Ford Duratec advice?

[dieselnutjob]

My brother in law needs a new motor because his Focus TDCI is on its last legs.

 

As he is a Londoner with kids he is going to need a Euro 4 petrol and would prefer an MPV. These things are like rocking horse poo down here at the moment.

 

Anyway he has spotted a cheap S—Max petrol advertised with intermittent engine tapping.

 

Does anyone know what can cause intermittent tapping as I have no idea?

[fatharris]

Are the crankshaft pulleys damped on those? Could be the rubber delaminating.

 

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[dieselnutjob]

Description from the seller (apologies for caps lock) "TAPPING ENGINE - VEHICLE STARTS DRIVES NORMAL BUT THERE A IS SLIGHT INTERMITTENT TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT NOT ALL THE TIME".

 

It's about £1500 cheaper than it should be so I am thinking that even if the engine is knackered it wouldn't matter. Presumably we could get one from a crashed Mondeo and swap it if necessary.

[mat_the_cat]

Hydraulic valve lifters? Don't think the 4 cylinder Duratecs had them, but the V6s did.

[Dead_E23]

Interesting; I have just bought a Duratec powered Mondeo as they seem pretty reliable engines. They have swirl flaps that can cause a tapping noise - see here: http://www.talkford.com/community/topic/214884-engine-tapping-noise/

[dieselnutjob]

I think he's chickened out.

This could be a bargain for someone

 

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201708218552669?make=FORD&radius=1501&transmission=Manual&sort=sponsored&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&year-to=2006&fuel-type=Petrol&year-from=2006&model=S-MAX&page=1

[DodgeRover]

Our V6 maverick had a light top end noise, it didn't get any worse over 3 years 20ishK miles. Having driven old cavaliers and CVH escorts I can ignore quite a lot.