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Escort ticking sound

I'm hearing a ticking sound from my 98 Escort (1.6 Zetec). It can be heard both inside and outside the car with the engine running and appears to be coming from the engine itself, since it is present whether or not the car is in motion.

The rate of this ticking sound increases with engine revs and occurs whether I'm in gear or just in nuteral.

I'm wondering if this is a tappet problem, although listening to the engine with the bonnet open indicates that the sound is coming from around about the cambelt cover. I hope this isn't the culprit since I had a new cambelt kit (belt and pulley) fitted just 5k miles ago.

One thing I should mention - the car had an interim oil change service in January at a local independant. I have been changing oil every 5k miles since I got the car, which had done 77,000 miles eight months ago and now has 90k on the clock. Anyway, the garage used 10w40 oil where I have always used 5w30 myself - I raised this with them the next day as I noticed it on the invoice and they told me that, with the mileage I have on the engine, it would make no difference. Could the increased viscosity of the oil have anything to do with this new problem?

Thanks for any help.

Reply to
EvB
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I'm not a ford expert, but I'm pretty sure the Zetec needs 5W/30 (or

0W30?) or the hydraulic tappets gum up. ISTR that it can cause jacking up of the tappets if thicker oil is used. The ting is, the proper oild is probably peanuts from a dealer.
Reply to
Chris Bartram

Either you have a stuck tappet, (fairly unlikely I would say, they tend to be fine in the Zetec E, even after a big mileage) or a blown exhaust manifold gasket.

The 10w-40 is unlikely to cause a stuck tappet, but you may loose some mpg, and have problems with tappet jack in the winter. 5w-30 should be used even in a healthy big mileage engine.

Tim. .

Reply to
Tim..

Many thanks to all for the replies. I have checked the oil since posting and discovered that it was some way below the maximum mark on the dipstick, although above the minimum cutout. I usually check oil every week but have been running around recently and may have left it for three weeks or so. Anyway, having topped up, the ticking noise is gone.

This raises another question. The engine runs very nicely indeed as far as I am concerned and (despite what the above might imply) I am fastidious about maintenance. The Zetec has always used some oil since I bought the car some months ago and it just slipped my mind. I am somewhat concerned that the valve stem oil seals may be past their best since there is a small amount of blue smoke on startup - not a great quantity at all and not noticeable from inside the car. There is no smoke under normal driving. Perhaps I am being somewhat over- sensitive here?

I have read a few other posts which indicate that it is pretty normal for a Zetec to use some oil and I'm going to check very carefully from now on to find out exactly how much it is using. I have probably put four litres in between three service oil changes in 13,000 miles. It passed its MOT in April with no problems so I'm hoping that I don't have much to worry about and I can keep driving until it blows up/the body falls to pieces (most likely)/I need to purchase an oil blimp to tow behind the car.

Any thoughts welcome, and thanks again.

EvB

Reply to
EvB

Usually Zetec's dont use any measurable amount of oil between services, but upto a litre in 10k would be nothing to worry about. Due to age, you'res may be loosing abit through hard valve seals, but I wouldnt worry about it....

Tim..

Reply to
Tim..

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