I just bought a 2014 Ford Focus Zetec S 1.6T today. It drove perfectly when we first picked it up and during the test drive earlier in the week.
It was running low on fuel, so I added £25 worth of 95-octane unleaded from Tesco. After driving a bit, I stopped at a shop, and when I tried to restart the car, it struggled and spluttered. It eventually started but began to judder around 60 mph on the motorway.
Later, while idling at traffic lights, the car started juddering again and almost stalled at around 750 rpm. I kept it running by revving, but it was far from happy.
After another stop, the car wouldn’t start for two or three attempts. It finally got going, but while accelerating, I experienced a significant loss of power, even though the engine was revving.
I called the seller, and his first question was about the fuel I’d put in. He said this car doesn’t work properly with 95-octane and needs 98-octane unleaded.
Does this sound like a fuel issue, or is he trying to fob me off? I’m worried this could turn into an expensive repair. If it’s just the fuel, that’s manageable. Please help, I’m stressed!
A 2014 Focus should be fine on 95/E10. The guy who sold it to you sounds like he’s full of it. Did you buy it from a private seller or a dealer?
Are you 100% sure you put in petrol and not diesel by mistake? This sounds like it could be a petrol/diesel mix, but it could also be a number of other things. You really need to get the codes read to know for sure.
Any petrol car in the UK should run on 95. Even if it’s remapped, it should be okay. My ST225 is on a Dreamscience tune, and I usually run it on 99-octane, but if I’m stuck, I’ll throw in £20 of 95, and it works fine. With the change from E5 to E10, most Fords are still compatible except maybe one of the Mondeos. Sounds like it could be a clogged fuel filter or a bad coil. Check the basics: spark, air, fuel. Unless it’s a TDCi, in which case, you might have bigger problems!
Tesco sells Momentum99, and Shell has V-Power. Tesco is the most consistent for tuning, I’ve heard. Sainsbury’s is usually 97, and BP Ultimate is 98, but Tesco is my go-to. Most super unleaded options are still E5.
This could be related to the EVAP system. If you fill the tank past the automatic shut-off point at the pump, it can flood a small hose that captures fuel vapors. Fixing this could cost a few hundred dollars, depending on the damage.
It’s also possible the EVAP purge valve is stuck open. This is a cheap and easy fix—about $40 for the part and five minutes to install. It’s located at the top of the engine with just one wire and two hose connectors.
I had a similar issue with my 2012 Focus. Someone overfilled the tank, which caused this exact problem. I was quoted $800 to fix it, but it turned out to be a simple issue with the EVAP system.
I had a similar problem with my 2006 Focus. (She’s old, but she’s still running!) I stopped at a Shell station and used their V-Power unleaded. The next day, the engine started misfiring like crazy. I switched back to Asda’s unleaded, and the car has been fine since.
Also, Shell seems to change their prices whenever they feel like it—one day it’s expensive, the next day it’s not.
Most super unleaded options are still E5.