Ford Wet Belt

Overview

If you own a Ford with the 1.0L or 1.5L EcoBoost engine (a lot of Fiesta, Focus, Puma, EcoSport and Kuga models), it has a timing belt that runs inside the engine, submerged in the oil — a so-called "wet belt". When this belt starts to degrade, it sheds fibres into the oil, those fibres block the oil pickup, and the engine starves of oil. The damage from there is usually catastrophic.

Ford's official guidance has changed over the years on when this belt should be replaced — and a lot of independent technicians (us included) now recommend doing it earlier than the original schedule said, especially if the engine has been on extended oil intervals or run on the wrong oil grade. We'll inspect first and give you straight advice on what your specific engine needs.

What we cover

• Wet timing belt inspection — checking the belt and oil for shedding
• Wet belt and tensioner replacement
• Oil pump pickup screen inspection (and clean / replace where needed)
• Engine oil and filter change with the correct grade
• Camshaft, crankshaft seal and front cover seal replacement
• Auxiliary drive belt and components
• Post-job leak check and engine-running verification

Get your EcoBoost checked if…

• It's a 1.0L or 1.5L EcoBoost over 60,000 km
• You don't know when the belt was last done
• Oil pressure warning light has come on
• Engine ticking, rattling or running roughly
• Engine has consumed more oil than it should between services
• You're buying or selling an EcoBoost Ford and want it checked first

Our approach

We start by inspecting the belt where possible and the oil for signs of belt material. From there we quote replacement with all the wear items together — there's no point doing the belt alone and leaving an old tensioner and worn pickup screen.

Why us, here in Kapiti

We've done a lot of these — it's a specific job that wants the right approach, and we don't cut corners. We use the correct Ford-spec oil and replacement parts every time.