what do you guys think is the best type of engine for the focus and your reasons. the SPI? the Zetec? the Duratec? i dont have the SVT or ST in there for obvious reasons.

Well the SVT has a zetec engine and the ST has the duratec engine.
I think the zetec is the best engine due to the performance modifications avaliable
but the duratec is catching up.

Duratec hands down.

By design the duratec is more efficient, but from a dealership standpoint and an engine builder, we have had way fewer problems out of the zetec and its been around much longer. We have had quite a few problems with the duratec engine. The zetec seems to be a better engine all around though. Thats just my opinion and what ive seen working at Ford. Dont flame me for that, duratec guys, just stating what ive seen here. The zetec may not be as efficient but holds up better especially when you start modding.

That is hard one for me as I have owned both an Escort ZX2 with the Zetech, and currently drive an ST with of course...the Duratec.


Screw it! Lets go with the 2.5L Duratec V6 from the cougar! Why the hell not!

Whats hard to believe?

what problems with the duratec?

SPI FTW!!!

^^spi for the win^^ lol. The little spi is durable. We have had to go into and inspect quite a few that came apart for no apparent reason. They didnt come apart because the owner abused them or anything, just came apart. We have had to replace several under warranty, actually all have been replaced under warranty here. Stating that, i cant even remember the last time we have replaced a zetec. The only thing that comes to mind on the zetec cars was trans being replaced. I just checked my computer here at work to see if the zetec comes up (it shows all the dates and part#'s of the repairs) and i dont show one at all. That means that we havent had to replace a zetec at least in the past 3-3 1/2 years. Our system would show it if it had been done. Plenty of duratecs though. It may have just been the early production ones. And for the record, we have never replaced a 2.3.

SPI's don't die...ever

mines at 103000 and it still drives like i bought it (it was only 25,000 miles ago, but still)

I will tell you that we have never had to replace a spi or repair one.

The Zetec would be cheaper, and easier to find.

I can imagine all sorts of things that can go wrong with the Duratecs through no fault of the driver or engine builder. No keyways in the crank or cams for the sprockets, and plastic chain guides for the cam drive chain. It is still in it's infancy, the Zetec was broken in before it reached the Focus, but I bet if you look back at Contours and Cougars you'll find some replaced Zetecs due to factory faults.

I do like that the exhaust is in the rear of the engine compartment on the Duratec. I also like the torque curve, but I've never compared it to a Zetec. The Duratec is a larger bore with a re-enforced aluminum block. The Zetec is cast iron with an aluminum head. Not that this amounts to more than a 60 lb or so weight difference, but aluminum blocks are good for more than just weight reduction.

This is a decision that you just have to make for yourself. Tried and true, or take a chance on the new design. Modding both to make as much power as a Corvette will cost you dearly, but the Duratec will cost you more just to get the car to start with. In the same thought, consider all the issues from age that will affect an older Zetec vehicle that are not engine related.

If power is what you want, go take a ride in a car with each motor. I can tell you truthfully that if a Duratec owner tells you that the raspy sound you hear from under the hood when the car first starts is the POWER of the engine sucking air- he/she is fooling themselves. It's the mechanical valvetrain and cam drive before it gets oil. Note how it gets quiet before the engine drops rpm. You can consider that however you will, old Nissans make a lot of noise before oil bathes the chain too. Belts are much quieter, with stock cams the valves won't interfere with the pistons, but if you put a cam in it- valves will hit the pistons when the belt goes depending on how much lift you've added.

Ok, enough, I hope that helped.

Best really depends on what application you are looking for.

To me, best is overall design and potential. And that's why I went with the Duratec. I used to have a Zetec, and ever since getting my Duratec, I've never looked back. Sure, the Zetec is nice, but the Duratec is so much smoother and more powerful.

People will say the Zetec has a bigger aftermarket, which is true, but in reality, the only thing the Zetec has that the Duratec doesn't is a supercharger. For everything else, a part exists for the Duratec, and then some. How many Cosworth developed parts are there for the Zetec? 2-3?

Duratec is the way to go!

Mine has the new Euro Duratec engine with 145 hp "STOCK", which is made of aluminium. It is a very smooth engine, believe me.

Haven't find any stock car within the Focus category to beat me. [:D]
(Subaru, SEAT, GM, FIAT, VW, Toyota)

8.5s from 0~60mph

thanks for all that. i own a zetec but i wanted to know what you guys thought, but heres another question what one of thes engines are used in the rally focus. i think its the duratec cause thats all i heard of being a cosworth engine

Its been a Zetec up until this current year, when they switched to a Duratec. Both are highly modified forms of our engines, baring little resemblance.

I havent seen the duratec in a rally car yet. You said they started this year?

Although the Focus ST model on which the World Rally Car is based uses a 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine, rallying rules do not permit an engine of that size. However, the regulations do allow teams to use another engine from elsewhere in the Ford Focus model range, so M-Sport opted for the 2.0-litre Duratec unit, with the addition of a turbocharger and the mandatory 34 mm inlet restrictor. French engine specialist Pipo Moteur was employed to assist with the initial development of the new unit. M-Sport also used its own in-house transient dynamometer and made use of data from Ford TeamRS to fine-tune the specification. One advantage over the outgoing rally car is that the new engine has an all-alloy block. This allows for a reduction in weight and also a transfer of weight away from a relatively high position, thereby helping to lower the car's centre of gravity.


http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/focus_wrc.asp

But...is it really a Duratec?
The older 2.0 Zetec engine was designated as a Duratec in Europe.

A pic would help.

True