tdcizetec

Hi folks,

I've currently had a few Fords throughout the years, im currently driving a mk2 Focus Titanium (2.0 Duratec-HE engine) for the last 2 years and has been a very reliable and all round lovely motor.

I have the chance to pick up a Volvo S40 1.6 (2005 newer model) for my wife owned by my dad from 1yr old and its fitted with the Ford 1.6 Zetec-SE engine. Its a lovely car, only an base S model but is extremely well killed out, climate, heated seats, alloys etc. Shame its only a 1.6 but would be fine for family duties.

The car isnt far off 70k (from what i remember) and its been serviced when prompted by the onboard computer with bosch filters and 5w30 ford spec mobil or fuchs oil by independents. Its also had an extremely easy life.

My wife would do a lot of miles with work, so will the 1.6 zetec se be reliable with higher mileages? I know of one that was burning a lot of oil at 80k, but to be fair it wasnt really looked after right and id be surprised if the right oil was used.

What kind of mileage do these engines generally live to?

Cheers all

Aidan

Less.

I have a couple of Zetecs done around 150-160K drove lovely too

Bailes1992

Mines on 83k and been burning oil for at least 10k!
It sips oil, nothing much, 750ml (thats Max to Min) every 1000-1500miles. Nothing to worry about.
They do spit conrods when they aint happy.
Change the oil every 3k-6k with 5w-30 Semy synth oil. You can do it for as little as Ł20, it's worth keeping ontop of it!
They DRINK fuel, around town I struggle to get 30mpg, motorway expect low to mid 40's.
If you do lots of start/stop driving the oil emulsifies, they need a good run once every so often to clear them out.
They aint a torquey engine, they have to be revved to get them to move, for this reason i don't like mine. But it's a perfectly good engine. Look after it and it will look after you.

My Dad drives a V50 T5, he's had it since new in 2008 and now on 80,000miles and other than 1 or 2 electrical niggles and a turbo it's been a great car, bloody quick too

Bailes1992

Also they will pull right through to high 120's and heard people saying they've had 130mph out of them. If you do wind it up don't hold it for too long at a high speed as they will throw a rod.

You can easilly get 150bhp out of them with a set of Shawspeed SS4 cams and a good remap but I more than assume you wouldn't want to modify it?

tdcizetec

Cheers, i would check the oil every so often for him and it would maybe use 3/4 of a litre every 12,000 miles?

You are right about the fuel consumption too, its near identical fuel consumption wise as my 2.0 Duratec-HE, not the quickest thing either in an S40 but its adequate for normal driving. Lovely car though, as nice as a B6 A4 IMO., the T5 or D5 would be superb.

re: tuning, definately not - its for the wife lol.

I take it the heavy oil burning is common around 70-80k then? Its been totally reliable so far.

Bailes1992

It's not heavy, the oil stems shrink and let a little oil past. You really don't notice it. Sometimes i get a tiny bit of bluesmoke on startup but it's nothing. To be honest on the motorway you use naff all. Recenlt did from South Wales to Huddersfield then to Blackpool then back to Huddersfield and back to Wales and didn't use a drop of oil!

I am going to try abit of Forte Oil seal conditioner next time I change my oil to see if it stops it as I've heard good things about it.

lacey

Mines on 160k and still going strong

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

My dad had a mk1 focus 1.6 zetec and it was a crackong car with a good engine. My dads was good on fuel too.