1.0L Focus oil choice

[YZJB]

I don't think it's intentional in any way shape or form. But there appears to be something about the Castrol oil that maintains the wet belt better than another oils meeting the same specification. I see time and time again on groups on Facebook, those who have owned the car from new, using only the Ford branded Castrol oil finding their belt in great condition compared to those who have use other brands of oils.

I’ve also seen plenty of the belts fail with owners saying they’ve only ever used the Ford-Castrol oil. It’s oil dilution (with fuel) that kills the belts, I’m sure of it. Reduce the OCIs and they last very well.

 

[YZJB]

Honda also has, or had, wet belt engines in their line up...

They didn’t go well either

 

[kschachn]

It sort of reminds me of the whole “Red Line oil cures the hemi tick” scenario.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Wet cam-belts are calculated to fail. The manufacturers then milk the customer for extra service. My easy to change 96 Tacoma cam-belt last 120k and cost $350 -$450 to change. Can anyone guess how much a 1.0l ford’s wet belt cost to change? Most never make it to 150k as ford says . What a racket the manufacturers have going.

 

[notharry]

What hurts rubber? Heat Motion and chemicals mostly.
The motion you cannot help. If it was mine I would reduce the coolent temperature of the engine a bit. even 5-7 degrees would help.

• Dont add additives to the oil.
• If you are going to add injector cleaner, run the treated tank to your next fuel fill. Then change the oil
• Add an additional transmission oil cooler to the one in the radiator.
• Perhaps someone may know how to adjust the electric fan to turn it on at a lower temperature. say 190 instead of 212 probably factory. Or add an additional one.
• Change the oil religiously every 5000.

I used to be in the hosehold appliance flield. some manufacturers used a polyurethane belts and they held up much beter to heat. I just read some manufacturers are using poly. Fords are all black rubber of some sort. Could be FMK floroelastimer or viton. I have no knowledge of their construction. Can I ask? What would be wrong with a simple shaft or gear design? They purposly designed this engine to have issues early on. Great for the stock holder until no one buy the product any more.

 

[notharry]

Might not be very specific. Could be as simple as what is used in high mileage oils to keep seals pliable. And almost no-one would use high mileage oils in a new-ish engine.

Could be that simple...

 

[Cuemark8]

I had a Ford EcoSport SUV with the 1.0L engine. I researched this engine. When it first came it was a marvel and won numerous engine awards.
Turns out it's notorious for the oil pump belt and tensioner failing.

Before this engine even hit the market Ford worked directly with Castrol oil in Europe to develop a low viscosity oil for this engine.

Ford specs either 5W-20 or OW-20 oil. I usually used Castrol Edge OW-20 oil. Sometimes Mobil 1Truck and SUV oil 0W-20.

My EcoSport 1.0L EcoBoost failed at 124,700 due the oil pump belt failure.
I got more miles than most people seem to achieve. Ford replaced the engine under the recall.

Given the issues of the 1.0L and oil pump belt I highly recommend 0W-20 oil.
If a cold start. Gets that thinner oil flowing ASAP to the belt.
I get that compared to5W-20 is little difference.
Given the known issues of the belt if you can get that oil to the belt even fractions of a second quicker to it the better off you are.

I no longer own my Ford Ecosport SUV. While it was being repaired I bought another vehicle. That Ford EcoSport was gifted to my sister for my just turned 16 year old nephew.
It was gifted to him last July. Since the new engine there's been zero issues with the vehicle. It was a 2020.

 

[Cuemark8]

You need the Ford spec WSS-M2C948-B 5w20 not just any 5w20. Most wet belt failures are due to incorrect oil being used.

That spec was an exclusive spec originally for the 1.0L in European markets.
USA specs for this vehicle in owners manuals references WSS -M2C-945A for 5W-20. Or the WSS-M2C-947A for 0W-20

 

[kschachn]

I had a Ford EcoSport SUV with the 1.0L engine. I researched this engine. When it first came it was a marvel and won numerous engine awards.
Turns out it's notorious for the oil pump belt and tensioner failing.

Before this engine even hit the market Ford worked directly with Castrol oil in Europe to develop a low viscosity oil for this engine.

Ford specs either 5W-20 or OW-20 oil. I usually used Castrol Edge OW-20 oil. Sometimes Mobil 1Truck and SUV oil 0W-20.

My EcoSport 1.0L EcoBoost failed at 124,700 due the oil pump belt failure.
I got more miles than most people seem to achieve. Ford replaced the engine under the recall.

Given the issues of the 1.0L and oil pump belt I highly recommend 0W-20 oil.
If a cold start. Gets that thinner oil flowing ASAP to the belt.
I get that compared to5W-20 is little difference.
Given the known issues of the belt if you can get that oil to the belt even fractions of a second quicker to it the better off you are.

I no longer own my Ford Ecosport SUV. While it was being repaired I bought another vehicle. That Ford EcoSport was gifted to my sister for my just turned 16 year old nephew.
It was gifted to him last July. Since the new engine there's been zero issues with the vehicle. It was a 2020.

Unless you are below about -35 or so there’s no guarantee an oil with a 0W winter rating will be thinner than one with a 5W rating. Could be the opposite.

 

[Jetronic]

I had a Ford EcoSport SUV with the 1.0L engine. I researched this engine. When it first came it was a marvel and won numerous engine awards.
Turns out it's notorious for the oil pump belt and tensioner failing.

Before this engine even hit the market Ford worked directly with Castrol oil in Europe to develop a low viscosity oil for this engine.

Ford specs either 5W-20 or OW-20 oil. I usually used Castrol Edge OW-20 oil. Sometimes Mobil 1Truck and SUV oil 0W-20.

My EcoSport 1.0L EcoBoost failed at 124,700 due the oil pump belt failure.
I got more miles than most people seem to achieve. Ford replaced the engine under the recall.

Given the issues of the 1.0L and oil pump belt I highly recommend 0W-20 oil.
If a cold start. Gets that thinner oil flowing ASAP to the belt.
I get that compared to5W-20 is little difference.
Given the known issues of the belt if you can get that oil to the belt even fractions of a second quicker to it the better off you are.

I no longer own my Ford Ecosport SUV. While it was being repaired I bought another vehicle. That Ford EcoSport was gifted to my sister for my just turned 16 year old nephew.
It was gifted to him last July. Since the new engine there's been zero issues with the vehicle. It was a 2020.

You seem to be under the impression that the belt is kept alive by oil, while the rest of the world is under the impression oil is killing the belt.... 4 years on a wet belt, not out of the norm, though 124,700 miles is.

 

[YZJB]

I had a Ford EcoSport SUV with the 1.0L engine. I researched this engine. When it first came it was a marvel and won numerous engine awards.
Turns out it's notorious for the oil pump belt and tensioner failing.

Before this engine even hit the market Ford worked directly with Castrol oil in Europe to develop a low viscosity oil for this engine.

Ford specs either 5W-20 or OW-20 oil. I usually used Castrol Edge OW-20 oil. Sometimes Mobil 1Truck and SUV oil 0W-20.

My EcoSport 1.0L EcoBoost failed at 124,700 due the oil pump belt failure.
I got more miles than most people seem to achieve. Ford replaced the engine under the recall.

Given the issues of the 1.0L and oil pump belt I highly recommend 0W-20 oil.
If a cold start. Gets that thinner oil flowing ASAP to the belt.
I get that compared to5W-20 is little difference.
Given the known issues of the belt if you can get that oil to the belt even fractions of a second quicker to it the better off you are.

I no longer own my Ford Ecosport SUV. While it was being repaired I bought another vehicle. That Ford EcoSport was gifted to my sister for my just turned 16 year old nephew.
It was gifted to him last July. Since the new engine there's been zero issues with the vehicle. It was a 2020.

In Australia (and some other markets) the oil spec for the 1.0L EcoBoost was WSS-M2C913-D 5W-30 and failures are actually fairly low. I disagree with your hypothesis.

It’s oil dilution (with fuel) which kills the belt. Not the oil itself.

Best thing you can do with wet belt engines is change the oil every six months. Get that fuel out of the sump.