WillyWoW

Hi I have a petrol ford focus with 218 thousand on the clock, the car seems to be loosing alot of oil I'm doing runs every weekend from Plymouth to Canterbury (267) there, and when I arrive the oil level isn't on the dipstick, should it be burning that quick? Also when I was pulled up last night I revved the car, and the whole car felt like it shuck/vibrated after i took my foot off the gas. Any ideas would be great I'm using 10w40 oil at the minute.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

That oil grade is too thick, you should be using 5w30. To be honest, at 218k the engine is probably just generally worn out. You can get good replacement engines for a couple of hundred quid, might be worth just replacing the whole lump!

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

It's done well so far lol.

If theres no leaks anywhere then it must be burning it which would suggest piston rings since they're pretty much only friction surface. If everything else is good and no funny noises then new rings are cheaper and easier than engine swap.

I believe zetecs wear the bores very little even with high miles.

How does it drive and how is power delivery?

hogdog

Brand new 1.8's are only Ł450 on ebay, not really an expensive swap seeing as you can get another 200+k out of it.

WillyWoW

The car drives lovely still, I have noticed a leak now though but unsure where it could be coming from its genral location is at the front of the engine drivers side there is oil on the rubber hose and silver box in that area, any ideas what could be leaking in that location?

tabetha

A leak in that area could be the oil filter rusted through, so have a good look.
If it's using the whole sump in that time/mileage I'm surprised it passes the mot and the cat isn't dead, but it's done well.
If you can get a new lump for Ł450+ vat it's a no brainer, would cost this at the very least for a rebuild with no warranty.
My dads mk1 mondeo's genuine ford oil filter rusted through in around 6 months, we noticed the weeping, when scraped a hole appeared, just like the rust I found inside the genuine ford EFL 298 cossie oil filter that was only days old that I had, so worth a look.
tabetha

hogdog

That's including VAT, they're on ebay all the time.

There's no listing at that price at the moment but there is a new one for Ł600.

WillyWoW

Thanks for everyones reply was leaking from rockercover, I've done a oil change on her yesterday, and gone back to 5w30. She did have her last MOT on November, and failed on just a light bulb the testers couldn't believe a car with that mileage is doing so well, so the Zetec goes on thanks for everyones replies. Anyway just another quick questions what sort of mpg are people getting, because when I travel to kent 267 miles shes using 30 litres is this good or bad?

Bailes1992

Thats 40mpg, pretty reasonable I think
What sort of speeds it that?
I goto do a 250mile run in my 1.6 and hoping for 40+mpg.
Not sure weather to just stick at 55-60 behind the lorrys or just go for it and hope for the best

WillyWoW

Well I filled the tank as I left Plymouth and sat around the 60mph mark, and when I arrived in Kent needed 30 litres what cost around 41 pounds there, sat at 80 last weekend up and she used 46 pounds worth of fuel

tabetha

That's very good for the mileage, if it starts/is using oil changing to a thicker oil like a 40w will cause no harm, I have ran my(now my dads) mondeo on 5W40 since I rebuilt it, around 50,000 now, a 2L ghia auto, averages around 38-42 mpg(grandad driving!!)
Had no issue at all with "wrong" oil .
tabetha

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

However if you do by new engine I'll have old one off you for some research. Keep that in mind.

WillyWoW

Will let you know Aston, but at the moment shes running absolutely mint went kent this weekend, and still had oil in, happily sat at 80MPH, will be doing 1000 miles over the bank holiday so will be coming up for 220 thousand miles. The only real problem I've had with the car was at 214 when the cambelt jumped to notches i drove it home from town (7 miles) without relising, and it didn't bend one piston the garage who put the cambelt on for me still can't believe today how lucky i was.

AstoN_B

iTrader: (1)

You sure its a zetec it has in and not a magic wand? lol

good effort zetec.

phil_focus

first hand proof that with good regular maintenance these zetecs can do 200k+ easily!!

if it was mine i'd want to keep it until the engine starts giving trouble and then strip it for inspection just out of curiosity.