Beanie439

hi, few question i currently have a 1.4 ford focus MK1 2003 and it seems to be not eating oil but not like other cars the same age, ive looked all over cant see leaks and had it up on ramps to see if there any leak none to be found, although i changed the spark plugs and the one that came out of pot 1-2 had oil on them but the 2 that came out 3-4 had none.. am i right in thinking that i have worn pistons or could i have a knackered valve seal?
I do drive it pretty heavy footed as its powerless so needs lots of revs to get anywhere... no problems in driving, drives fine i do 200 mile a week.. Doesn't seem to be burning oil...

im not very good with mechanic but anything thats suggested might help me find the problem as the engine has only 118k miles on it for its age not many


I've put picture up of the spark plugs
any help will be appreciated

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Sure the oil wasn't inside the spark plug wells? That's quite common and would suggest you need a new cam cover gasket.


The plugs don't look to be gapped the same either. Maybe you are getting a poor spark on the black ones which look to have a bigger gap, hence the sooty appearance.


Zetecs don't seem to like aftermarket plugs, put a genuine Ford set in(similar price to any others), and I would also recommend a new set of genuine leads if they haven't been changed, they should have been done by 100k.

Beanie439

hi mate thanks for reply... got some new NGK plugs which are gapped to the 1.3mm something like that and new HT leads also...

yeah i was thinking the cam cover is it hard to replace as this is first car ive had... been 19 and sky high insurance its not cheap lol

Beanie439

also i they where changed at 80k... as it was my mothers friends car which i bought off her

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Not too bad, pull the leads out and look down the hole. If you can see oil in there around where the plugs are then it will be the cam cover gasket. If its only a bit damp in there I would leave it, but if it's filling up in there then i'd change it.


Use genuine ford plugs, I've seen a few running faults caused by non genuine plugs, chuck a set of genuine ones in there and it sorts them.....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Genuin...8AAOxyVaBS-iK6

Beanie439

yeah will will do mate, there's oil in the pots but little bit nothing major.. more rust :/ reason i changed the plugs where because the car was jerking when i acclerated in a high gear says 4th doing 30mph at 1.5k it would struggle and jerk since replacing them im getting better fuel economy and doesnt jerk but seems to have a little more power....just want to get to the bottom of the problem will looking into changing the cam gasket see if that helps at all....

cheers for your help Rich... nice looking mondeo there love them

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Thanks mate. The whole ignition system on these is crap, if it hasn't had one I would put a new coil pack on it, when they start to fail it gives the symptoms you are having.

Beanie439

yeah somone else also said about the coil pack on them but i had friend who pulled it apart and looked at it and said looks good so we then put it down to either the sparks or the HT leads changed both and the problem went....

H3lsing

If the coil pack goes it will bog down on power, eml on dash and misfiring like a mofo. I've gone through 4 on the focus's I've had .

Beanie439

yeah, lots of people have said coil pack but im having weird things happening like steering goes light so i can turn wheel with one finger too something it been quite stiff...

but mine needs lot of work at the moment like
front shocks on front shot from where i work i have to go down a dirt track
sounds like a bearing going in back
handbrake somethings sticking
front brakes and disc need changing
im having weird idling problem like if i turn the rear window heater, blowers on, light and stereo on the rev drop below 800rpm from what ive readed i need to clean the idle control valve

H3lsing

Might be worth getting a load test done on the battery, and get the alternator tested. When the weather turns cold it kills cells in batteries. Last thing you want is to be left stranded somewhere.

Beanie439

last time the battery was tested was in june which it had 78% health.. alternator im unsure on...
but i drive 300 miles a week with 30-50 minutes travelling on a motorway so its not like im pottering around town..
and i admit i aint easy on the thing, i do thrash it...