Every version of Ford’ s wet belt engines – from the EcoBoost and EcoBlue range – are available in its Focus
HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE …
Ford wet timing belt failure
To retain the performance and refinement of its bigger motors, innovative solutions were employed by Ford when making its EcoBoost and EcoBlue range of downsized engines. However, its timing belt in oil – otherwise known as a wet belt – hasn’ t proved to be totally durable
Where do the problems occur?
Traditionally, although usually behind covers, timing belts operated outside of the oily bits of an engine. In 2012, Ford launched the EcoBoost that positioned its main timing belt within the oil-lubricated side of the engine. Invented by Dayco, an OEM parts supplier, the timing belt in oil( TBIO) technology was created to give car manufacturers the flexibility to downsize, reduce vehicle weight, and improve noise, vibration and harshness characteristics. The belts were also supposed to deliver lasting durability.
Ford utilised a belt in oil – otherwise known as a wet belt – for its 1-, 1.5- and 1.6-litre EcoBoost engines found in the B-Max, C-Max, EcoSport, Fiesta, Kuga, Puma, Focus and Mondeo. Not all of these engines use a wet timing belt; mostly models from 2012 to around 2017. Later engines have a timing chain, but still use a wet belt to drive the oil pump. Checking a vehicle’ s VIN will be the only surefire way to determine which engine a car uses, but the 1-litre cars with wet timing belts generally have a turbo mounted in the front of the engine bay. Those with timing chains and wet oil pump drive belts often have turbos at the back.
The 2-litre EcoBlue diesel engine in the Ford Focus, Mondeo, Ranger and Transit from 2016 also uses TBIO and issues have been identified with these engines, too.
It should be noted that, while wet belts are used in all of these engines, Ford has said that issues occur in less than 0.01 % of its TBIO motors globally.
52 The Engine Rebuilder Issue 06