Burning silly amounts of oil

If it's not dropping out the bottom, I'd flog it.

In message , Tony Brett writes

Its likely to be the oil control rings. Its a known problem with the Zetec SE engine if its had a history of being thrashed from cold. Just out of interest, what is the mileage?

About 80k but that's unverified.

Will this problem just get worse and worse? It appears to be doing so at the moment.

My conscience won't just let me sell it as OK if I know the rings are buggered. Is it not worth getting them fixed? I've spent fair amounts of money on this car in the 13 months I've had it and it's a car I'm very happy with so I'd really not part with it unless I really have to.

Tony

Then trade it in?

Well that depends of course...

The decision you face is spending more money on it and hoping that nothing else will go wrong...

...or replacing it with something that is unknown and may have all sorts of expensive problems just a few months down the line.

It is likely to be smashed oil rings, but go right through the PCV system looking for a blockage first.

Tim..

I'd be using cheap 20w50 or similar if I were you. If it is the rings the parts aren't expensive but it's a top and bottom off kind of job. I did a cavlaier many years ago that was doing a litre every 250 miles. I put new rings in in a weekend and everything was fine after that.

Sadly you can't refit the crank bearing caps without special tools on this engine.

Won't 20w50 gum up the valves and associated bits?

Tony

In message , Tony Brett writes

I always thought it was the main bearing caps that were the problem rather than the big end caps.

Not really. It was the early Zetecs with hydraulic lifters that were sensitive to the oil grade. Perhaps it would be easier to source an engine from the scrappy or ebay and drop that in.

Yes, by crank bearing I of course meant main bearing but the word had escaped me. It was early.

Is June 1998 not early for a Zetec then?

Tony

In message , Oxford News writes

No, they were introduced into the Escort in 1992 then the Mondeo the following year. You have a Zetec SE engine which was designed by Yamaha and which is completely different to the original Zetec engine.

Crank bearing is the main (crank) bearing so I wouldn't worry about it.

Just what special tool does it need and why?

In message , adder1969 writes

The point I was making was that he doesn't need to undo the mains to change the rings.

Its got a one piece ladder frame main bearing cap which can't be disturbed. I'm guessing that all the securing bolts need to be torqued down simultaneously.

OK - call me stupid but how can I possibly get at the oil control rings without removing the crankshaft? Do the pistons clear either end of the cylinder liners? I can't see how.

The Haynes manual says it is impossible to adjust the main bearing caps without special tools and Ford alos don't give torque settings. And it's an alu block.

Tony

But how will I know it doesn't have shafted oil control rings? Is there any way to test other than dismantling?

Tony

Remove the big end caps and take the piston out via the top?

The message from "Tony Brett" contains these words:

Undo the big ends and pull the pistons out through the top.