Contents: Oil change - when is it worth doing… ↳ Stages of work ↳ Proper disposal of used oil ↳ Oil stains "sweating" on the engine ↳
The oil in all Focus engines is changed every 15,000 km. But if you drive your Focus mainly long distances, you can easily extend this interval by about 5,000 km. If you drive exclusively in the city or short distances, it makes sense to change the oil earlier. The tested interval for changing the oil in winter is after 6,000 km or after six months.
Oil change - when is it worth doing it yourself?
The DIY job is worth it when you're using inexpensive, prescribed-spec oil purchased from a convenience store, department store, or gas station. For a traditional oil change (draining the oil from the crankcase, changing the filter, disposing of the oil at a collection point), you have to lift your Focus. A quicker, cleaner oil change is a self-service oil change, including a vacuum cleaner at a gas station.
But this method has its drawbacks: dirt remains in the crankcase, and without a simultaneous replacement of the oil filter, the new motor oil is thrown away. It is most convenient to change the oil in a specialized workshop. Of course, a specialist does this job properly: as a rule, he uses only expensive grades of oil and then also counts you for the disposal of used oil and oil filter. Nevertheless, the order can pay off. Calculate in advance. Often, workshops make a change even when you bring your oil and filter.
The oil level does not always have to be at maximum: it may fluctuate between MIN and MAX. The maximum additional amount between the marks is 0.75 l in petrol engines and 1.5 l in diesel engines
This is how much oil your Focus needs when changing
| Engine | Motor oil with filter* |
| Zetec-SE 1,4 | 3.75 l |
| Zetec-SE 1,6 | 4.25 l |
| Zetec-E 1.8 | 4.25 l |
| Zetec-E 2,0 | 4.25 l |
| Endura-Turbodiesel | 5.6 l |
| Endura-Dl-Turbodiesel | 5.6 l |
* The oil filter is adapted to each engine type (petrol/diesel engine). Use only original oil filters.
Stages of work
Warm up the engine oil by moving it. This is important, only then will the dirt particles acquire the form of a suspension.
Raise the vehicle horizontally on a level surface
Place a flat tray, bowl or cut plastic canister of the appropriate size from under the oil underneath.
Open the oil drain plug with a flat-end wrench. Drain the used oil. Be careful when unscrewing the plug - hot oil flies out in a powerful stream from the oil pan into the receiving container (risk of scalding!). Tighten the plug only with a new sealing ring.
You will find the threaded plug of the oil drain hole on the rear of the crankcase in the direction of travel. Drain only hot engine oil, then dirt will not remain in the oil pan.
Empty the old oil pan and place it under the engine (in the area of the oil filter). Loosen the oil filter with a special tool. If you don"t have one, insert a screwdriver through the metal housing (be careful: you can scald yourself - hot oil flows out) and unscrew. Empty the filter over the receiving container and dispose of it as special waste.
Apply a thin layer of oil to the sealing ring of the new oil filter or lightly grease it. Position the filter straight and screw it on by hand. ©Add the prescribed amount of oil (see table on this page). Run the engine briefly at idle speed. The oil pressure indicator light will go out only when the new oil filter is full
Check the oil filter and oil drain plug for leaks. Put the car back on its wheels.
A big help: the tension band is cheaper than a special oil filter wrench and, in addition, it fits all types of filters. However, if you can't unscrew the filter, use a strong screwdriver as a crutch in the socket and unscrew it.
Proper disposal of used oil
Return used oil to your oil dealer. All points of sale are required to dispose of used oil in the same quantity as they sell fresh oil. In addition, you can also hand in used oil along with the oil filter and oily rags at a used oil collection point. You can find out the addresses from the district administration or the automobile club.
Oil stains "sweating" on the engine
Small spots of oil "sweating" under the hood of the Focus should not seriously worry you: with strong temperature fluctuations - through the pores of the gasket and past the sealing surfaces of the body - engine oil can seek a way out.
The situation is different if large oil stains are expanding in the engine compartment or under a parked car. Immediately start looking for larger leaks, as they most often lead to damage. It is best to check your engine after washing it, then test drive it, and then dry out the source of the oil leak.
[The original article can be viewed on the portal Fordbook.ru]