1.6 Ford EcoBoost engine - experiences and problems

Direct fuel injection makes the 1.6 EcoBoost engine economical. Turbocharging, on the other hand, provides very good performance and flexibility.

The 1.6 EcoBoost engine offered since 2010, as well as the 1.5 EcoBoost introduced in 2014, were developed on the basis of previous-century Zetec-SE units that Ford developed with Yamaha. Historical baggage is not a disadvantage in this case. On the contrary. These engines were very long lasting and durable. The only major illness was increased oil consumption at high mileage. In addition, the failures were limited to engine electronics.

The 1.6 EcoBoost engine replaced the 1,8-2,5 engines. The lower capacity is compensated by turbocharging, direct fuel injection and the Ti-VCT system of variable valve phases - present on both camshafts. According to current trends, the engine has been given a stop-start function, accelerating an intelligent cooling system to operating temperature and variable capacity oil pumps that reduce power loss inside the engine.

Equipping 1.6 EcoBoost engines with LPG is difficult due to the presence of direct petrol injection. It is worth considering the throttle, as a skillfully used Ford with a 1.6 EcoBoost engine meets an average of 7-8 l / 100 km.

The 1.6 EcoBoost engine was used in most Ford models manufactured after 2010. (from top notch Fiestas, across Focus, to Galaxy) as well as in select ones Volvo models (V40, V60, S60 or S80).

The 1.6 EcoBoost engine was available in versions developing 150 hp, 160 hp or 182 hp, and in any case 240 Nm. For the needs of the Fiesta ST, the engine went up to 200 hp and 290 Nm, and even 215 hp and 320 Nm - these are the current values ​​available 15/20 seconds after pressing the gas to the floor, and then you can count on 182 hp and 240 Nm or 200 hp and 290 Nm.

The 1.6 EcoBoost unit was also used in Formula Ford cars, where they developed 200 hp. Of course, this was not the end of the capabilities of this engine, and even more so a level that would drastically shorten the life of the unit. Tuning companies offer conversion of output 160-182 hp to 210-220 hp by only modifying electronics.

Unlike the 1.0 EcoBoost with cast iron block, the 1.6 EcoBoost engine has an aluminum alloy housing.

How much mileage can a 1.6EcoBoost engine last? For now, it is impossible to give a definite answer. There is no shortage of cars that have covered 200.000 kilometers and are still in good shape. The durability of a properly serviced engine is therefore higher. There are reports of cars that had up to 300.000 km. There are also 1.6 EcoBoost engines that could not withstand 200 km and even 100.000 km - for now, however, isolated cases. It is recommended that in order to increase the service life of the engine, the engine oil is changed every 10-15 thousand km, and not every 30 thousand km.

On a 1.6EcoBoost engine, the divorce should be replaced every 240.000 km or 10 years. Even the original Ford parts are not expensive, so you can consider shortening this period for engine safety (independent services suggest an interval of 140-160 thousand km) - with spanners and a water pump. Considering the life of the injector, it is worth replacing the fuel filter often.

1.6 EcoBoost - failure rate

One of the problems with the 1.6EcoBoost engines, as well as the 1.0 EcoBoost before 2015 is the problems with the cooling system. The extreme scenario is overheating of the head, cracking (or bursting of the engine block), oil leaks and car fires. Ford eliminated the factory malfunction as part of a service operation. It is worth checking if the car has a problem, because the cost of removing the effects of overheating must be paid by you.

As with other direct-injection engines, the 1.6 EcoBoost unit can malfunction the high-pressure fuel pump, with a loss of power or a startup problem.

In the turbocharger it is possible not only to shoot the rotor shaft but also to crack the clutch. You can find a used turbo in good condition or overhaul the turbine.

Engine electronic equipment can create different types of problems. These are not always real failures, but bugs that disappear after a service intervention in the software.