating in the exhaust duct. Interestingly, the crack does not present any external manifestations and can only be detected after removing the cylinder head due to diagnosis of other damage that occurred due to overheating.

High-pressure fuel pump

The high-pressure fuel pump is located at the rear on the exhaust camshaft and is driven by a triple cam. There is a pusher between the cam and the fuel pump rod. A similar system was used on the FSI / TFSI direct injection motors. Naturally, this leads to the same faults: the tappet periodically rubs completely and collapses. At first the engine loses its power, and then metal shavings disrupt the friction pairs of the motor. Such a problem in Ecoboost engines is quite rare, but should be regularly diagnosed, preventing the occurrence of the malfunction.

Deformation of the valve cover

The plastic valve cover cannot always withstand rising engine temperatures. Overheating deforms it and because of this, oil leakage occurs. If this situation occurs, the owner will have to replace the deformed valve cover. When replacing the valve cover, it is necessary to take into account the condition of the timing belt. If you look closely at its condition, you can come to the conclusion that it is time to change it.

Special features of the timing mechanism

The valve train of the 1.0 Ecoboost engine does not have hydrocompensators. Thermal clearances should be checked after 240 000 km. The valves are not adjusted in the most convenient way – by means of tare tappets.

The exhaust valve stems are filled with sodium so that heat dissipation is better.

Mixing antifreeze with oil

Prior to 2015, the 1.0 Ecoboost engine often leaked coolant.

Leakage occurred along the kerf in the alloy timing belt cover, where the tail of the cooling system channel gasket is placed. To get rid of this problem, the company began to produce the gasket without the tail, and the kerf in the timing cover was covered with sealant.

On Ecoboosts in 2015, the kerf under the tail was eliminated.

Phase shifter valves

The solenoid valves that control the phase shifters are located on the timing cover.

G timing belt

The timing belt, thanks to oil lubrication, should be able to work for 10 years or 200,000 kilometers, at least that’s what the manufacturer claims. But is it really so? As a rule, it should be changed every five years. In CIS countries it is customary to change the belt every 120 000 km. As practice shows, after 5 years, cracks form on it, which can lead to further damage. In addition, oil does not save the belt from abrasion and dust.

Before replacing the timing belt, it is necessary to fix the camshafts with special clamps and lock the crankshaft.

Headershell

This compact motor has a high thermal load and high temperature, as this saves resources. However, even a slight increase in temperature can lead to a negative outcome. More than once, one-liter Ecoboosts have been sent to service centers because of the appearance of gas in the expansion tank, reduced compression and, as a result, overheating. “Blown” cylinder-head gaskets, deformation of heads and even damaged cast-iron block at the place of gas leakage from cylinders – this is quite a common problem for Ford engine.

Periodically, 1.0 Ecoboost engines have been found to leak oil through the cylinder-head gasket at the top of the heat exchanger. The leak was not critical and did not cause serious consequences, but it did compromise the appearance of the new engine.

Oil pump

Quite often on Ford 1.0 Ecoboost motors, you can meet a malfunction concerning oil pressure. In this case, you need to immediately pay attention to the problem and stop using the engine, if you notice that the red oil light on the panel lights up when driving.

But why does this happen? This happens when products of timing belt wear get into the oil intake! As mentioned, even though the timing belt is lubricated with oil, it is still subject to quite a bit of friction. If the belt were isolated from the crankcase, this situation could be avoided. On the Ecoboost, dust from the belt flies into the sump and creates a thick layer there, and after that it gets into the oil intake and the latter becomes clogged.

In addition, some car owners have faced a situation when the oil pump jammed, and later the teeth of the belt of its drive broke off. However, this can be survived and not to worry as much as the engine jamming.

Unrepairable Motor

Spare parts of the cylinder-piston group and crank-crank mechanism are not freely available. In catalogs, you can find the entire cylinder block as an assembly. Pay attention to the fact that according to the instructions it is not allowed to unscrew the crankshaft supports. According to the manufacturer, after self-installation, you will not be able to correctly position the clearances. However, many people still do not follow the instructions and find new pistons and other necessary parts in stores.