[video=youtube;FllBAmD9nc0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FllBAmD9nc0[/video]
Imagine spending your whole day listening to the 2.3-liter turbocharged engine Ford Focus RS. Just you, four cylinders, and 350 hp crammed into a soundproof room. That’s the daily grind for Ford’s team of “engine listeners,” who use their months of training and sensitive ears to pick out imperfections in the engine production process. They’re the Cesar Milans of hot-hatch engines.
These engine listeners are based out of Ford’s facility in Valencia, Spain. When an engine comes to the end of the assembly line, it gets examined and analyzed for any potential faults. Whether it’s a rattle or a whistle, the staff is trained to identify and diagnose the issue, whether it’s a blocked lubrication passage or a damaged gear tooth.
“Think of it like a doctor who has the most advanced diagnostic technology but still uses a stethoscope to gather vital clues to a patient’s health,” said Ford Europe vice president of quality Gunnar Herrmann.
That’s not too much of an exaggeration, either. The engine listeners use actual stethoscopes, bending their ears and using their hands to feel vibrations on the EcoBoost engine that powers the Ford Focus RS. These tests are a bit shorter than doctor’s visits, however, totaling just one minute, to allow the team to work through a total of 2,000 engines per day. It’s barely enough time for the engine to turn its head and cough.
It’s not just the 2.3-liter turbo-four in the Ford Focus RS that gets this treatment, though. Engine listeners also use their skills to diagnose issues with the engines in the Ford Focus ST, S-Max, and Mondeo.
Imagine spending your whole day listening to the 2.3-liter turbocharged engine Ford Focus RS. Just you, four cylinders, and 350 hp crammed into a soundproof room. That’s the daily grind for Ford’s team of “engine listeners,” who use their months of training and sensitive ears to pick out imperfections in the engine production process. They’re the Cesar Milans of hot-hatch engines.
These engine listeners are based out of Ford’s facility in Valencia, Spain. When an engine comes to the end of the assembly line, it gets examined and analyzed for any potential faults. Whether it’s a rattle or a whistle, the staff is trained to identify and diagnose the issue, whether it’s a blocked lubrication passage or a damaged gear tooth.
“Think of it like a doctor who has the most advanced diagnostic technology but still uses a stethoscope to gather vital clues to a patient’s health,” said Ford Europe vice president of quality Gunnar Herrmann.
That’s not too much of an exaggeration, either. The engine listeners use actual stethoscopes, bending their ears and using their hands to feel vibrations on the EcoBoost engine that powers the Ford Focus RS. These tests are a bit shorter than doctor’s visits, however, totaling just one minute, to allow the team to work through a total of 2,000 engines per day. It’s barely enough time for the engine to turn its head and cough.
It’s not just the 2.3-liter turbo-four in the Ford Focus RS that gets this treatment, though. Engine listeners also use their skills to diagnose issues with the engines in the Ford Focus ST, S-Max, and Mondeo.
