stevie_b Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 Hopefully the slightly double-entendre title has got some attention! My neighbour has recently bought an escort (M-reg, 16v 1.4 or 1.6 I think). It runs, but the top of the spark plugs are swimming in engine oil. When you pull one of the spark leads off the spark plug, the lead drips oil over the camshaft cover. Any 'scort owners know what could be the cause of that? Possibly related: when you take the oil filler cap off and run the engine, there's a fairly strong "air" (exhaust I guess) flow out of the filler hole. It feels similar to placing you hand over the exhaust. Is this normal? Any help/advice appreciated Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 Not breathing properly? If the oil pressure is too high or the breather system is blocked up you can expect oil to try and make its way out of any orifice it can. I'm not familiar with that engine, my old Ford Pinto has a pressure valve in the block which just pulls out to look at for blockages. Is the oil draining INTO to plugs from above, or coming out from below. I've just thought it could just be a cam cover gasket - don't know if that's a possibility on that engine shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gzaerojon Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 Hopefully the slightly double-entendre title has got some attention! My neighbour has recently bought an escort (M-reg, 16v 1.4 or 1.6 I think). It runs, but the top of the spark plugs are swimming in engine oil. When you pull one of the spark leads off the spark plug, the lead drips oil over the camshaft cover. Any 'scort owners know what could be the cause of that? Possibly related: when you take the oil filler cap off and run the engine, there's a fairly strong "air" (exhaust I guess) flow out of the filler hole. It feels similar to placing you hand over the exhaust. Is this normal? Any help/advice appreciated Steve if its a cvh then it could be that the bolts were over tightened, if they are then the rocker cover bows and leaks oil. i saw this alot when people bought the cheap autofactor style cork gaskets, but if the original ford ones are fitted they have metal stop pins either side of each bolt hole so you can't over tighten it. or if the oil breather is blocked the pressure in the crank case will be high, then it will piss oil out the weakest point (the rocker gasket normally) the oil breather goes on here (see pic) hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 Definately sounds like a breather issue, possibly exacerbated by a fooker camcover gasket. If putting your handover the oil filler neck feels like putting your hand over the tailpipe then that's a lot of blowby. I'd be worried about what was causing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra-lover Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 Good Little Engine Them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 26, 2006 Author Share Posted July 26, 2006 Thanks guys, On the offchance, does anyone know where the breather hose is on these engines? If not, my neighbour will just have to buy a haynes manual for it. [hijacking my own thread here] I did a search for escort owners clubs, thinking there would be loads, but they're don't appear to be! I found a couple, did a search for "oil" and "spark plugs", but got no hits!!!! I did a search for "escort" in the escort forum, and got... 3 hits!! Rubbish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EncoreWRC Posted July 29, 2006 Share Posted July 29, 2006 if its the 16valve engine the cam cover gaskets leak whan they go hard, and if its the zetec engine u may have to replace the leads cos they tend to missfire after they have been taken off a couple of times,if this happens and u are dooing the gasket it may be best to do the plugs and leads at the same time then u dont have to worry about them for another 40.000 miles as the plugs are platinum on the zetec(best to use ford plugs and leads as in my experiance others tend to miss after a while). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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