Ford EcoBlue engine reliability

[Pudsey Bear]

I was just thinking that IF I had a few bob by some chance, I quite like the newer Bailey motorhomes as they are quite well built and a lot have the Ford automatic engines, but not happy with this wet belt malarky, so I thought I'd ask Google for info on disasters.


Are there any reports of the Transit EcoBlue engine with the wet belt going bang?

AI Overview


Yes, there are extensive and well-documented reports of Ford Transit engines with "wet belt" (belt-in-oil) systems suffering catastrophic failures. Known as the EcoBlue engines (particularly the 2.0-litre diesel introduced in 2016), this issue has become a major concern for van owners and mechanics alike.


The Root of the Problem
The wet timing belt runs directly inside the engine crankcase, submerged in oil. If the oil becomes contaminated—typically by unburnt diesel from failed DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) regeneration cycles—the diesel chemically degrades the rubber of the belt. This causes the belt to delaminate, swell, or shed its teeth.


When the belt degrades, detached rubber particles often block the oil pump strainer, causing a sudden drop in oil pressure and starving the engine of lubrication. Ultimately, the belt can slip or snap completely, causing the valves and pistons to collide, which results in catastrophic "bangs" and severe engine damage.



Common Warning Signs
Users on Reddit's CarTalkUK community heavily discuss these premature failures, noting that they frequently happen between 50,000 and 80,000 miles. Watch out for these early indicators:-

• Low oil pressure warning light: Often the first sign that debris is blocking the oil pump.
• Unusual noises: A distinct ticking, slapping, or whining sound coming from the front of the engine.
• Engine misfires or rough idle: Caused by the belt stretching and throwing the valve timing off.
• Rubber debris: Mechanics often notice rubber particles in the oil filter during a service.
  
  

Recommended Action
Due to the severity and expense of these failures—which can result in massive repair bills—industry experts and independent mechanics, such as HallCraft Servicing, strongly recommend replacing the wet timing belt and oil pump belt far earlier than Ford's original, longer service intervals. The widely accepted best practice is to replace both belts every 5 to 6 years or between 60,000 to 80,000 miles, whichever comes first

 

[Geek]

The other factor is thst you should only use the recommended oils. Other sorts of oil are more damaging to the belts.

 

[Canalsman]

Common phrase employing the word 'bargepole' comes to mind!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Indeed, of the ten foot variety.

 

[RichardHelen262]

Known as the eco boom engine
Changing oil more frequently and more importantly using the correct oil should go a long way in preventing early
Retirement of the engine,also worth taking the sump off every 20k and checking the oil pickup oil strainer for signs of rubber particles.
I wouldn’t totally rule one out just be prepared to spend a little extra on preventertive maintenance

 

[mark61]

Mates son works for a main dealer Transit centre. His advice used to be, don't touch one, that changed to get the VW version with a longer warranty.

However with more experience they know it is mainly vans which spend pretty much all their time driving in cities that have been the biggest problem, too many half done regen cycles perhaps?

I think he would now be recomendingg cutting Fords service schedule in half.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'll just avoid them altogether.

 

[Canalsman]

No point buying trouble...

 

[Wully]

I looked at a roof on an industrial estate in Coatbridge about six weeks ago.Inside this place the size of two football pitches it was full of nearly new ford transits and cars all with failed Engines. Was told they were all leased vans and contract hire vehicles under three years old. After asking too many questions the shutter was pulled down. Was told later they were all waiting to be crushed and wouldn’t be sorted or sold. Looked very suspicious Like they were trying to hide these vehicles most were fleet vans from Sky and the likes.

 

[YeoBlade]

I'll just avoid them altogether.

When I looked at getting my new Motorhome I instantly dismissed the Transit based ones, though there seemed to be a lot more of them than there used to be it appeared! Not had a ford since my Cortina, but I did try out a Ford Kuga recently, and the Cortina will still be the last Ford I'll buy!

 

[RichardHelen262]

When I looked at getting my new Motorhome I instantly dismissed the Transit based ones, though there seemed to be a lot more of them than there used to be it appeared! Not had a ford since my Cortina, but I did try out a Ford Kuga recently, and the Cortina will still be the last Ford I'll buy!

I haven’t owned a ford since 1995 that is when the Mercedes sprinter came out, and as for a ford car my last would have been a capri in the late 70s
I have never been a fan of Ford, they have always been the easiest to steal, and now they must be one of the most unreliable as well as still the easiest to steal

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I've had a few Fords, not had any problems out of the ordinary, even a couple of Trannys, Sprinters, on the other hand, great when they were right, but always failed MOTs, crap gearboxes, and rusted for fun. The most reliable vans I had were Ducatos.

 

[Robmac]

I haven’t owned a ford since 1995 that is when the Mercedes sprinter came out, and as for a ford car my last would have been a capri in the late 70s
I have never been a fan of Ford, they have always been the easiest to steal, and now they must be one of the most unreliable as well as still the easiest to steal

I remember a few years back when I met one of our security guards from work in the village I lived in back then, turns out he had locked himself out of his Ford Escort.

I was in an Orion and tried my key in his door, to his disbelief it opened instantly!

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I bought a used van for Triple S, ex NE Gas, mainly for advertising, but it ran so well I kept it for years. I went everywhere in it as I could claim for the fuel, I converted the interior to Ghia spec.

 

[Wully]

I still don’t mind a transit for work they are great work horses when running right. we’ve had a few that have been to the moon and back and never had a problem.Then older 2.5s and the 2.2 durotorqe were fine it seems to be the newer 2.0 with wet belts and dodgy oil pumps and oil changes every 5k that are problematic. I’ve probably had more than 25 transits over the years and never had an engine failure.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I still don’t mind a transit for work they are great work horses when running right. we’ve had a few that have been to the moon and back and never had a problem.Then older 2.5s and the 2.2 durotorqe were fine it seems to be the newer 2.0 with wet belts and dodgy oil pumps and oil changes every 5k that are problematic. I’ve probably had more than 25 transits over the years and never had an engine failure.

Not sure about the Ducatos, but the 07 Citroen Relay had the Ford Puma engine, and I think my Ducato has the same one.

 

[RichardHelen262]

I still don’t mind a transit for work they are great work horses when running right. we’ve had a few that have been to the moon and back and never had a problem.Then older 2.5s and the 2.2 durotorqe were fine it seems to be the newer 2.0 with wet belts and dodgy oil pumps and oil changes every 5k that are problematic. I’ve probably had more than 25 transits over the years and never had an engine failure.

The old 2.5 banana engine was a superb engine for its time, but since then ford have steadily been going down hill

 

[trevskoda]

I still don’t mind a transit for work they are great work horses when running right. we’ve had a few that have been to the moon and back and never had a problem.Then older 2.5s and the 2.2 durotorqe were fine it seems to be the newer 2.0 with wet belts and dodgy oil pumps and oil changes every 5k that are problematic. I’ve probably had more than 25 transits over the years and never had an engine failure.

You must pray a lot, me when i was running my jago jeep x flow powered it went through engines g boxes and diffs like a child eating smarties.
Bought a old escort 1600 fitted with a new recone engine with only a few hundred miles but failed its mot, so engine went in jago, going into my work at 40th it exploaded big time, think i had 4 engines in it in 5 or so years, total junk, never had a good car/engine to i went to skoda, once set up proper they never gave any trouble.

 

[alcam]

I remember a few years back when I met one of our security guards from work in the village I lived in back then, turns out he had locked himself out of his Ford Escort.

I was in an Orion and tried my key in his door, to his disbelief it opened instantly!

Had a key for my dad's mk11 cortina . Opened and started other cortinas , anglias etc . Apparently!
Quite incredible a company the size of Ford have always had this defect

 

[Robmac]

I've always liked Fords, my Dad would have nothing else.

I learned to drive in a 1600E which was a great car and when my Dad moved up to a Mk111 Cortina I used to borrow it occasionally and I always remember the gearbox being like silk, he never had any real trouble with Ford's either.