[bhempstead]

I have fitted a 2003 ZTS Focus 2.3 Engine into my 1979 Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000. It was going really well I have dyno figures of 152bhp at the rear wheels but all of a sudden the other day I drove it down to get the car weighed for an engineers report and it dump all the oil out of the engine.

Oil is coming out of the bottom of the PCV Valve Cover on the inlet side of the block. It passes a compression test with 12Bar/170PSI on each cylinder.

Does anybody now what can cause this on a duratec 2.3 motor?

 

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Nice car! Didn't I see that model in Mad Max?

Have you thought about an electric vacuum pump to supplement the system you have?

I'd consider that. I'd check the PCV, and do any kind of vacuum reading that you can rig up off it's port. If it's not increased pressure due to rings, or too much oil, then it must be a lack of vacuum. I don't think there's any issues with this engine that don't apply to all engines- although I'd be curious to see the insides of a RWD version like a truck to be sure.

Also, where'd you run the oil breather to? I don't think that's part of it, just curious. I'd expect just a filter mounted to the valve cover with your setup. Also, what is that wired to the oil cap? We just have a cap on our version, no wiring to it.

 

[NAD23ZX3]

that looks to be the vvt (mazda), the coolant lines are sharp. I've been thinking about doing them on every car I've owned.

 

[iminhell]

Well if it's anything like what the Zetec guys have found when removing the "bread box", they found that it's there for a reason and serves as a baffle. The zig zaging inside it serves to keep the oil thrown from the crank counterweights from entering the breather tubes, many of the guys that have gone turbo have found this one out.
Now I'm not familiar with the Duratec but I'd imagine there is a similar baffle around where you are loosing oil that you may have removed. If you did remove something like that, put it back or make a new baffle in its place as it does serve a needed purpose.

But the other thing it could be is undersized crankcase breather system. If you re-ringed the engine on the loose side you would have more blow by and there for the PCV system would have to increase accordingly to keep atmospheric or below pressure present in the pan. If you left smaller tubes but increased blow by you may be creating a pressure situation and loosing oil that way, much as whynot described earlier.

My guess though is you pulled a baffle out.

 

[bhempstead]

Thanks guys

It is running a custom sump to fit over the escort cross member, so possibly a missing baffle.

The counter balance unit gets removed 14kg, there is no room for it and then blanking plate installed. Do a search on ebay for Duratec and you will see one.

Breather pipe from the Cam Cover and PCV Valve Pipe are connected to the backing plate on the inlet manifold.

I was told these engines breath quite well and do not need a system that draws pressure from the crankcase. Like put the PCV Valve pipe into one of the inlet runners.

 

[jrn146]

Just a thought here but that engine was designed to be horizontal in the bay. Could oil be getting forced into someplace it shouldn't be as the car is moving? Like I said, just a thought.

 

[bhempstead]

No issue with the direction of engine because they have put the 2.3 engine into the 2007 MX5 Mazda as RWD with six speed gearbox.

I have put in a smaller filter and measured the oil correctly and it is holding oil now without the PCV Valve. Thats a two minute test will do a 30 to 45 minute test once I have fix a coolant leak.

 

[whynotthinkwhynot]

Ya ^ Ford Ranger pick-ups in the states use the same engine. There is a difference though, and it's a baffled oil pan as well as a different sump. You have that covered apparently.

Y'know, you could remove the old PCV and install one inline on the oil breather. I don't know if that would cause issues with the oil turning to hard black carbon sooner on top of the head or not.

Best wishes, and please stop by the showroom, that's a beautiful car and we don't get many examples of older Australian cars passing through FF!! Thanks for stopping by even though we haven't been much help.

 

[bhempstead]

Thanks for you comments

I ran the motor up to 87 Degrees C last night, the thermo cuts in at 85C. I also noticed the radiator cap opens at 80C and needs to run to an overflow bottle so I installed that and it all looks fine. I have basically removed the PCV valve for now and I will revist it later on for a better solution.

Did I mention that I have done a youtube video. Its only basic video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G57zpHr8WJY