New (first) car - dos and don'ts

MrRockliffe · 7 Jan 2019 at 15:17

As above, recently got a new (to me) car; a Fiesta 1L Zetec S EcoBoost.

A recent question on another thread about the use of premium fuels sparked an idea to ask the question; what should and shouldn't I do with it (excluding the obvious like running over neighbour's cat etc) (up to you to decide if that's a do or don't

)

What I'm looking for is the following:

General maintenance advice
Cleaning advice
Garage and service advice
Etc

As always, all and any help is supremely appreciated

Hyburnate · 7 Jan 2019 at 15:33

Cleaning Advice
See here - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/the-car-cleaning-thread.17888389/page-737

Garage & Service
Find a good local independent. To keep warranty (providing you're still in it), your car only needs to be serviced with OE products and by a VAT registered garage, not a main dealer.

e; Just realised, yours is a ZS not an ST-Line so you're likely out of warranty unless extended. Engine is fairly solid 3cyl at stock power, ensure it's serviced in-line with recommendations, don't rag it from cold as you've a turbo.

You pay quite a premium to use a main dealer.

However, Ford do chuck in AA I believe, so sometimes paying the extra may be worthwhile for a years AA? It's up to you.

General Maintenance
Frequent check-ups of oil, coolant etc just general stuff.

Tyre pressures, just buy a machine from Halfords or Amazon and do it yourself, I find it easier than filling stations.

Not really sure what else you're after

Just keep your eyes open and be fairly proactive rather than reactive.

MrRockliffe · 7 Jan 2019 at 15:51

Hyburnate said:
Just keep your eyes open and be fairly proactive rather than reactive.

Think this is a good point actually

Hyburnate said:
yours is a ZS not an ST-Line so you're likely out of warranty unless extended.

It is indeed out of warranty, but it's a brand new engine due to the last one blowing up and Ford replacing it (all stamped etc - receipts provided by a Ford garage)

Hyburnate said:
Find a good local independent.

Had this in mind - I was thinking a local Facebook page to ask as I recently moved to the area

Housey · 7 Jan 2019 at 17:47

Check your levels weekly for first two to 3 weeks of use to see how it consumes oil. Same with the tyre pressures to ensure they are not bleeding air. Once you have those steady no point checking every week really IMHO. Never run it hard from cold and always give both oil and water time to get to operating temperature. Keep the revs low until you have those are nicely up to their working temperatures. No point running anying over 95 RON in a car like this but I would still suggest main brand fuels, a personal thing. Get a good tyre pressure gauge and always use that as the issues come when you use multiple sources as they all claim to be calibrated so funny how they all report different pressures. Get one use that all the time. Enure you remove the back seats and replace with a 10,0000 RMS sub woof thing, Fiesta drivers rights of passage as is one of those dangly air fresheners.

MrRockliffe · 7 Jan 2019 at 18:56

Housey said:
Enure you remove the back seats and replace with a 10,0000 RMS sub woof thing, Fiesta drivers rights of passage as is one of those dangly air fresheners.

There's already cabling wired in from what I assume is an existing sub, and I have a dangly air freshener

Dis86 · 7 Jan 2019 at 19:49

Don't put a **** exhaust on it.

MrRockliffe · 7 Jan 2019 at 20:00

Dis86 said:
Don't put a **** exhaust on it.

I hate the sound of stupid exhausts on fiestas etc - just sounds pants.

I don't really like loud noises in general when it comes to cars, so no huge, overly bassy subs either

Dis86 · 7 Jan 2019 at 20:03

MrRockliffe said:
I hate the sound of stupid exhausts on fiestas etc - just sounds pants.

I don't really like loud noises in general when it comes to cars, so no huge, overly bassy subs either

My man!

As for washing. Simply put look up the 2 bucket method. Wanna take it further look up the 3 bucket method.

MrRockliffe · 7 Jan 2019 at 20:41

Dis86 said:
My man!

As for washing. Simply put look up the 2 bucket method. Wanna take it further look up the 3 bucket method.

I'm in a block of flats so no ability to get clean water outside; I'm assuming would require a hose off at the end type thing?

Dis86 · 7 Jan 2019 at 21:08

MrRockliffe said:
I'm in a block of flats so no ability to get clean water outside; I'm assuming would require a hose off at the end type thing?

Can use a watering can or buckets.

MrRockliffe · 8 Jan 2019 at 06:34

Dis86 said:
Can use a watering can or buckets.

Quite like the watering can idea!

Scania · 8 Jan 2019 at 07:40

As already said, take it easy from cold, don’t ride the clutch (holding the car on a hill) personally I’d get in the habit of checking fluid levels at least weekly, you’ll sooner spot an issue by doing this - I check my car daily, part force of habit because it’s a legal requirement for the trucks I drive and it’s also good practice especially on an older car - mines 18 years old - as for washing it do it regularly especially this time of year to keep the salt off, I’d also occasionally jet wash the wheel arches to get accumulated crap out.

As said get a good tyre pressure gauge - don’t rely on garage forecourt ones they are notoriously inaccurate in my experience.
As you’ve got a Turbo get into the habit of letting it idle for a bit before you switch off especially after driving it hard to let the Turbo cool properly.
Not sure if your a new driver or not, but drive it gently, anticipating the need to slow rather than stop if you can help it - this will help mpg and general wear & tear - and experiment with regular journeys, time yourself, going quicker and adopting a more relaxed driving style, you’ll soon discover the time saved by putting your foot down is rarely significant and you’ll notice a difference again in mpg.

As for maintaining it look up local garages on the good garage scheme https://www.goodgaragescheme.com/

But also google them and check reviews, you’ll soon sort the good from the bad.

SioNeoN · 8 Jan 2019 at 07:51

The turbo has an electric pump that will continue to run after the car is switched off if further cooling is needed, I've been told that a mile of easy driving will cool the turbo sufficiently after a blast or long motorway cruise.

With the ecoboost you can ride the torque nicely, day to day I rarely go past 2500rpm and you can't legally reach the red line in 3rd anyway

MrRockliffe · 8 Jan 2019 at 08:54

Scania said:
As you’ve got a Turbo get into the habit of letting it idle for a bit before you switch off especially after driving it hard to let the Turbo cool properly.

I did look out for this - remembered seeing it in some episode like wheeler dealers or something a few years ago. I've noticed, however, that the turbo continues to run even when the engine turns off, so assume it's powered or something

Scania said:
Not sure if your a new driver or not

I haven't actually passed my test yet - it's next Monday

Scania said:
but drive it gently, anticipating the need to slow rather than stop if you can help it

Sound like my instructor already

But in all seriousness - this is a very key point, and does help me feel more like a driver, than a vehicle operator

Scania · 8 Jan 2019 at 09:40

MrRockliffe said:
I did look out for this - remembered seeing it in some episode like wheeler dealers or something a few years ago. I've noticed, however, that the turbo continues to run even when the engine turns off, so assume it's powered or something

That’ll be the fan,possibly the water pump or both.

I haven't actually passed my test yet - it's next Monday

Good luck!

Sound like my instructor already But in all seriousness - this is a very key point, and does help me feel more like a driver, than a vehicle operator

I’m a professional driver - a huge part of my job is anticipating things to save fuel, wear & tear and it helps break the boredom of a long drive!

robj20 · 8 Jan 2019 at 09:46

Idling to cool a turbo was never a good idea. Easy driving for the last mile of your journey is far better.
Same for warning it up just take it easy. Cars don't like idling.

Scania · 8 Jan 2019 at 10:50

robj20 said:
Idling to cool a turbo was never a good idea. Easy driving for the last mile of your journey is far better.
Same for warning it up just take it easy. Cars don't like idling.

Idling for a long period of time is not recommended certainly, but, 30 seconds or so prior to switching off will do far less damage through idling than potential damage to the turbo.

When your driving above idle even gently the turbo still runs much hotter than it does at idle. The very minute amount of oil that remains inside the turbo bearings after shutdown effectively gets cooked since it is no longer circulating to and from the oil supply. Idling the engine even for 30 seconds before turning off engine allows the cooler idle exhaust and cooler idle oil to bring the temps down in the turbo enough to increase the life of the oil. This is also one of the reasons many people specify full synthetic oil.

This has become less important with water cooled turbochargers which are becoming the new norm. The water cooling circuit is often designed to thermosiphon the water to circulate coolant after the motor has turned off. This also has the effect of minimising the coking buildup in the turbo's oil passages.

The manual for my 2018 truck advises to never switch off straight away and let it idle briefly before doing so - and it’s got a water cooled turbo - the principle is exactly the same for a turbocharged car.

VaderDSL · 8 Jan 2019 at 11:46

Had my fiesta 1.0 for just under 4 years now at 40K, only issue was a broken rear off side spring going over a level crossing and 4 new tyres (fronts around 26k and rears at 36k due to cracks rather than tread). My car has some rust starting to develop on the turbo coolant line, might want to keep an eye on that. I've found my car to be pretty good on fuel, I drive the same route at the same times pretty much so the odometer reads 396 miles every time I refill and I usually fill between 35-36 litres, so around 50mpg.

I check tyre pressure/oil/coolant probably twice a month and as for cleaning, I could highly recommend the https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/optimum-no-rinse, I've used that and the Meguiars express wash. Don't generally rinse the car using those products, just a 2 bucket wash, little more on the dirtier sections then dry with a towel, pretty economical on the water (16litres, 8 per bucket).

MrRockliffe · 8 Jan 2019 at 12:08

VaderDSL said:
(fronts around 26k and rears at 36k due to cracks rather than tread).

Thankfully a brand new set of tyres and new engine when I got the car

Will probably have the car 3 years (this year and the next, as will be back at University in October), and then a year or two to save for a new car

VaderDSL said:
My car has some rust starting to develop on the turbo coolant line, might want to keep an eye on that.

Isn't this part of the recall for the EcoBoost? I would speak to Ford about it

VaderDSL · 8 Jan 2019 at 12:11

MrRockliffe said:
Thankfully a brand new set of tyres and new engine when I got the car Will probably have the car 3 years (this year and the next, as will be back at University in October), and then a year or two to save for a new car

Isn't this part of the recall for the EcoBoost? I would speak to Ford about it

It's a slightly different issue, there's no recall per se, only a TSB in a few countries. They took a look at it and said nothing to worry about and advised they could paint it for £80. I'll either see if Ford will do something for free or look at painting it myself.