What is Ford EcoBoost?

If you’re shopping around for a Ford, you may have come across the term EcoBoost. But what does it mean exactly?

Simply put, It’s what Ford brands its current crop of turbocharged petrol engines. It’s used EcoBoost since 2009, and it’s become a mainstay across most new Ford models.

What is an EcoBoost engine?

Ford EcoBoost is the branding the manufacturer applies to its range of turbocharged petrol models. This differs from diesel-powered EcoBlue cars and Duratec which is used for non-turbocharged petrol options.

Turbocharging is incredibly common on petrol cars today. A turbocharger compresses air going into the engine, allowing it to produce power more efficiently.

What are the benefits of Ford EcoBoost?

• Turbocharged engines produce power more efficiently

Turbochargers work by compressing air, allowing engines to produce power more efficiently. This means you can get similar levels of performance to a larger, non-turbocharged engine without the additional size and weight.

• Fuel economy and emissions are improved

Turbocharging an engine allows it to burn fuel more efficiently, too, reducing its consumption and lowering emissions.

Ford EcoBoost problems

As with many engines, Ford EcoBoost units are not immune to faults. Some common issues include:

• Fuel pressure issues

High-mileage Ford EcoBoost engines have been reported to suffer from low fuel pressure issues, reducing performance. This is usually fixed by replacing the fuel pump.

• Valve damage

Again this only really applies to high-mileage Ford EcoBoost engines. This is as a result of direct fuel injection, with no natural cleaning of the intake valve stems leading up to a buildup of carbon.

• Overheating

Early Ford EcoBoost engines had a common problem that would cause them to overheat. This is because they would use coolant pipes made of nylon that could fail at high temperatures.

A recall was issued in 2015 that saw the vast majority of these models have replacement pipes fitted to resolve the issue. It’s worth checking for any outstanding recalls if you’re considering buying a pre-2015 car, though.

Which Ford models have EcoBoost?

The vast majority of Ford models on sale today are available with EcoBoost engines. Examples include:

• Ford Fiesta
• Ford Fiesta ST
• Ford EcoSport
• Ford Puma
• Ford Puma ST
• Ford Focus
• Ford Focus ST
• Ford Kuga