Hello,
We have a 1990 Escort 1.3 with the pushrod/OHV engine. Currently it has 109k miles on the clock and apart from being rattly, it seems to run well and oil consumption is fairly low. My wife keeps asking how much longer it will last (i.e. please can we replace it with something newer soon!) I know this is rather a 'how long is a piece of string' question, but what expereince have other people had with this motor? Oil and filter are changed at 5k intervals and typical use is 30 mile motorway round trip to and from work.
Any insights welcome!
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With that driving pattern and oil change interval I would say it could be good for another 20-30k miles ! More likely that suspension components and/or underbody rust will dictate the life, meaning the cost of that type of repair wont be worth doing compared to the value of the vehicle.
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Hello,
I've got the same same model of car and engine. I'm currently up to 118K at the moment and rising. The pushrod (HCS) engine has had a lot of critics on this site with regard to engine wear but I think it depends on how you treat it. With your frequent oil changes I would agree with Claude that something else will go first.
I think the engine gets criticised as its the sort of engine that goes in shopping cars and so suffers from a life of short runs and a lack of mechanical sympathy (and oil!).
I'm planning to get as many miles as possible out of mine as the rust is only superficial at the moment but getting worse steadily!
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Hello, I've got the same same model of car and engine. I'm currently up to 118K at the moment and rising.
Hey Richie W, if it starts falling be sure to let us know!
;->
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Apart from what claude has already said.The tappets and timing chain/tensioner are a common rattle on those engines.I do expect some critisism here.But it has been known for some to have the rockers ground down slightly to compensate for the wear caused by the valve stem hitting the rocker.leaving a slight dent in the centre of the rocker.I dont say it should be done but has been known and done by better than me and appears to work.I have actually done one about 2 years ago with owners consent.It is still running fine and not as rattly as it was but for oil consumption.In the last couple of months it is getting through at least 1 litre a week.good engine though.so could last for years yet
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It will outlast the bodywork of the car, if its fitment in previous Fords from the Sixties onwards is anything to go by. Keep it serviced - oil changes every 6 thousand or earlier - and there is really no reason why it should go wrong. How many Kent engined Fords do you find scrapped due to blown engines? Not many... And what's a little oil burning and tappet rattle between friends?
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Look after a few of these and they seem to show their age earlier than almost any other modern (?) engine. Doesn't mean they will fail...just that the smoke, noise and mayonaise production wears you down into thinking they *must* fail soon.
Oil changes are the key. 5 or 6K max for longer journey use and 3K for shopping trolley trips with the bores being washed by fuel.
I knew one that was trashed by a student with 10 to 15K oil change intervals, the engine did actually fail at 72K.
Another that was A1 at ten years old because of 6mthly services regardless of mileage, often little more than 2K between oil changes.
Yours should go a while yet Mr M.
M.M
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I would say more reliable than the CVH 1.3 could be looking at around 160k/170k/I have not heard of one that totally gives in.My sister in laws is 1990 has done 162k severe rattles but has not packed up Yet.
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Mine did 116k over 14 years, alot of short journeys, oil changed annually at MOT time. Emmisions were perfect right up to last test. Oil consumption at end 2000 mls/ltr. Body & gearbox gave out but the engine was still running fine.
To minimise rattle adjust tappets at least once a year, as they seem to go out of adjustment quite quickly.
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