Remember to check the oil level regularly

Check the oil level after every third filling of the fuel tank or after a long trip on the autobahn at high speed. During break-in or with an older engine with increased fuel consumption, it is recommended to check the oil level every 1000 km. Top up the oil supply no earlier than its level drops to about the middle between the two marks on the dipstick. Your Focus is then missing about ½ liter.

Stages of work

Check the oil level before starting with a cold engine. To do this, your Focus must be on a level surface. To check the oil level when the engine is warm, let the engine rest for at least 5 minutes to allow time for the circulating oil to drain into the crankcase.

Remove the dipstick to measure the oil level. Be careful when the engine is warm. The probe can be very hot. Wipe the dipstick with a clean, lint-free cloth or paper towel, reinsert it all the way into the crankcase, wait a while and remove it again.

If the level is in the upper quarter between minimum and maximum, your engine is feeling good. If in the middle, add a maximum of half a liter, if the oil level is at or even below the lower mark, add oil immediately, in my experience your Focus is missing about 1 liter of engine oil.

Always add only enough oil so that the level does not exceed the upper mark. Our recommendation: keep the oil level constant in the top quarter. Then the oil will not become too hot even in summer at high outside temperatures. Excess oil is bad for any engine: it finds its way out through the sealing surfaces and radial shaft seals (oiled clutch, belt pulley) or is sucked in through the crankcase vent and contaminates the air filter, including the intake path.

Use a clean funnel to add oil from large containers.