Oil Issues

It’s no secret there have been a few issues with the new Mk3 Focus RS and its oil consumption, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when I got a letter through the door telling me to book the car in for a PCM update at my local dealers.

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Now the rumour mill has been in overdrive these last few weeks, with everything from stories of cars destroying engines through to tales of scrupulous dealers sending the cars off the forecourt with barely the minimum oil level, but I have to tell you that I have not heard of a single RS that has blown up as a result of oil starvation. However, I can also tell you that after just 500 miles or so my own car needed approximately ¾ litre to top the oil back up to the maximum level. Many other owners have reported similar situations.

So, what I can glean from this is the 2.3-litre EcoBoost unit, like many new engines, likes to drink a drop of oil during its running-in period - and with lazy owners these days failing to regularly check the oil levels, Ford themselves have felt the need to do something about it.