Focus estate new vs used

tomstickland

I've decided that if I'm going to buy a slightly older car then I might as well buy one with the best engine. I like cars with the right engine and minimum features. I don't want most of the things that people list in the adverts. Hill start assist? Emergency brake assist? Auto wipers? I don't want any of that stuff.

Late 2010/2011 2.0 16v petrols are rare but there's some 2010/2011 2.0 TDCi Zetecs going on Autotrader for just under £5K. I'll be repeating what I did with this car in terms of buying it at around 80,000 miles and then driving it up to over 200,000. I prefer the 2.0 L petrol but the Diesels aren't too bad.

I'd like a 1.5 or 1.6 Ecoboost, the 180ps version looks great. I'm too tight to spend the money though. I think. We'll see.

I did price up buying a reconditioned engine and putting it into mine. For fun really. I might start topping it up with the cheapest motor oil available but I know it's just a delaying tactic.

EdGasketTheSecond

Try 10w40 semi-synth oil instead of 5w30; then your oil consumption will go down and you can save changing your car.

tomstickland

It's going from the max to min marks in about 500 miles of use which means 1.5-2 weeks. I'm going to chuck cheap oil for now.

I'm now eyeing up some 2010/2011 2.0 TDCi Focus estates. I want minimal spec and maximum engine. As to what I do with the petrol Focus remains to be seen. I could get the engine out for a rebuild. For fun.

redux

Try checking if the crankcase breather is blocked

On my old Rover SD1 I lost loads of oil gallons) on a long trip. The tin plate gasket in the middle of the V8 had bulged upwards and cracked. I sealed it with some silicone rubber, looked at and shook out loads of gunge in a flame trap gauze filter in the breather system, but it was still losing a bit of oil, though much less. In the end I just left off the oil filler cap, and didn't see fumes coming out. Oil consumption then much less than a litre between changes. I suppose leaving off the filler cap would be harder on an overhead cam engine though.

hollie.weimeraner

Whatever you do stay clear of the Ecoboost engine https://www.facebook.com/groups/FordEcoboostNightmare/?ref=bookmarks or at least be prepared for what my happen.

I loved my Focus (Titanium 125) while I had it but decided I couldn't live with the uncertainty of the engine failing once the warranty expired.

Issues I had with it while I had it were the alloys corroded even though I kept it pristine and all the door seals failed and had to be stuck back on. (If you look while you're driving round you will see plenty of Focus door seals flapping about in the wind at the bottom of the door as they are only stuck on with double sided tape). I fixed mine with Evo Stik impact adhesive eventually but found it frustrating.

We also have a Fiesta Ecoboom which will be going this year due to the issues. There are currently 400 people on the facebook page and one person is on her 4th engine:eek:

System

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Try 10w40 semi-synth oil instead of 5w30; then your oil consumption will go down and you can save changing your car.

Oh god......

All you'll do is increase the rate of wear on the engine. It'll still leak oil just the same. Quite why we still have people pepetuating this myth that using thick oil stops leaks and stops a well worn knackered engine from rattling its nuts off I don't know because it doesn't and never did.

hollie.weimeraner

Tarambor wrote: »

Quite why we still have people pepetuating this myth that using thick oil stops leaks and stops a well worn knackered engine from rattling its nuts off I don't know because it doesn't and never did.

I remember the days when sawdust used to do the trick:rotfl: As long as you got shut within a couple of days.

tomstickland

It was consuming oil because it had done 245,000 miles and was losing compression. The mpg was gradually dropping week by week. I'd wager that the piston rings were worn.

Not to worry because I've replaced it with a 17,000 mile Skoda Fabia Estate 1.2 TSi (little 16v turbo) which is giving me +50mpg and enough power to work with. It's a wonderful car all round and I recommend them.