Engine knowledge
The engines we know inside out
We work on all makes and models sold in the UK, petrol and diesel. These are the engines that pass through our workshops most often, with honest guides to how they fail and how we put them right. Every guide is written by the engineers who strip these engines down.
45+ years
Over four decades of hands on engine experience.
OEM parts
Original specification parts on every repair.
12 month warranty
Transferable if you sell the vehicle.
From £2,495
Fully repaired after failure, fixed quote.
Ford · Petrol
Ford EcoBoost 1.0 Wet Belt
The Ford 1.0 EcoBoost is one of the most popular small petrol engines ever sold in the UK. You will find it in the Fiesta, Focus, Puma and EcoSport. It is a willing and efficient little engine, but it has one well known weakness. The cam belt runs inside the engine in oil, which is why it is called a wet belt. As the belt ages it sheds material into the oil, and that debris can block the oil pickup and starve the engine of lubrication. When that happens the result is often a seized or badly damaged engine.
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Ford · Diesel
Ford Transit 2.0 EcoBlue
The 2.0 EcoBlue diesel powers the Transit, Transit Custom and Tourneo ranges that keep British business moving. It is a strong engine when maintained properly, but high mileage working vans put it under real strain. Like the petrol EcoBoost, the EcoBlue uses a wet belt for the oil pump drive, and belt degradation is the single biggest killer of these engines. Injector failures and turbocharger wear are also common on hard worked vans.
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BMW · Diesel
BMW N47 Timing Chain
The BMW N47 diesel engine was fitted to huge numbers of 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and X models sold in the UK between 2007 and 2015. It is smooth and economical, but it has a notorious weakness. The timing chain sits at the back of the engine and can stretch or snap, often with little warning. Because the chain is at the gearbox end, even a replacement is a labour heavy job, and a snapped chain usually destroys valves and pistons.
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Volkswagen Audi Group · Diesel
VW and Audi 2.0 TDI
The 2.0 TDI is one of the most common diesel engines on UK roads, fitted to the Golf, Passat, Tiguan, Audi A3, A4, Skoda Octavia and SEAT Leon. Different versions have different weak points. Earlier PD engines suffer camshaft and follower wear, while later common rail engines can suffer oil pump drive failure, stretched timing chains and turbocharger problems. High mileage examples often need injector and dual mass flywheel attention too.
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Vauxhall · Petrol
Vauxhall 1.4 Turbo
The Vauxhall 1.4 turbo petrol engine is found in huge numbers of Astras, Corsas, Mokkas and Insignias on UK roads. It is punchy and refined, but timing chain wear and turbocharger failure are common complaints, especially on cars that have missed oil changes. Piston ring land failures are also seen on this engine and can cause heavy oil consumption and misfires.
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Peugeot Citroen DS Vauxhall · Petrol
Peugeot Citroen 1.2 PureTech
The 1.2 PureTech three cylinder petrol engine powers the Peugeot 208, 2008 and 308, the Citroen C3 and C4, several DS models and later Vauxhall crossovers. Like the Ford EcoBoost it uses a wet belt that runs in oil, and belt degradation is the engine’s well documented weakness. Material shed from the belt blocks the oil pickup and the engine suffers oil starvation, often at relatively low mileage.
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Mercedes Benz · Diesel
Mercedes OM651 Diesel
The Mercedes OM651 diesel is fitted to the C Class, E Class, GLC and the Sprinter van, making it one of the most widespread Mercedes engines in the UK. Early versions suffered timing chain failures, and injector seal leaks are a known issue across the range. In Sprinter vans the engine works hard for a living and high mileage wear is a common reason for a rebuild.
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Land Rover Jaguar · Diesel and Petrol
Land Rover Ingenium 2.0
The Ingenium engine family powers the Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Velar and the Jaguar XE, XF and F Pace. These are refined and efficient engines, but timing chain wear and premature bearing failure have affected a significant number of UK vehicles. Short journeys and extended service intervals make the problems worse, and failures often arrive earlier than owners expect.
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Your engine not listed?
These are simply the most common. With over 45 years of engine experience and a full machine shop, we repair and rebuild engines from every manufacturer selling vehicles in the UK. If your engine has failed, tap Get Quote or Call Now and describe the symptoms. The chances are we have rebuilt one this month.