More than one Ford EcoBoost powerplant has experienced woes in recent years, including the turbocharged 1.0L I-3 EcoBoost engine, which has been the subject of lawsuits, an NHTSA investigation, and a recall in recent times, all due to engine failures caused by a loss of oil pressure. More recently, there have been potential concerns related to the 1.5L I-3 EcoBoost engine used in vehicles like the Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Escape, too. Now, a new video sheds some additional light on that particular topic.
In this video from the YouTube channel I Do Cars, our host takes a look at a 1.5L I-3 EcoBoost engine taken from a 2021 Escape, which failed at the 70k mark and had to be replaced. Our host tears down the powerplant to survey the damage, and needless to say, it’s a rather horrifying autopsy. Our host does provide one big caveat by admitting that this is the first such engine he’s torn down, so it’s worth taking that into account.
Our host also notes that the owner of this Ford Escape didn’t follow maintenance intervals properly, and went too long between oil changes, but in all fairness, the owner was paying attention the maintenance minder in this case and not actual mileage. In this case, if these engines don’t get up to operating temperature – such as on frequent short trips – it can lead to carbon build-up, rings getting stuck, and fuel in the oil, which can lead to quicker belt degradation and, eventually, engine failure.
That’s exactly what happened here, even if our host points out that the 1.5L EcoBoost is something of an improvement on the old 1.0L in terms of how it prevents coolant intrusion from occurring, which has been problematic for many. Of course, one can mitigate much of this risk by simply ensuring that a proper maintenance schedule is followed, but with these vehicles popping up on the used market, that could create some serious headaches for unknowing customers in future years.
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Gotta get me one of those!
More typical ford garbage, And a great reason to buy a Honda or Toyota. And this coming from a 45 year certified mechanic.
Honda is making engines with wet belts now. The 1.5 Turbo in the Civic. I wouldn't buy it.
Yep, issues with fuel diluting the oil.
You need to treat an EcoBoost Ford like you do a BMW. Lease them 3 years while they are under warranty, and give them back at the end of the lease and walk away.
I drove my Pontiac Grand Prix with 263K on the clock and a haunted transmission. 15 years old and rust up to the door handles. And i traded it in. That engine, even with proper maintenance, will never see half of the mileage i got out of the Pontiac.
Today it’s all about saving the planet. The EPA forces manufacturers to achieve milage targets and reduce emissions. And that has led to unreliable and short lived vehicles. We now dispose of more vehicles, and house hold appliances than ever before. We burn more carbon fuels and cause more waste and pollution than ever trying to conform to EPA targets. Time government woke up to the disaster they are causing.
Bingo, finally someone gets it. Someone in another thread was claiming China is going to flood the market with cheap, disposable EVs. Of course, just like phones! So how does this help the environment again? The goal posts can only be moved so far. Without a proper recycling program, EVs are going to do nothing to help the environment.
Not sure if you actually watched the video the whole way through. The wet belt is actually still part of this engine. It looked impossible to remove.
What the heck is a wet belt? I’m pretty tech savvy but I never heard of a wet belt even though I have a 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid!
Basically timing belt runs inside the engine, submerged in oil. The rubber comes apart more quickly and can get into other parts of the engine. The upside is a better fuel economy, which is good for the tree-huggers, bad for car owners.
The owner didn't properly maintain the vehicle. There is your problem right there. Ford has been using this engine for years, and this is the first one this guy has seen. If this engine was that inherently bad, Ford would no longer use it.
People love to dump all over the EcoBoost engines, but they are just as reliable as any other engine on the market. Honda has had issues, Toyota has had issues, Hyundai and Kia have certainly had issues.
Engineering failures and convincing owners they don't need so much maintenance. Besides trying to create smaller liter engines that are ask to produce a lot of power. It's all a recipe for early failures. We should not be surprised, these engines were never designed for longevity.