Ford Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

For cylinder blocks of open design (cylinder bushings free standing at the top), the cylinder head gasket and the cylinder head have been modified. A new-generation cylinder head can be mounted on a conventional cylinder block, but not vice versa.

Variable camshaft timing

This system is an electronically-controlled VCT system that allows for independent, variable valve timing for the intake and exhaust camshafts.

The valve train is controlled by a timing belt which drives the VCT intake oil control unit and the VCT exhaust oil control unit. These then drive the respective camshafts. The timing belt is tensioned by means of a conventional timing belt tensioner.

Attached to each camshaft is a sender unit for the active CMP sensor.

For identification purposes, the camshafts are provided with differing ring markings.

The camshafts are mounted on bearing brackets and the VCT bridge.

The CMP sensors are located in the valve cover.

When a new timing belt is installed, the VCT oil control units do not need to be loosened/removed.

To ensure trouble-free operation of the VCT system and optimum engine performance, it is essential to adhere precisely to the valve timing.

Two special tools are needed to adjust the valve timing.

One of these special tools is used to fix the VCT oil control units in place. It prevents the units from being turned during the adjustment procedure by positively connecting both of them together.

A further special tool is needed to fix the camshafts in the adjustment position. For this purpose, an existing special tool has been modified by making the appropriate cut-outs for the CMP sender units.

Please note that this special tool may not be used to prevent the camshafts from rotating when securing them. They may only be kept from rotating by using the hexagonal bolt, which has been specially provided for this purpose.

VCT oil filter

The oil supply for the VCT system is protected against dirt by a VCT oil filter in addition to the conventional filter.

It is permanently joined to the cylinder head and therefore a new filter cannot be installed.

The VCT oil filter is designed as a bypass oil filter in order to ensure oil supply to the VCT system under all circumstances.

When repairing the VCT system, utmost cleanliness must be maintained. Particles of more than 2 mm in diameter are big enough to cause the VCT system to fail.

VCT bridge

When installing the VCT bridge, the correct sealant thickness, position and specification must be ensured. A new engine oil pressure supply duct sealing ring for the VCT oil control units must also always be installed during reassembly.

VCT oil control solenoid

The VCT oil control solenoids differ from one another by how they are attached to the VCT bridge.

When idling and during overrun, the VCT oil control solenoids are activated repeatedly by the powertrain control module (PCM) in order to clean off any dirt at the bore holes and ring grooves.

The VCT oil control solenoids are the bottleneck in the system's oil circuit and are therefore the most sensitive to dirt in the engine oil pressure supply.

When the VCT oil control solenoids are de-energised, the engine oil pressure supply bore (5) is open to chamber(A). Chamber (B) is connected to the return oil bore (8) when the solenoid is de-energised.

VCT oil control unit

The VCT intake oil control unit is brought into the locked position by the drag torque when the engine is switched off. For this reason, valve timing adjustment procedures must be strictly adhered to when performing this type of adjustment work.

There is a dot marking (2) on the oil control unit for adjusting the valve timing. This has to be set to the 12 o'clock position when adjusting the valve timing.

The new special tool locks into the recesses on the outer side of the control unit when adjusting the valve timing. While doing so, make sure that the dot marking aligns with the dot marking on the special tool. The arrow marking and the marking labelled "TOP" on the adjustment tool must point upwards.

The VCT intake oil control unit can only be replaced as a complete unit during servicing.

VCT exhaust oil control unit

The VCT exhaust oil control unit is pushed into the locked position against the drag torque by the return spring when the engine is switched off. For this reason, valve timing adjustment procedures must be strictly adhered to when performing this type of adjustment work.

There is a line marking (2) on the oil control unit for adjusting the valve timing. This has to be set to the 12 o'clock position when adjusting the valve timing.

The new special tool locks into the recesses on the outer side of the control unit when adjusting the valve timing. While doing so, make sure that the line marking aligns correctly with the line marking on the special tool.

The VCT exhaust oil control unit can only be replaced as a complete unit during servicing.