haydn1987

Hello i'm not sure if this is the right forum but its seem like you guys know what your talking about.

My girlfriend has a 1995 1.1 fiesta ive been servicing and doing maintenance on it since she bought it a year ago and have managed to fix most problems.

Its now got a serious oil problem it uses about a liter of oil every 1-2 months, at first I thought it was comming out of the fillercap/breather as ther was a crack in it and there was oil everywere but after repairing that its still the same.

There is no sign of a leak and it has never smoked, but last night I got her to give it a rev with my hand over the exhaust and I got lots of little black spots on my hand I couldn't tell if it was unburnt oil or carbon i'm guesing its oil.
My thoughts are it needs new stem seals.

Am I right if so are stem seals easy to replace and do you need to take the head off to do them? or is there an easier fix?
I know these engines are a bit rubbish and are realy outdated but she likes it and won't get rid.

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

You say theres oil on the engine itself so I would say it's leaking it, you then say there's no oil leak? First check the rocker cover gasket that would be my guess.

If you start car up after leaving it and it smokes this normally indicates stem seals as the oil has gone past the seal and leaked into engine and when you start it gets burnt. It will also show on over run and then going back on the gas again.

These engines are actuallly good engines despite there old design and as long as there well maintained should give no trouble and go on for miles. it's nice to see someone who likes the cars and dosen't want to go the usual Corsa, new Fiesta etc.

When you put your hand over exhaust was this from cold as its probably just condensation or running rich as its cold?

Martin

haydn1987

Thanks for the reply

There was a small leak from the filler cap which I fixed and there are no more signs of it leaking I replaced the rocker cover gasket a few months ago when I did the tappets, but its still using lots of oil.
The engine was warm but its actualy hard to tell how warm the needle never gets higher than the bottom of the NORM area.

There is a little bit of smoke at sart up but thats the only time you ever see smoke,
I thought that if oil came through the stem seals on the exhasut side it would get blown straight into the exhaust and wouldnt get burnt and thats what I saw on my hand.

I have a Corsa with an 8v engine much more reliable than the post 97 corsa that are 16v

tabetha

As said excellent engines, given a tiny bit of care, a bit crude but tough little things they are.
Stem seals are a definite must I would say, but could also be ring/general wear.
What oil are you using ?, have you done the tappets lately ?
tabetha

haydn1987

I did the oil and the tappets a few months ago I put in 20/50 oil and have been topping up with the same. Tappets are still noisey I need to tighten them a bit more, I was a bit nervous I didn't want to overtighten them and then the valves not closing fully.

Can the stem seals be done with the head still on, is there a guide on the internet of how to do it the haynes manual seems to be lacking this information.

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

If theres no leak then I would say stem seals, does it smoke in the conditions I previously described?

Martin

tabetha

Yes awsomely easy to do stem seals with head still on car, just need a length of nylon rope and basic tools.
Would be best to spin the rocker shaft if worn, which it will be, you take it out(all rocker gear) take all apart then swap the shaft round so it is round the other way and then upside down to expose the unworn underside to the rockers, it will be vastly better then.
tabetha

haydn1987

I found a guide showing how to do the stem seals on 1.3 hcs escort is this exactly the same as the 1.1. The guide explained about feeding rope into the cylinder then turning it to TDC so the valve doesn't fall in.
Obviously I can't use a g-clamp style valve spring compressor with the head still on what type of compressor do you recomend and are they available for hire from anywhere I don't realy want to buy one for a one off job.

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

Yes the trusty Kent was revised in 1989 as HCS so you can follow that guide.

Martin

tabetha

As said HCS, or high compression swirl was a fancy name for a slightly different port shape and piston, but yes guide applies.
If you can knock something up metalwise it's easy, but if no welder etc a bit of a problem, unless they do a spring compressor that bolts into the rocker post holes.
tabetha