Ford Mondeo - Knackered Pistons...

shanks84

Hi. Took my car for its MOT today. Failed on emissions (quite spectacularly). Apparently 2 of the pistons are stuck, and according to the mechanic, I need a new engine

Im absolutely gutted. Only got the car 6 months ago and it cost me £2000. Now, the issue I have is that I took it to a mechanic about 2 months ago because the oil was burning at a rapid rate. He said he looked and couldn't see any issues with it. And oday, this?? Turns out he has put a camera inside the engine and has diagnosed the piston issue, but didn't think to do this when I took the car to him 2 months ago! I'm pretty livid, to be fair

What should I do? How much am I looking at for a new engine? Is it worth it? Should I sell it as spares/repairs? I'm at a bit of a loss, to be honest, because I'm massively out of pocket, and have no car

It's a 2004 1.8 Ford Mondeo LX Petrol

Thanks

geordie_taxi

shanks84 wrote: »

Apparently 2 of the pistons are stuck, and according to the mechanic, I need a new engine

i would get a second opinion as if 2 pistons had seized then the engine wont start let alone run and if it did run it would sound like a bag of bolts

johnnyroper

Sounds like sticking oil control rings to me I have had good success previously with putting liquid decoke fluid down bores overnight and the sucking some through a vac hose once up and running.
If that fails then it does not need new engine just a strip down and new rings or a second hand lump. Whatever happens it will not cost 2 grand

shanks84

geordie_taxi wrote: »

i would get a second opinion as if 2 pistons had seized then the engine wont start let alone run and if it did run it would sound like a bag of bolts

To be honest, I thought that, but I might has mis-quoted him. I'll get more info tomorrow

johnnyroper wrote: »

Sounds like sticking oil control rings to me I have had good success previously with putting liquid decoke fluid down bores overnight and the sucking some through a vac hose once up and running.
If that fails then it does not need new engine just a strip down and new rings or a second hand lump. Whatever happens it will not cost 2 grand

He has tried putting some sort of 'additive' through and that's resulted in an oil change, but still failed on emissions. Could this be what you are describing? He didn't, however, leave it overnight, as he'd done it within about half an hour of suggesting it! How much am I looking at to get it fixed if that is what it is? Is it worth it?

Rossy.

PMSL

A mechanic that states 2 pistons are siezed yet observes the engine running whilst doing an emmisions test should not be in charge of spanners. period.

If 2 pistons were siezed i can promise you 110% that the engine would not fire up at all.. However if the pistons were damaged, i.e worn piston rings or the piston crown was damaged then it would run although it would sound horrendous.

Does the engine sound rough? Does the car shake when the engine is running? Does it rev horribly?

If it sounds nomal to you then quite piossibly this guy is having you on and has seen you coming,. Take the car elsewhere if it runs as this guy sounds a complete moron

Strider590

^^ I reckon it's more likely the lambda sensor or EGR or one of many common problems.... Can't diagnose a piston or piston ring failure from an emissions test!

Seized pistons would result in MASSIVE damage and it definitely would not run.... The con rods would shear from the piston sending chunks of the piston down into the crankshaft, which would then fire these chunks around puncturing holes in the sump and destroying the crank case. How do I know? seen it happen!

Seriously, anything mechanical would result in the car running like a bag of nails!

shanks84

Rossy. wrote: »

PMSL

A mechanic that states 2 pistons are siezed yet observes the engine running whilst doing an emmisions test should not be in charge of spanners. period.

If 2 pistons were siezed i can promise you 110% that the engine would not fire up at all.. However if the pistons were damaged, i.e worn piston rings or the piston crown was damaged then it would run although it would sound horrendous.

Does the engine sound rough? Does the car shake when the engine is running? Does it rev horribly?

If it sounds nomal to you then quite piossibly this guy is having you on and has seen you coming,. Take the car elsewhere if it runs as this guy sounds a complete moron

No, none of those! Really starting to think the guy doesn't really know what he's on about, or he is rying to con me. Either way, I think I'll take it elsewhere for a second opinion

shanks84

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ I reckon it's more likely the lambda sensor or EGR or one of many common problems.... Can't diagnose a piston or piston ring failure from an emissions test!

Seized pistons would result in MASSIVE damage and it definitely would not run.... The con rods would shear from the piston sending chunks of the piston down into the crankshaft, which would then fire these chunks around puncturing holes in the sump and destroying the crank case. How do I know? seen it happen!

Seriously, anything mechanical would result in the car running like a bag of nails!

He say's he's put a camera in the engine and has diagnosed it that way. But it's been running fine, apart from the oil burning rapidly

sassy_one

If you do need a replacement engine, it won't cost you a arm and a leg (£2000)

Get a second hand engine, one off Ebay, try and find a seller selling one that is still in the car that you can see/hear running and check it's not misfiring/head gasket failure

johnnyroper

As I said above high oil use and fail emissions will not be seized pistons it will most likely be sticking oil control rings this will not result in noises or shaking of engine as some on here seem to think.
It will actually result in some oil bypassing said sticking ring and being burnt off,the cat and lambda may be clogged with oily crap adding to the problem,cylinders could also be glazed.
Try getting another garage to have a look before doing anything

forgotmyname

Try https://www.talkford.com (used to be fordmondeo.org) 1.8 petrol very very common for the
oil control rings on the piston to stick.

You can see what others did to cure it and how much they spent.