My trusty fiesta decided to give up the ghost on one of Edinburghs busiest roundabouts during rush-hour this morning.

I have my suspisions about cause, but opinions are appreciated!


I check the oil fairly regularly, and yesterday after driving the car quite hard I stopped for a few minutes, and after pulling away heard a faint knocking from he engine. Checked oil, and it was very low.

Filled up to max, and knocking noise went. Drove home, started car this morning, no probs. Drove to edinburgh, where the car died under braking, and wouldnt start. Flat battery for some reason, so jump started and knocking noise from engine was back with a vengence.

Moved the car a few hundred yards to a car park where it got louder and louder. It will be recovered tomorrow.

At my house there is no oil under where the car is parked, but as I walked along it today (is reasonably long drive) there are what seems like fresh oil drops along it.

So, assuming I have rodgered my engine, anyone know why I would lose so much oil so quickly, and only when the car was moving/running?

the car is a 1998 fiesta 1.25.

Cheers
Mark

Leaking around the oil filter? If it's above sump level then it will only leak (or gush!) when there's oil pressure.
I'm no expert though, but the oil is obviously getting out somehow and that's the only external "interface" in the oil system above sump level that I can think of on a zetec.
Did the oil pressure warning light come on?

the oil pressure light came on about 1 second before it stalled. never been on before, and never since.

Mark

Well I'd be interested in knowing what went wrong, keep us posted.

Sounds alot like your hifilidium valve has gone. You haven't been using that engine cleaning compound from Kaleco. sorry the oil is probly leaking under pressure you say you topped it to the max what max are you talking about.

max of dipstick.

Mark

are you sure that its filled correctly?

when I overfilled a car 20 years ago the crank hit the oil and it make a really big knocking noise.


atb

steve

[Edited on 12/3/04 by stephen_gusterson]

i dont imagine the knocking is unrelated to the knocking that I heard when oil was low.

we had an escort 1.3 (with the old 8v engine) which seized one day without warning, seemed a valve (perhaps hifidium) was clogged, and stopped oil flowing. Was thinking it something similar to this.

Will know for sure tomorrow when I strip the engine (once I make sure it's necessary).

Mark

before you strip the engine do a compresion test on it
if it has ran without oil the your big ends have probably gone
keep it touch dave blissett

I was guessing a spun big end bearing.

I hate it when that happens...

good luck!

when oil pressure light comes on, it is generally too late......

big end bearing was my thought

Am glad others agree. Should be getting it later this morning, so will let you know.

Mark

well, its terminal...

big end bearing right enuff, but also caused piston and crankshaft damage. looking at new engine..

life goes on though

Mark

not what you expect on a 98 engine is it really...

Was it due to low oil, or a fault with the bearing, i will have to check mine when i get back, as my brother drives my fiesta when im away and i dont think he knows where the oil goes in! and ive had to top it up a few times recently.

What u think of the 1.25? pretty nippy for a small engine!

well the engine has done 100k, and had a few track days. Brilliant little engine, most people that get in the car think its a 1.6.

Am pretty sure its an oil fault, havent had time to give the car a proper look over to see if theres an obvious leak as it was damn cold, damn windy and damn wet when I collected it.

EHad a look at the top end very briefly, and was amazed at how little wear there was for the number of miles. ford may actually have done something right with this engine!

oh wait, no...its roasted! I take that back

Mark

quote:

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Originally posted by 9904169
ford may actually have done something right with this engine!

Mark

---

yup, my apologies.

ford had to PAY someone to do something good.

Of course, the roasted bottom end is all fords. Hmmm

Mark

i had big end go on my first car, a 1300 triumph toldeo. there was a knocking sound which got louder and the car kept stalling when braking, had to keep revving it to get it home. bearings has turned and cranked was binned. if you stopped soon enough you might get away with a regrind and new bearings..

Ned.

I'm pretty sure it would have been ok, but I had to drive it to get it away from the roundabout where it broke down. I think this is when the damage was done, as it was in this time that two other knocking noises developed, which i think was piston vs valves.

didnt really have any other choice but to move it, as it was in a pretty dangerous place.

Mark

my fiat started sounding wobbly, local mechdude reckoned it was a loose bottom end, so it got stuck in an auction quickly!

the thing is, I had just polished it, looks really nice.

Sold as seen anyone??

yours for the bargain of £1400

they'd get a surprise when they started it all right!..

Mark