New car oil issue.

[bub2006]

As I mentioned in my thread with pics about new car using oil I've found something out. It has gone from full on dipstick to just under a quarter in approximately 400 mile. Also noticed a puff of blue smoke at high rpm when went to kickdown to overtake today. Car has 88k on the clock and is very tidy overall. I would like to sort any issues out because I've had bloody enough of swapping motors now. Found something I really like and is comfy so want to keep it!

[MarvinsMom]

has it really gone down the dipstick?

 

is the mark 1 focus one of these that you need to wipe the dipstick, put it back and then read again to get a correct reading, or pull the dipstick out and then wait before reinserting? I cannot remember....

 

I do remember that they, in common with all newish fords need special super watery thin oil, when I had the company ones I always found that the dipstick was a bugger to read as I couldn't see where the oil level was (not that I bothered much, if ever, it wasn't my car)

 

also is it dropping oil anywhere?

[bub2006]

No leaks and I'm dipping am wiping and re dipping to get a reading. No leaks anywhere too

[Sealtainn]

I think Ford changed the oil spec to 5w30 a few years ago and from being on focusowners.com, the Zetec was fond of a drink of oil. Could possibly check to see if the crankcase breather pipe is blocked as that's another common problem with them

[bub2006]

I was thinking a breather may be causing oil blow by unsure. Will check them all when I can. Because of my housing situation though all my tools are at different friends houses.

[chaseracer]

We could take a look on Saturday?  FPB7 knows about these things.

[bub2006]

I'd be most appreciative of that dave. Thank you.

[Bren]

Clean breathers out. Proper oil and a genuine filter - they are so cheap on shite bay it is pointless buying an aftermarket item.

 

The engine is coupled to an auto box so I cannot imagine that it has had a hard life.

[stripped fred]

I find it just about impossible to read the dipstick on my Alfa as it seems to smear the oil mark from the dipstick when you remove it so I have to guess.

[Inspector Morose]

^ that might be the issue here. Autos of that size car will have generally had a pretty gentle existence in my experience. Could be wear due to excessive short runs or just needs a good, proper service.

 

Start with an oil and filter change and change/clean out breathers first before worrying about it too much.

[twosmoke300]

Not sure what exact engine you have in yours but some petrol focii have a small breather / pcv hose that runs inside the curve of the inlet fannymold and it collapses and blocks itself when running . It causes oil burning and erotic* idle issues .

Ford sell the pipe ic a t piece and the valve for not silly money .

[oldford]

Give it a dose of this:

 

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/wynns-super-charge-oil-treatment-425ml

[bub2006]

Thanks for advice. Will change oil and filters (had last service last year,less than 6k ago.) only done 9thou in past 3 years so not gone far. I'm not up to date with these Zetec lumps so will take an engine bay pic and upload it. It has a lot of pipees and a little ufo shaped metal thing on the left sid of engine on the top as you look at from under bonnet. No loss of power and seems quiet quick for what it is. Certainly more nippy than vectra 1.6 auto I had.

[twosmoke300]

Ufo is a damper fitted to the fuel pipes iirc - is it on a pipe with a pigs tail in it ?

[Bren]

The only thing that could have caused engine wear at that mileage is lots of short trips - fuel washes the bores causing wear, but to be fair it would smoke a lot.

[bub2006]

Not properly checked it out yet but it doesn't seem like it's attached to fuel hose. It's at the front on top of rocker cover.

[twosmoke300]

Possibly fuel pressure reg on the injector rail or a breather on the top of the motor

[bub2006]

Ok. I'll look tomorrow and take picture Of engine too

[bub2006]

Rightieo folks. Update. If car is ticking over after so long it will smoke. If I boot it it will kick out a puff too. It's going from full to quarter roughly every 500 miles on dipstick. Exhaust tip is sooty too. Due to mileage I'm led to believe it's nothing major due to relatively low mileage but could be a blocked pcv? Checked pipes and no gunk anywhere. Also I have read that the engines are prone to valve seal leaks but I get no blue smoke on cold start up so I thought that wouldn't be the issue. Any advice from this info is greatly appreciated.

[sierraman]

Could be the rings are fucked, a compression test would rule that in or out.

[Bren]

Compression test will point you in the right dirction.

[Tamworthbay]

I have a compression tester and a supply of tea Daz, but in Tamworth

[michael1703]

I've got a customer with a focus auto that goes nowhere and gets to the heady heights of 1500rpm, giffer usage of driving to the doctors and back has cost him in a couple of cats and his smokes like a bastard too

 

try the breathers, if not then tip some "wynns supercharge" in to the oil and give it an Italian tune up

[bub2006]

I have a compression tester and a supply of tea Daz, but in Tamworth

Tamworth not too far mate. I'd be most appreciative. Thanks Michael but before I try that I think Compression test be first port of call

[bub2006]

Could be the rings are fucked, a compression test would rule that in or out.

Hoping it's not but if it is and that's worst case scenario I'd be really tempted to chuck an engine in it. It is worth more to me being auto and in good overall condition for a ford than what I can get anywhere else. Pulls like a train for what it is.

[Tamworthbay]

Tamworth not too far mate. I'd be most appreciative. Thanks Michael but before I try that I think Compression test be first port of call

its no trouble mate, pm me a number and I will give you a shout and we can have a look at it.

[bub2006]

Thanks. Pm incoming matey

[Tamworthbay]

Replied

[mrbenn]

Good call on the compression test. If the results are within spec I'd be tempted to do the following:

 

- unless you know what oil is in there change it for 5w/30 fully synthetic, Zetec engines don't like the wrong stuff.

 

- change the pcv valve. Its only cheap and will rule it out, though if you have big hands you may struggle a bit. On the 1.6 it is under the inlet manifold at the front, long nose pliers will help.

 

I've known a few folk with 1.6 Focus (Focii?), one had 130k and used no oil at all, another was sold at 55k and he had to top it up regularly during his ownership.

 

Interesting to note, my own 1.6 started using oil suddenly (approx 1 litre every 500 miles) shortly before one of the valves in the engine went but there was no smoke visible from the exhaust either while idling or accelerating.

[bub2006]

I'm using 5/30 but semi synth I think. Lots of it too... Checked pipes to pcv earlier,pipes ok. Pcv is in a tricky place I must admit.