Ford 1.0 EcoBoost — Wet Belt vs Timing Chain: When the Change Happened, Which Models, and How to Tell
If you own or are shopping for a Ford with the 1.0 EcoBoost, you’ve likely heard about the wet timing belt. In Europe from 2018 onward Ford rolled out a revised 1.0 with cylinder deactivation, a reversed-flow head (turbo at the firewall), and crucially a timing chain for the cams.
The Fast Answer
- ✓ 2018+ “revised” 1.0 EcoBoost = timing chain for cam drive (turbo at rear / firewall).
- ✓ All 1.0 EcoBoost mHEV (48V) models use the revised chain-cam engine.
- ✗ Pre-2018 1.0 EcoBoost = wet timing belt for cam drive (turbo at front of engine bay).
- ! Regardless of cam drive, the oil pump is still driven by a small wet belt on the revised engines.
Always confirm by VIN/spec — transition timing varies by plant/trim and registration plate can lag model-year.
How to Spot the Difference
Pre-2018 Wet-Belt Engine
- Turbo at the front of the engine bay
- Conventional head layout
- Main camshaft drive is a wetted rubber belt
- Prone to belt shedding into oil system
2018+ Revised Chain Engine
- Turbo mounted at the rear (firewall side)
- Reversed flow cylinder head
- Main camshaft drive is a timing chain
- Includes cylinder deactivation tech
Model & Year Changeover Table (UK Market)
| Model | Years With Wet Belt | Years With Timing Chain |
|---|---|---|
| Fiesta 1.0 EcoBoost | 2012–2017 | 2018+ (all mHEV are chain) |
| Focus 1.0 EcoBoost | 2012–2017 | 2018+ chain |
| Puma 1.0 EcoBoost | – | All production chain (2019+) |
| EcoSport 1.0 EcoBoost | 2014–2017 | 2018+ chain |
| C-Max / B-Max 1.0 EcoBoost | 2012–2018 (end of model run) | Never got revised engine |
| Mondeo / Galaxy / S-Max 1.0 EcoBoost | 2015–2018 | Never updated — discontinued |
What About the Oil Pump Belt?
Service & Reliability Notes
Wet Belt Engines
- Ford originally claimed “life of car” belt
- In reality: replace at 8 years / 100,000 miles (UK service advice)
- Failure often ruins sump, oil pickup, and turbo
Chain Engines
- Chain is designed to last engine life
- Still dependent on correct oil spec (WSS-M2C948-B)
- Poor servicing can still cause wear/stretch
Common FAQs
Does every mHEV EcoBoost use the chain engine?
Yes. All 48V mild hybrids require the revised engine layout (chain-driven) because the belt-alternator starter motor packaging would clash with the old turbo-at-front design.
Can I swap a chain engine into a wet-belt car?
It’s not a straight swap. Mounts, ECU coding, ancillaries, and wiring differ. It’s more practical to replace like-for-like.
Do oil pump belts need changing?
Not listed as a service item by Ford. Failures are rare compared to the main wet cam belt. Still, keeping oil changes frequent minimises risk.
Need Help With a Ford 1.0 EcoBoost?
At TGPP Autocare Stevenage we specialise in EcoBoost engines — from wet belt replacement to full engine swaps and turbo issues. We use genuine parts, Ford-approved oil, and can collect and return your vehicle locally.
Book Your EcoBoost ServiceWant to know how to tell the difference between the 1.0 ecoboost engines, see below
This is the older version of the 1.0 ecoboost which runs the Wetbelt system
This is the newer chain version of the 1.0 ecoboost
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Comments
Thanks for the information, just looked at my mk8 fiesta and the turbo is at the front so it’s the old style ecoboost with a Wetbelt
Thanks Jake, we are glad we could help.
Do you think they will do a chain kit for the older Wetbelt system?
I don’t think they’ll ever make a chain kit for the older 1.0 EcoBoost wetbelt engines. The engines were designed around the belt system, so changing it to a chain would mean completely re-engineering parts of the engine. The cost and complexity just wouldn’t make sense compared to simply replacing the wetbelt at the correct interval.
Wetbelts are a stupid idea tbh!
So the newer 1.0 ecoboost still has a wet belt but it’s just the oil pump belt? I didn’t know that, do they fail too?
Yeah they still have oil pump belt, but the cam drive is a chain on the newer ecoboost. They can fail, the automatic versions were really bad and would strip all the teeth on the oil pump belt, but I think fords recalled them. The manual ones seem to be okay. But my advice is to regularly get your oil change
It’s good to know that the Mehv all have the newer engines
What is the service schedule for the oil pump belt?
Ford don’t list it as a service item, but oil neglect can shorten its life.
When did Ford realise there was a problem with this wet belt before they abandoned it for a chain?
Did Ford in the US run a recall on these engines?
Ford had warranty claims and failures showing up from as early as 2016, but the first formal internal review was in 2022, and by late 2023 they issued a recall there for the oil pump drive belt and tensioner. In my opinion, Ford probably knew the design was problematic a few years before the official changeover — the decision to move back to a timing chain around 2019–2020 suggests they had already accepted that the wet belt system wasn’t living up to expectations.
I don’t think they recalled the 1.0 ecoboost in any Country but they did recall some focus’s and Ecosports over the the oil pump belt failure on automatics
My daughter has a 2018 Grand C-Max with a 1.0 ecoboost. Turbo is at the back so I assume this is the timing chain version. Do any of the welbelt engines have the turbo at the back?
Yeah so if the turbo is at the back it’s the newer chain engine. All the 1.0 ecoboost wet belt engines have the turbo at the front
I have a red edition 1l ecoboost that’s just done 75,000, just had a look under the bonnet and the turbo / heat shield is at the front! Looking online it looks like I need to get the Wetbelt done soon
I have a 192 ecosport 1.0 petrol 48000 km on it does that have a wet belt or chain thanks in advance 👍
I think it will be the chain version, but the best way of checking is having a look under the bonnet
Does my 67Reg Ford Fiesta 998 cc zetec ecoboost have a wet time in belt or does it have a timeing chain.
I think it will have a the old style engine but I would need the registration to confirm unfortunately
Why were Wetbelt’s even a thing! Stupid idea
Does a 2022 ford ecosport have a wet belt?
By 2022, many 1.0L EcoBoost engines (often called the "Dragon" engine) switched to a timing chain to drive the camshafts. This is a major improvement over the older rubber belt.
But the oil pump remains a wet belt. Even on the newer chain-driven engines, the oil pump is driven by a rubber belt submerged in oil inside the engine.
J ai un ford puma ecoboost decembre 2020 automatique donc chaine de distribution j ai remarqué que la pompe a huile c est une courroie celle si a t elle une usure plus rapide vu que mon vehicule a une boite automatique
No, the belt itself doesn't wear out faster just because you have an automatic. But I know they did recall some of the Ecoboosts automatics as the oil pump belt broke up
Non, la courroie ne s'use pas plus vite simplement parce que vous avez une boîte automatique. Mais je sais qu'ils ont rappelé certains modèles EcoBoost automatiques à cause de la rupture de la courroie de la pompe à huile.
Is 2019 ford ka active 1.2 petrol chain or belt
I think it’s a belt, but to be sure I would need the registration to check