Need some help / advice with a 1.6 Zetec engine fitted in a 1995 Fiesta Si. I recently took the car for an MOT which it failed due to high emmisions.

While the emmisions where been tested the engine got upto full temprature and the fans cut in fine. When the car was moved forward there was a large pool of coolant on the floor.

The coolant was bubbling out of the expansion tank and once cooled down it took about 2 pints of water to refill the system. The garage who did the MOT seem to think the head gasket has gone but the car never overheats when driving.

Have been checking the coolant all this week and the car has used about another 2 pints of water over the last 200 miles but the engine run fines and the temprature never gets past the half way mark on the gauge. Again the water seems to be bubbling out the expansion tank.

Does this sound like it could be the headgasket? or does anyone have any other idea's what could be causing this problem?

The car has done just over 100K miles.

 

Try a new cap first, if the seal doesn't seal properly that will cause this, as zetecs run really hot around 105C before fan, so worth a try first for a few quid.
tabetha

 

Thanks will try a new cap first and see if that cures it.

 

just asking but why do they run this hot?

 

The hotter the engine then the more fuel efficient it is. It also helps to reduce emissions...

 

Effeciency comes with a hotter running engine, but NOT emissions as when too hot they produce NOX, which is why they have a EGR system to REDUCE conbustion chambers temps DOWN to limit NOX emissions.
tabetha