Focus Diesel questions

[David87M3]

Hi,
going to have a look at a Focus 5 door 1.8tdi Ghia. I think its a 2001 year

Are the diesel engines ok? I think its done about 90k its £1999

Any comments?


Thanks

[Dimski]

The TDDI (Earlier type engine) were right old tractors compared to VW engines.

But they were also reliable, economical and not too slow. Only 90bhp, but was quicker in gear than mk4 Golf 1.6, and used to do a pretty good job keeping up with a Polo 16v. (Both those had 100bhp)

We ran one in the family from 10k, (with me up to 65k, then my sister) up to 120k. We then sold it on, and 2 owners later, the garage bought it back to have as a backup courtesy car. 2 years later, it is still going fine.

Ours suffered no breakdowns, no dramas, returned 50-60mpg, handled well, and took the miles without fuss. I would strongly recommend one. (Ours was a poverty spec CL)

We replaced it with a 1.8TDCI (115bhp). The engine was much smoother. far more refined, and quicker. However, it was not as reliable. It seems that this newer diesel technology was in its infancy for ford, and there were glitches. There are some known problems. To be fair, I think most have been ironed out by now.

Either way, I would recommend it. The early engine is a bit clattery, but a strong workhorse. The newer engine is a quicker, refined 'modern' diesel, with problems that you would be unlucky to suffer.

[hugoagogo]

echo those comments, mines actually a 75bhp tddi, there were 2 versions. also gone up over 120k miles with zero probs, I used to bang it up and down the autobahns flat out (a tiny bit over 100) all day long, getting 40mpg at the same time

cam belt is a 100,000 mile item (compared to 50 or 60 for the vag tdi?) - best to do water pump at the same time, or see if it's been done

[Dimski]

I stand to be corrected, but I am not sure they did the 75bhp version in the UK...

[hugoagogo]

lucky me then, in my rare euro version

I think over here it was mostly sold to fleets, telecoms companies and local government etc

mine was originally from a council dept in Aachen

[David87M3]

thanks

Dave

[focusboy]

me and the mrs ran a 2001 tddi 5dr for over 4 years, ended up selling 3 weeks ago with 199,948 miles on it, still started every morning before the glow plug light was out, a tad underpowered at points tho, you had to put your foot down if you wanted to over take but do miss it, gone into retirement with a more mature couple with out my heavy right foot, even so it still give us around 35 mpg round town and could go seaside and back (150 miles round trip) on quarter of a tank, oh yer and its only £66 for 6 months tax

id buy another for a run around at the right price

garry

[RobinFocus]

Ive got a focus diesel estate Y reg 150k. Paid a pittence for it but eveything is sound.

[David87M3]

whats the score with cold diesel engines? should the smoke a little?

I also posted in gen gassing to get a bit of advice on diesel engines becasuse I have never bought one before


Thanks

Edited by David87M3 on Thursday 5th February 11:43

[hugoagogo]

mine never smokes

presumably it's black smoke? some cars seem to do it when you put the foot down, some say it's less likely if you regularly drive the car at nearer full throttle

could be worn injectors/pump, knackered turbo or just dirty air filter

white or blue smoke would be bigger probs, petrol contamination or oil being burned respectively (unless it's just a tiny bit of water vapour, I never seem to get any of that either though)

[FWDRacer]

Diesels will often put out a puff at Cold start due to generous internal clearances, especially if the unit has done 100K+. Nothing to worry about at all. Mine does it (VAG unit) and I use no oil service to service. I suspect Fords TDDi and TDCi are no different.

I reinforce the oppinion that the TDDi's are bombproof. Really with Diesels anything with an inline injector pump (older tech) is rather reliable than the sometimes more problematic common rail/high pressure Diesels.

[Dimski]

FWDRacer said:

Diesels will often put out a puff at Cold start due to generous internal clearances, especially if the unit has done 100K+. Nothing to worry about at all. Mine does it (VAG unit) and I use no oil service to service. I suspect Fords TDDi and TDCi are no different.

I reinforce the oppinion that the TDDi's are bombproof. Really with Diesels anything with an inline injector pump (older tech) is rather reliable than the sometimes more problematic common rail/high pressure Diesels.

My mondeo emits a puff of smoke when started cold, lasts about 1 sec, then clears. (72k miles)

Prolonged smoke, if black/sooty, could be the injectors on their way out. White could be slightly more worrying, although judge if it is steam or smoke...

[Flog123]

Had a Focus Tddi for 8 years now 64,000 miles and only one minor breakdown. This was an injector coming loose resulting in a little spilt diesel, remedied in minutes with an adjustable wrench at the side of the road.

As said above, bulletproof engine.

Central locking is the only fault, it's got a mind of it's own.

[christian6984]

i had a 2000 fiesta 1.8TDdi Encore 75bhp for a first car, it was two and a half years old and had done 121,000 miles, changed the cambelt and did oil and filter changes every 5k, never gave me any trouble and had done 162,000 when i sold it a few months back. Best car i have owned so far.