SevereAffected: 2013-2021100,000–200,000 miles

Ford Transit Transit Custom 2.0 TDCi 130bhp — Injector Failure and Diesel Contamination of Oil

High-mileage Transit Customs suffer injector wear, causing diesel to contaminate the engine oil. This is a serious secondary failure that must be caught early.

Severity

Severe

DIY Difficulty

Professional Only

Est. Cost

£300–£1000

OBD Codes

P0201P0202P0087

Component Diagram

Injectors

Typical layout and location for the Injectors assembly.

Reference Illustration

Symptoms

Oil level rising above max
Diesel smell on dipstick
Rough idle and misfire
Hard cold starting
P0201-P0204 codes

Root Cause

Worn common rail injectors allow fuel to dribble into the cylinder. During failed DPF regens, diesel also enters the combustion chamber late, washing past piston rings into the oil.

How To Fix

Check oil dipstick — if smells of diesel, change oil immediately before driving
Contribution test to identify failing injector
Ultrasonic clean and test before replacing
New injectors must be coded to ECU
Cost: £250-500 per injector fitted

Estimated Repair Costs

Repair Option	Est. Cost (GBP)
DIY (parts only)	£120–£400
Independent Garage	£300–£1000
Main Dealership	£480–£1600

Other Faults on This Variant

DPF Blockage from Idling and Short Trips

Moderate

2013-202130,000–80,000 miles£200–£1000

Fleet Transit Customs spend long periods idling at low speed — the worst possible operating profile for a DPF. Blockage is the number one reported fault across UK fleets.

EGR Valve and Cooler Failure

Moderate

2013-202140,000–90,000 miles£300–£700

EGR failure on the Transit Custom 2.0 TDCi is extremely common in fleet use. The valve carbons up rapidly in stop-start environments.

Turbocharger Variable Vane Sticking

Severe

2013-202160,000–130,000 miles£200–£1000

The VNT turbocharger on the 2.0 TDCi Transit Custom develops sticky variable vanes from carbon build-up, causing power loss and limp mode.

Disclaimer: Repair cost estimates are indicative and based on community data. Always get a quote from a qualified mechanic before proceeding with any repair.