Ford Focus 1 which engine is better 1.6 or 1.8 or 2.0

All famous, respected cars have a high-performance engine at their heart. The car and the engine go together like bread and butter, complementing each other perfectly. One could even say that no matter how beautiful the shell is, without a “convincing” power unit it is simply doomed to failure. At the same time, on the other hand, choosing the right engine can turn even the most ordinary-looking car into a legend.

Ford has a rich history of creating unique and high-quality V8 engines, most of which have boosted variants that have left their mark on the timeline or at least proven themselves to be tuned by all sorts of enthusiasts and even branded tuning houses. Below will be presented those of them that are considered the most significant in one of the oldest automobile companies.

Flathead V-8

Ford Roadster with the first Flatheat V8

It's hard to imagine how revolutionary the side-by-side eight-cylinder engine, introduced in 1932, seemed. In one shot, Ford created the first mass-produced powerplant for street racers and rodders. While it was initially a stretch to call just 65 horsepower sporty, the rapid development of all sorts of aftermarket carburetor kits, camshafts, exhaust and exhaust kits, and even overhead valve cylinder heads quickly changed that view.

The first generation Flathead V-8 had a displacement of 221 cubic inches (3.6 liters), but by the early 50s it had increased to 255 cubic inches, offering an almost double increase in power (125 horsepower), albeit using an overhead valve arrangement. Thus, the era of splined (internal combustion engines with valves located in the cylinder block next to the piston, and not in the cylinder head) blocks is slowly but irrevocably fading into history.

Zetek Ford Focus-2 engines

The Zetec engines on the Ford Focus-2 are equipped with a timing belt; the line of power units includes engines of three sizes:

All internal combustion engines are 16-valve, with two camshafts (overhead position in the cylinder head). Zetec engines can have both hydraulic compensators and shims - the Zetec-SE series has had hydraulic pushers since 2001, before that the need for valve adjustment was necessary.

Valve knocking on Zetek engines can be heard infrequently; valve adjustment is required after 120-150 thousand mileage. The work itself is difficult, and without sufficient experience adjusting the valves on the Ford Focus 2 is not recommended.

The cylinder head and cylinder block of the Zetec-SE internal combustion engine are cast from aluminum alloy, all engines are four-cylinder, in-line, with 4 valves located in each combustion chamber. The timing belt drives not only the camshafts, but also the water pump, so when replacing parts of the gas distribution mechanism, it is recommended to change the pump as well. The 1.6 Zetec engine is characterized by relatively low fuel consumption; in mixed mode, fuel consumption is about 7-8 l/100 km. The engine intake manifold is made of plastic, the oil pan is made of aluminum.

Many car owners recommend changing the timing belt at 60 thousand km, although according to factory regulations, replacement must be done after 150 thousand km. Here you can play it safe - if the strap breaks, the valve bends. The engine oil and air filter are replaced in the standard mode, the same as for Duratek engines. The 1.6 power unit is quite reliable, its only serious drawback is its insufficient power. Fuel consumption with the Zetek engine is also not the smallest - in the city it can reach 10-11 liters per “hundred”.

The Zetec 1.8 engine is not considered too reliable, however, all its problems are not so significant:

• thermostat failure;
• leaking front crankshaft oil seal;
• unstable operation at idle speed.

But overall the unit is not bad - it doesn’t consume much oil, and it’s not so easy to “kill” the crankshaft.

Many Zetek have one design feature - the crankshaft gear is not fixed with a key, it is “floating”. Therefore, when replacing the timing belt, special attention should be paid to this fact - if you do not tighten the pulley tightly to the shaft, the marks on the shafts will be lost and the valve timing will change. As a result, the engine will stop working normally and may bend the valves.

Boss 429

V8 Mustang Boss 429

To be honest, the Mustang Boss 429 wasn't the most iconic muscle car of all time. However, the 429 showed outstanding results in auto racing. David Pearson and Team FoMoCo (Ford Motor Company) in the Torino and Cyclone dominated the "charged 429 Bosses" in NASCAR in 1969, with a record of 30 wins out of 54 races.

And this is no accident: the power unit developed a power of 375 horsepower, and the rigid piston group easily endured the heaviest loads of 500 miles at more than 7,000 rpm.

Overall, the 429 Mustang Boss is a rare muscle car, regardless of engine variation, and the 1,300 figure only proves that.

More reliable cars

— Mazda shares space with Ford . The Duratec HE/MZR engine from such cooperation has earned many positive reviews. Installed on Mazda 3 and 6, Focus, Mondeo. Motor life is limited to 145 – 150 thousand km. Despite all the simplicity, the quality of execution wants to be the best. Particularly sensitive to insufficient oil and temperature overheating.

-Volkswagen and its famous 2.0 FSI . Among the mass consumers we can name Golf of all generations, Octavia, Audi, Passat, SS. The engine life is no more than 150 thousand. The production level is a solid four. Despite all the simplicity, there are difficulties in the design, and not small ones. So the question remains open regarding simplicity. Weak fuel system, which drops after 100 thousand, along with the injectors. Volkswagen engines are characterized by uneven wear of piston parts.

-The top eight is closed by the German concern BMW and its engine versions N43, 45, 46. The first carriers are considered to be the threes and fives 318i, 320i, 520i. The mileage to the capital lasts just over 140,000 km, which is extremely low for such a brand. Although, facts of mileage of 200,000 km are known. Matter of chance. Good quality, spare parts at an affordable price.

Here is the rating of the most reliable passenger car engines according to the international research 2020. All the best. Fair wind.

Boss 302

Mustang Boss 302 with V8

It's hard to find much criticism of the 302 "Bosses" of 1969-'70, since at that time they were truly revolutionary.

The Mustang Boss 302 is more than a car. This is a desire to legalize the small block for Trans-Am racing, which would later become one of the most successful engines produced by Ford, selling an impressive 8,600 units! Interestingly, the automaker from Dearborn, even after almost half a century, has not declassified the real performance of this power unit.

Thus, the publication "Hot Road" in 1969 tested two muscle cars '69 Chevy Camaro Z/28 and '69 Ford Mustang Boss 302 of comparable displacement, power and even the same 750 Holley carburetors. On the dyno, the Boss reached 372 horsepower at 6,800 rpm, while the Chevy only managed 356 horsepower at 6,700 rpm. Maximum torque favored Chevy by a small margin - 451 Nm at 4400 rpm, versus Ford's 440 Nm at 4200 rpm. But after a thorough study of the torque characteristics graphs, it turned out that on the 302 there was almost a peak rise at another frequency - 3000 rpm, and as the experts wrote, this was not accidental. This was actually proven in a very competitive debut in the 1969 Trans-Am series and victories in the championship in 1970.

The most reliable passenger car engines

An analysis of the number of calls to workshops shows that most often drivers whose engine has a volume of more than 2.0 liters come to us. These are the ones installed in business and executive classes.

Subaru

The first place was given to the Japanese manufacturer – Subaru. The engine of the boxer version of the EJ20 has been familiar since the early 90s and is still positioned from the best side, despite many competitors. Forester and Impreza are still equipped with this type of engine. In Europe itself, they abandoned the production of boxer engines and replaced it with a modern engine with a chain drive gas distribution mechanism instead of a belt.

The average resource is 250 – 260 thousand km. mileage, depending on operating conditions and driving style. There are known facts when the driver managed to drive just over 315,000 km before major repairs. Quite an impressive figure. In addition, for the engine of the EJ20 version, unlike the Toyota (AZ version), a factory repair size is provided.

Since the beginning of 2001, this has been a rarity for most cars. Among the many advantages, there was also a fly in the ointment in the form of the high cost of spare parts and the work of many suppliers on pre-order.

Of all the brands in the land of the rising sun, Subaru requires the most expenses for maintenance and major repairs. In short, reliability requires investment.

Toyota

The Toyota engine in version 1 has proven itself well in models such as Avensis, RAV SUV - 4 of all modifications. The average mileage to capital is 210 - 220 thousand kilometers.

The quality of the Japanese parts is, as always, at its best. This is confirmed by the reliability statistics rating. The power unit was assembled so thoughtfully that it managed to outperform Honda in terms of performance and characteristics. Spare parts are somewhat cheaper than those of its predecessor.

Honda

The honorable top three is closed by a representative from Japan – Honda with a version of the R20 engine. All Accord model series were equipped with this engine. Later it was inherited by the Honda CR-V, and the result was a good SUV with a reliable engine.

The engine produces about 210,000 capital, the quality of the components is slightly higher than that of Mitsubishi. Apparently, because of this, she did not make it into the top 10 rankings. The design of the engine itself is simple, it is practical and unpretentious.

Valve adjustment is reminiscent of VAZ’s “key and screwdriver” system. Pushers do not require replacement. Technical inspection every 45 thousand km. If this rule is observed, service life is ensured until the sleeves wear out.

Unfortunately, repair dimensions are not provided by the manufacturer for this car model. Capital, as well as current repairs, are the most expensive among the Japanese.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi version of the 4B11 engine, which was equipped with Outlander in all its generations. Since 2007, the Japanese have actively begun equipping the new Lancer X with it. Mitsubishi is capable of withstanding a mileage of no more than 170 - 180 thousand km. Manufacturing is at a level higher than European. Spare parts do not shine with low cost and availability.

Renault-Nissan

M4R/MR20 family from joint manufacturer Renault-Nissan. It will be easier for the buyer to navigate the models of the Japanese SUV X‑Trail and the new Qashqai, as well as the third generation Renault Megane. Renault Fluence partially included a version of the power unit.

The engine's service life is also not great, amounting to 170,000 km. mileage The quality is not without flaws and weaknesses. There are cases when the crankshaft cracks and the journals cannot withstand the base load. The timing chain fails at 85,000 km. Spare parts and components are widely available. In terms of overhaul, it is comparable to Mazda or Ford.

Boss 351

Mustang Boss 351 with V8

So is it any surprise that we included all three Boss engines in our overall list? Usually this block is put at a disadvantage by many, because production was limited to one year of production. But believe me, this little block V-8, equipped with a Cleveland four-barrel carburetor, had a lot to offer.

Even despite the installation of the 351 block in the heaviest fastback platform of that time, it showed decent results, leaving no chance for the LT1 350, L76 327, DZ 302 and even the Boss 302. Thanks to this, the Boss 351 can rightfully be called the fastest classic Mustang.

Are there any problems with the body of the Ford Focus 2?

Owner reviews say that over time, corrosion begins to form in the area of ​​thresholds and hidden door cavities. Although the manufacturer himself states that the body is galvanized. Most likely, galvanizing was done using a cold method. The trunk lid under the trim also begins to rust. Now about the quality of the paintwork. The varnish tends to become cloudy and peel off. This is especially noticeable in sandblasted areas - the front bumper, hood edge and sills. Many owners have a broken rod that goes from the lock cylinder to the hood latch. This part is made of plastic and cannot withstand loads. A new lock costs around $65. But the owners practice a more economical option - installing a steel rod from a Ford Mondeo.

EFI 5.0L HO

5.0 HO Mustang GT with V8

In 1978, Ford first began using the European style of designating engine displacement; up until that point, the numbers indicated volume in cubic inches familiar to Americans. Unfortunately, these were difficult times for performance cars, and 5-liter eight-cylinder engines until 1982 did not offer any serious advantages over their smaller in-line “brethren.” The situation only changed in 1986, during the introduction of the 5.0 HO Mustang GT, which replaced the basic two-barrel carburetor with a four-barrel Holly.

The 1986-'93 5.0L wasn't quite the same engine as the muscle cars of old, but the 225 horsepower output with a manual transmission was a significant step in the right direction.

As statistics show...

The comparisons mainly include naturally aspirated engines with a volume of 2.0 liters or more. Smaller ones are rarely brought to a service station for repairs, since capital is not a cheap pleasure, especially for a foreign car. Auto mechanics say that every year it becomes harder and harder to conduct an endurance analysis, as the quality is rapidly declining. In general, the recession began its active phase 14 years ago.

The assessment is based on:

1. motor resource;
2. reliability of individual components and assemblies;
3. quality of components production;
4. cost of spare parts.

All parts of any power unit can be restored, but the question of the rationality of such repairs arises. Sometimes it’s easier to purchase a complete motor or spare part.

Ford GT 5.4L

V8 Mustang Shelby GT 500 5.4L

We have in stock the supercharged 5.4 liter V8 engine from the 2005-'06 Ford GT supercar. This is the highest performing Ford block of all time, and certainly one of the most expensive. The base Mustang Shelby GT 500 5.4L boasts 550 horsepower and 678 Nm of torque.

The engine features an all-aluminum design with 32 valves, dual camshafts, two fuel injectors per cylinder, MAHLE forged pistons and a 2.3-liter Eaton supercharger delivering 12psi (pounds per square inch).

Controls - Ford Focus 1

Controls

: 1 — outside rear view mirror; 2 — control knob for external rear-view mirrors; 3 — lever for switching direction indicators and headlights; 4 — luggage compartment opening button; 5 — steering wheel; 6 — driver’s airbag trim (horn button); 7 — instrument cluster; 8 — switch lever for windshield wipers and washers; 9 — ashtray; 10 — cigarette lighter; 11 — container for small items (depending on the configuration, a trip computer can be installed in this place); 12 — central deflector of the interior ventilation and heating system; 13 — compartment for installing audio equipment (a radio or CD player can be installed as standard); 14— alarm switch; 15 — immobilizer control LED; 16 — hours; 17 — passenger airbag compartment in the front seat; 18 — side deflector of the interior ventilation and heating system; 19 — right front door glass blower deflector; 20 — right front door power window switch; 21 — emergency fuel supply switch (located under the plug); 22 — glove box; 23 — handle of the glove box lid; 24 — control panel for the heating, interior ventilation and air conditioning system; 25 — right front seat heating switch; 26 - plug; 27 — gear shift lever; 28 — parking brake lever; 29 — left front seat heating switch; 30—gas pedal; 31 — storage shelf; 32 — brake pedal; 33 — ignition switch; 34 — clutch pedal; 35 — cover of the main fuse box; 36 — handle of the steering column adjustment mechanism; 37 — lighting control panel; 38 — car window control panel; 39 — door lock handle; 40 — door lock button; 41 — seat belt lock; 42 — ashtray for rear seat passengers; 43 — front seat backrest tilt adjustment knob

Heating, interior ventilation and air conditioning control panel

*: 1 — temperature control knob; 2 — damper control handle; 3 — fan control knob; 4 — rear window heating switch; 5 — windshield heating switch; 6 — air recirculation mode switch; 7 - air conditioning system switch. * It is possible to equip the car with an electronic temperature control system in the cabin, while the panel has only keys instead of handles

Lighting control panel

: 1 — external lighting switch; 2 — control handle for electric headlight adjustment; 3 — brightness control for instrument cluster illumination* * Installed on parts of cars

Driver's door power window control panel

: 1 — power window switch of the left front door; 2 — right front door power window switch; 3 — power window switch of the rear right door; 4 — rear door power window lock key; 5 - rear left door power window switch

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4.6L Three-Valve

V8 4.6L Three-Valve SOHC

Rounding out our top is a somewhat compromise “three-valve” (three valves per cylinder) SOHC with 315 horsepower. Surprised? Recall that our selection criterion was not based solely on performance characteristics. The main reason for choosing the 4.6L Three-Valve was the connection to the original '65 pony car. Same 289 cubic inches. The same balance of body weight and fine tuning of the engine and gearbox for it.

A four-time winner of Ward's 10 Best Engines 2005-'08 and numerous street wins for the higher-performing Challengers and Camaros are proof of this.

Technical specifications - Ford Focus 1

* Limited for safety reasons ** Conditional fuel consumption according to 93/116 EEC standards in a combined driving cycle

*As an option, alloy wheels 6Jx15 can be installed **Summer tires ***For wheels 6Jx15

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Factors affecting engine life

Why is it impossible to determine the engine life in advance and accurately?
After all, every car is tested by the manufacturer, and therefore such information should be available. The fact is that the wear and tear of the power unit and its durability are influenced by certain factors, and therefore each car owner’s engine will last a different time. Generally speaking, the engine life is influenced by the following factors:

• operating style;
• quality of materials used;
• correctness and timeliness of service;
• climatic conditions, etc.

One of the most significant factors is driving style. For each power unit, a certain speed range is provided at which the engine will operate optimally and experience the least wear. If your driving style is smooth, the engine will last much longer. In the case when the driver prefers aggressive driving, constant sharp acceleration, which forces the engine to work at its limit, its service life will be significantly reduced. We also note that operating the car on the highway has a positive effect on the durability of the power unit.

Climate plays a role. The lower the average outside temperature, the longer it will take for lubricants to penetrate various parts. Moreover, the engines will take longer to warm up, which negatively affects their service life.

Service and its timeliness are important. First of all, you need to take care of changing the oil according to the regulations. Many manufacturers recommend doing this every 15 thousand km. As practice shows, oil changes should be carried out at least once every 10 thousand km. Also, as part of scheduled maintenance, it is necessary to change other fluids and spare parts: antifreeze, filters, belts, etc. When changing the oil, you need to replace the air and oil filters.

The quality of the fuel directly affects the engine life. Quite often, car owners want to save some money and refuel at dubious stations, where the quality of the fuel may be unsatisfactory. This can harm the engine and cause premature wear. Often, instead of 95, they pour 92 gasoline. Such savings are only possible in the short term, since this also negatively affects the power unit. Each engine has its own type of fuel, and therefore violation of the requirement can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Ford Focus begins its history in 1998. In 2004, the second generation of the model appeared, which underwent restyling in 2008. In 2011, it was replaced by the 3rd Focus.

The Ford Focus has been a bestseller on the market for both new and used cars for many years. According to many analysts and surveys, this is the most popular foreign car. The car turned out to be quite successful. Many car owners, having driven the first generation Focus, remained loyal to it and, without hesitation, switched to Ford Focus 2. The new car brought with it new diseases. We will focus on these shortcomings.

Engine tuning options

Although more than 15 years have passed since the release of the first QQDB model, the Ford Focus series has excellent engine characteristics and has not lost its popularity. Various companies offer tuning of internal combustion engines, and such a degeneration of the engine will have considerable advantages. The most popular is chip tuning, with which you can increase power to that of an older Ford model with a 2-liter engine.

In this case, a new firmware is uploaded, the capabilities of which allow you to increase power and torque. With the correct firmware settings, it is also easy to achieve a reduction in fuel consumption, which will be about 5-7% with similar driving dynamics. To achieve a noticeable increase in power, attachments such as the intake manifold should be upgraded and the exhaust manifold modified. However, despite such work, boosting the engine will show the greatest efficiency.

You should be aware that installing a turbine will require replacing the standard piston group. This process will also require the installation of zero filters and a direct-flow muffler. Such an increase in power will entail an increase in fuel consumption and chip tuning will be the natural end of the modernization. The cost of such services starts from 6,000 rubles. and depends on the type of work and the capabilities of the workshop.

Ford Galaxy gearbox

MTX-75

A five-speed manual transmission has been used for the Ford Galaxy since 2006, but it was soon replaced by robotic and automatic transmissions, which are not always able to boast a high level of reliability. Typical problems may include difficult gear shifting, which can be easily resolved by changing the oil and cleaning the counterweight axle; Synchronizers occasionally fail. For in-place repairs in case of natural wear, the Ford RVS Master Transmission Tr5 gearbox additive is suitable. It will not only make shifting easier, but also reduce the noise level of the manual transmission.

Powershift

With normal operation and proper maintenance, the robotic transmission runs about 200 thousand km. But the dual-mass flywheel and clutch block are often replaced at 120 thousand km. Another weak unit is considered to be the flywheel.

TF-81SC

The six-speed automatic transmission was produced by the famous Japanese company Aisin. The box is durable and unpretentious. Although it has characteristic features and technical disadvantages. For example, when a friction lining is destroyed, dust enters the torque converter, which can lead to accelerated wear. Therefore, for any major repair, this gasket is changed. Also, special attention is paid to the pump bushing in the torque converter and solenoids. The box is rightfully considered one of the most successful, significantly superior to the previous TF60SN.

JF506E

This five-speed automatic transmission from Jatco has been produced since 1999 and is installed on European versions of the Galaxy and Mondeo. With significant mileage, these automatic transmissions can be disappointing with jerks and jolts when switching, which is associated with incorrect functioning of the hydraulic plate and solenoids. Sometimes cleaning them helps, but in critical cases you have to change the hydraulic unit assembly. To extend the life of Ford Galaxy automatic transmissions, the RVS Master Transmission Atr7 additive is suitable. It has already proven itself to be excellent in actual use.