Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 16:34:03

Title: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 16:34:03
One of the Neighbours Sons has decided that the MOT man checks the Oil Level and then gives it the thumps up to drive as part of the Test. So needless to he's been driving it with no oil and it now sounds like a Taxi, asked to have a quick look and thats all Im doing, so was expecting to hear a low end knock, but its a high pitch knock which seems to be coming from the top end.

The car is a 1.8 Zetec, black, 2001, Tax out this month and MOT end of Dec and have asked for my opinion whether to Fix or Scrap. Whilst I really dont wont to get involved, I did say probably scrap with the price of cars these days.

So just thought I ask you guys, any thoughts, dont really think there much money available for a fix, but just in case, anyone had experience of these cars being run minus the oil?

Thanks Chris.

Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 May 2013, 17:09:18
Never, thankfully, run my Zetec dry of oil, but I do know that the hydraulic tappets can take a while to re-fill if they've got air in them.

Might be worth draining the sludge that's in there, filling with cheap oil and see if it quietens down.
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: martin42 on 23 May 2013, 17:19:44
do a couple of oil changes,using cheap oil,use 5/30 oil tho  :y
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 17:21:20
Thanks Kevin, did actually say to them brim with oil and let it tick over for a while, which He's done, with no difference, if the tappets do take a while might be worth going for a light footed run, cant get any worse.  :y
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 17:23:29
do a couple of oil changes,using cheap oil,use 5/30 oil tho  :y

 :y

Luckily 30% off Halfords 5L Oil, this weekend.
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: martin42 on 23 May 2013, 17:29:38
the thing is has he learnt from this tho,if not,wouldnt bother doing anything to it,checking oil is a weekly check,so many people these days dont think they have to check oil,as if it stays topped up by the magic oil pixies.
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 17:43:53
the thing is has he learnt from this tho,if not,wouldnt bother doing anything to it,checking oil is a weekly check,so many people these days dont think they have to check oil,as if it stays topped up by the magic oil pixies.

Probably not, but found out today He's been offered £150 scrap for it, which I think He is considering, or it could be available to me for that price, Hmm, cost of a couple of Oil changes, worst case should get my money back, even if it went on the Bay as is. :-\  :-\  :-\
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: martin42 on 23 May 2013, 17:47:16
even if you get another engine and just swap heads over could be another option
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 17:53:42
even if you get another engine and just swap heads over could be another option

Wont be doing Engine Swaps, no facilities for that, might consider Head Swop, although having said that, HG Kit, Cambelt, Water Pump, oil, all starts to add up and lack of time on me hands, Tax being out this month doesn't help, banged out with parking at the moment :-\
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 23 May 2013, 18:38:07
If it's anything worse than a bit of air in a tappet, I wouldn't bother doing anything with the head without checking the bottom end bearings.

If the rest of the car is as neglected, it's probably not worth the bother, except to sell as a runner rather than "clearly knackered".
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 23 May 2013, 21:09:38
If it's anything worse than a bit of air in a tappet, I wouldn't bother doing anything with the head without checking the bottom end bearings.

If the rest of the car is as neglected, it's probably not worth the bother, except to sell as a runner rather than "clearly knackered".

Must admit its a good colour, jet black, but whats to say what is hidden underneath, think were thinking alone similar lines here.
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: Broomies Mate on 23 May 2013, 22:24:39
2001 should be Panther Black, which is a lovely colour IMO.

I'd (as suggested above) do an oil change, drive it like it's been stolen for 50-80 miles and then do another oil change.

They are GREAT cars for what they are.  Much better than the Astra G (of course IMO).
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: 2woody on 23 May 2013, 22:41:12
two questions -

when registered in 2001 ? and,

two or four door ?

If its the right combination I'll definitely take it off your hands
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: TheBoy on 24 May 2013, 09:02:02
I think my views are well known - don't touch it with a shitty stick. Awful bloody cars. And being a 2001, its one of the originals.  And thats with it being in perfect condition.

51 plate Focus, worse car I've ever owned by some margin (from a driver's perspective). But some people like them  :-\


If its been run with very low oil, its shagged. Any "The Bay" egayer turning up to buy it will notice its shagged. I reckon you're looking at more trouble than its worth TBH. It may have a more useful afterlife as Baked Bean tins.
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: 05omegav6 on 24 May 2013, 10:47:43
Assuming there's any metal left underneath ;D
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: omega3000 on 24 May 2013, 11:42:25
Assuming there's any metal left underneath ;D

Filler with metal filings in , dont think anyone uses a magnet to check anymore  :-\
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 24 May 2013, 19:24:51
two questions -

when registered in 2001 ? and,

two or four door ?

If its the right combination I'll definitely take it off your hands

17th May 2001 Y plate.

5 Door Hatch.
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 26 May 2013, 17:29:44
Had another play with it this morning, pulled the Dip Stick out and wrapped some amalgamating tape around the top of it and used a washing machine water hose as a stethoscope on it so I could try and listen inside the Crank Case.

Apart oil splashing around and crank noise all I could really hear was the really loud top end noise coming through with a slight hint of a bottom end mid range da,da,da noise.

My verdict is its shagged, and not worthy of a couple of oil and filter changes, but  :-\

Voices in my head were whispering, "walk away, walk away now"  ;)     
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: symes on 26 May 2013, 20:05:08
Had another play with it this morning, pulled the Dip Stick out and wrapped some amalgamating tape around the top of it and used a washing machine water hose as a stethoscope on it so I could try and listen inside the Crank Case.

Apart oil splashing around and crank noise all I could really hear was the really loud top end noise coming through with a slight hint of a bottom end mid range da,da,da noise.

My verdict is its shagged, and not worthy of a couple of oil and filter changes, but  :-\

Voices in my head were whispering, "walk away, walk away now"  ;)     
Exactly :y :y :y
Title: Re: Ford Focus 1.8 Petrol - repair or scrap.
Post by: zirk on 28 May 2013, 17:48:27
The Car will be going to St Peters Gates on Friday, so without sounding like a For Sale Thread, which this is not, anyone wants to take on a Project, pm me and you can talk to the owner directly.

Chris.