Tips for an old car

Chickabiddybex

Rude! :P

Probably right though. This is the first "crap" car I've ever driven so I'm not used to having to drive well

I'm not sure what the fuel consumption is like yet I haven't been driving it very long. I think I've done about 140 miles on £25 of fuel. That's maybe 35mpg I think?

mcjordi

thats not a bad qoute. seal at the top? they are cork and about £2 at any factors i used to replace mine every 2nd service when doing the tappets.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

on any endura E/FE engine i would reccomend re setting the clearances for the tappets every 12-18 months, i have had catastrophic failure of the tappets and pushrod seatings over cyl 1 where the tappets unseated from the pushrods jammed them to the side wall of the head and allowed the bottom of the rods to smash the piston crowns, bend the pushrods and hit them through rocker cover.

ive also seen the the push rods so loose theres more than a quarter of an inch play between pushrod heads and tappet seats.

for something that is easily set at most garages for about an hours labour, will see the engine back to full power and alot quieter.

Chickabiddybex

What?

The engine isn't actually very noisy. I think I just should have gone back into 4th up the hill to get above 70 is all. I'm just not used to that sort of thing as I've only used hire cars (with massive engines)

However, I'm not sure the mechanic has sorted my oil situation. There is nothing under the car yet my oil has gone from full to almost at minimum in 1.5 weeks. Hmmmmmm.

WobblyDog

I used to have an Endura-E engined Fiesta, and agree that they are fairly bombproof. Mine made tapping noises all its life to some extent.

Regarding tappets, I've heard the saying "a tappy tappet is a happy tappet". In other words, if the tappet clearances are too tight, the engine will be quiet, but might suffer damage. Adjusting the tappets on this engine is fairly easy, given a Haynes manual and a selection of basic tools. The handbook says it should be done every 12 months.

My Endura-E engined Fiesta averaged 49mpg, which is better than the newer Fiesta I reluctantly replaced it with.

Borage

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

What?

The engine isn't actually very noisy. I think I just should have gone back into 4th up the hill to get above 70 is all. I'm just not used to that sort of thing as I've only used hire cars (with massive engines)

However, I'm not sure the mechanic has sorted my oil situation. There is nothing under the car yet my oil has gone from full to almost at minimum in 1.5 weeks. Hmmmmmm.

You are never going to turn a 15 year old car into a new one but to go through that amount of oil in such a short time ( even if its constantly being thrashed) is not good news .

atrixblue.-MFR-.

are your sure your checking the oil when its cold and not just after a run if just after a run all the oil will still be uptop and midway in the engine and hasnt yet settled in the bottom sump where the dipstick takes its readings.

the oil cant burn away that quickly without either shoving a load of smoke out the rear end that it creates a smoke screen behind you and youll know theres a problem, or its going so quick that its going into the water or cylinders or out of the engine via a seal.

is there still yellowing under the oil filler cap, is there chunks of gunk in the water?

Chickabiddybex

Definitely checked when cold.
When last filled there was gunk at the top. Haven't checked since. Will do!

mcjordi

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

Definitely checked when cold.
When last filled there was gunk at the top. Haven't checked since. Will do!

dont worry too much about the gunk.. its a feature of the engine lol.. if you do mostly short trips then you will get loads of gunk..

using that much oil will be oil stem seals. does it smoke at start up?

SailorSam

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

How would I change the oil filter? Is it a fiver job in a garage? I only know how to fill up the oil but not how to change the filter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gd_9jbZbtE

It shouldn't be a difficult job.