Focus 1.6 TDCI Turbo Problems That You Never Knew!

We have heard of a few people complaining about some Focus 1.6 TDCI turbo problems.

The 1.6 TDCI engine is also used in other vehicles including Volvo, Suzuki, Peugeot, Mini, and Ford. But one of the most commonly affected models is the Ford Focus that uses this engine. Thai is why it is important to understand what can actually be done about it before things take a turn for the worst.

Today, we will discuss what these problems are and what solutions you can consider to get them fixed. Let’s get right into it.

focus 1.6 tdci turbo problems

Focus 1.6 TDCI Turbo Problems 

1.Turbo failure

The most common issue with the 1.6 TDCI is turbo failure. However, it is not the end of the world once it happens since you can easily replace your turbo or have it repaired. Once you get this done, the brand new turbo replacement should be able to last you for many more miles.

But there are other more concerning issues to take into consideration. The following are some things that can go wrong with your turbo and what may be done about these.

2. Oil Starvation

The most common sign that there is an issue with oil starvation is when your turbo fails and is unable to start the engine. This happens because of injector seals problems and some carbon build-up. 

When there is carbon building up in your engine oil, the gauze filter in your turbo oil feed bolt right behind your DPF or exhaust system gets blocked, which then causes your turbocharger to lack sufficient oil.

With this in mind, it is good to conduct an oil pressure test to determine if your turbocharger is getting enough oil or not. To do this, you can use an adaptor specifically designed for conducting an oil pressure test. Then, simply measure your oil pressure and check for the result.

When your engine oil pressure while the engine is idle is under 2.3 bar, which is the minimum, this means that the turbo is bound to fail because of inadequate oil.

3. Faulty gauze filter

Since your 1.6 TDCI engine comes with a gauze filter in your oil feed pipe bolt, you need to remove your bolt and the gauze, then refit your bolt and measure once more the oil pressure. By doing so, it also confirms that your oil pickup and oil pump are in good condition.

When the result of your oil filter test shows a higher reading with your gauze filter removed, then it means that it should be fine. But you will need to keep your filter cleaned to make sure that there are no contaminants in there, which can cause damage to your engine.

Replacing Your Turbo

Now, if you still observe some issues with your turbo, then the next step would be to replace it. There are a few things to keep in mind before you go ahead with this process.

The following are among the key points that are very crucial when conducting a turbo replacement:

  • Replace the banjo bolts and oil feed pipe
  • Remove and clean your oil sump
  • Replace the strainer or oil pickup
  • Remove and clean the oil cooler or oil filter housing
  • Remove and clean the intercooler or charge air cooler
  • Check your exhaust for buildup and blockage
  • Clean your DPF
  • Remove and clean your brake vacuum pump
  • Fit in a new oil filter
  • Remove and clean your oil return pipe

These are all very important things to take care of before doing a turbo replacement. By doing so, you can be certain that your brand new turbo should last a long time. Moreover, the injector oil seals need to be inspected.

Turbo failure on your 1.6 TDCI can also fail when there is too much carbon buildup around your injectors. Eventually, your injector oil seals may fail, so you have to be sure that you remove the buildup and contaminants around it. 

Otherwise, many problems can happen, starting with the failure of your injector sealing copper washer and then more buildup in your injector sleeve. After some time, the injector sleeve oil seal may rot, which causes carbon to get into your engine oil and lead to a turbo failure.

So, it is important to inspect and clean your injector sleeve. Make sure there is no carbon buildup there that increases the likelihood of damage,

 After cleaning the carbon out and covering any holes, this should expose your injector sleeve oil seals. Then, you can replace the faulty seals, as well as the injector copper washers. After you have refitted the injectors, all that is left to do is to put new oil in your engine.

Now, another important step after doing all of these is to drive your car for about 30 miles. Then, remove your gauze filter and replace the filter and oil. Do another road test for 50 miles. These are very important to make sure that the turbo is indeed working properly after replacing some key components we have mentioned.

Additionally, you should determine the actual reason for your turbo failure to create a definitive solution that will fix it. Moreover, be sure that your replace your filter and oil every 3000 miles for maintenance purposes.

Bottom Line

There may be quite a few Focus 1.6 TDCI turbo problems to keep in mind. However, by performing some regular maintenance and checks, you should be able to prevent these issues from getting worse.

Furthermore, a turbo replacement or repair may be necessary when you notice some early signs of a problem. Follow the tips we have shared to ensure the best results from replacing your turbo and to make sure that it can last a long time.

We hope this post has been helpful in addressing any concerns you may be having with your turbo and prevent further damage to this critical component of your vehicle.

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