I have been worried about the state of my engine for years. Mainly because it makes a racket when its cold, and also puffs out some smoke on first startup and on a couple of times after when being revved up. It also has an oil leak from the corner of the headgasket nearest the cambelt, but oil is not finding its way towards the belt yet, because I keep an eye on it by taking the top cover off now and again (this leak seems to go when the weather warms up i.e. summer and comes back when the weather goes cold) strange but true. There is a small amount of gunge (oil)accumlating in the header tank which I have just cleaned out.
But when its warms its fairly smooth and runs well. Oh and it was an incurrable oil leak from the rear main behind the flywheel. Thats what my d*** head mechanic told me anyway. Who I suspect of chargin me for the head bolts and reusing the old ones, because I would expect a head gasket to remain oil tighter longer than two years and 20,000 miles.
Its uses a little oil - 300ml per 800 miles on valvoline maxlife 10W 40, know running on castrol magnatec 15W 40 to try and reduce the noise when cold and oil leakage from head gasket. I have also rang round some breaker yards specialising in french cars and they are quoting £150 for zx 1.4i out of n reg with 69,000 miles does the sound reasonable.
Oh before I decide whether or not to replace the engine or not is there anything I can check to determine the true condition of the engine.
PS Cant afford a new car at the moment because im a student[:D]
ZX 1.4 ENGINE (Knackered or not knackered)
Moderator: RichardW
Citman -
I've also noticed lot's of submissions from you over the past year on your engine worries [:)]
£150 for a s/h engine is exactly £150 TOO much - as long as your present engine runs & pulls ok [:p]
- no matter the symptoms/sounds !
It may well proove that your engine is worn out - if someone had the guts & time to completely dismantle it.
Or it may proove that it's just worn like any other engine with such mileage.
The point is you don't know - and won't know unless huge expenses/efforts spent.
As long as oil consumption does not get ridiculous - and mpg does not suffer - it's simply bad economy to replace the engine.
Has someone ever told you - that mechanical things - like commercial produced cars - are never perfect ?
If you want a pedantic perfect car - with the showroom shine perfectly intact - you don't belong here [:p][;)]
I've also noticed lot's of submissions from you over the past year on your engine worries [:)]
£150 for a s/h engine is exactly £150 TOO much - as long as your present engine runs & pulls ok [:p]
- no matter the symptoms/sounds !
It may well proove that your engine is worn out - if someone had the guts & time to completely dismantle it.
Or it may proove that it's just worn like any other engine with such mileage.
The point is you don't know - and won't know unless huge expenses/efforts spent.
As long as oil consumption does not get ridiculous - and mpg does not suffer - it's simply bad economy to replace the engine.
Has someone ever told you - that mechanical things - like commercial produced cars - are never perfect ?
If you want a pedantic perfect car - with the showroom shine perfectly intact - you don't belong here [:p][;)]
To be honest I think my gut feeling is proberly right i.e the engine is worn. Having driven a couple of other cars with the same engine i.e. peugeot 306, one was a zx 1.4i with similar mileage the engine seemed a lot quieter when started from cold. and that car didnt have the amount of oil changes mine has had. Although it had fair amount of oil in the water much more than mine has ever had. I think your properly right ill run it into the ground, them id save myself the hassle and £150[:)]. I dont want a perfect car. Believe me it has other things wrong with it which I ignore and think the engine is going to added to the list.
Cheer for that I wont add anymore posts about my engine know got better things to worry about[:D][:D][:D]
Citman
Cheer for that I wont add anymore posts about my engine know got better things to worry about[:D][:D][:D]
Citman
Just keep on running it until the ticket runs out!!I wouldnt, however, want to be kissed by the oily snout of a french motor in the morning, they must be a bit odd in Denmark......
Seriously, though, it does'nt sound like it's long for this world if its using half a pint of oil per 800 miles and rattling on cold starts, BUT,a compression tester will soon show if its shot or not, and they are not hard to use; they don't cost much and are the best thing in your toolbox for checking the state of a motor.
I would agree on secondhand engines; the one you buy could be worse than the one you take out; I know from bitter experience with a Marina in my youth.
If you must go down this route buy a wrecked runner so you can at least hear it start and run, and have the bonus of other parts as well..
As I said above, just keep on running it until MOT time, and don't spend any money on it until you get your fail ticket and know wether its worth persevering with; treat it as a disposable tool,because you could well buy a better car with 6 mths MOT for less than the cost of bringing this one up to spec; MOT time will tell......[?]
Seriously, though, it does'nt sound like it's long for this world if its using half a pint of oil per 800 miles and rattling on cold starts, BUT,a compression tester will soon show if its shot or not, and they are not hard to use; they don't cost much and are the best thing in your toolbox for checking the state of a motor.
I would agree on secondhand engines; the one you buy could be worse than the one you take out; I know from bitter experience with a Marina in my youth.
If you must go down this route buy a wrecked runner so you can at least hear it start and run, and have the bonus of other parts as well..
As I said above, just keep on running it until MOT time, and don't spend any money on it until you get your fail ticket and know wether its worth persevering with; treat it as a disposable tool,because you could well buy a better car with 6 mths MOT for less than the cost of bringing this one up to spec; MOT time will tell......[?]
'Keep on running it until the MOT expires or something breaks' sounds a wonderful philosophy but is I feel rather less than satisfactory as the car will develop many minor faults which you don't fix as you are expecting the major one next week. You end up with a car that you consider unreliable and don't feel happy about letting your nearest and dearest use.
I appreciate the problems of buying second hand engines - and even with a guaranteed one you have the risk of getting one which is borderline - ie you don't like it for some reason or other but its not bad enough to claim under the guarantee.
I would suggest that as ZX's are now very cheap that you consider getting another car. You may even be able to trade it - albeit for a near scrap value.
If you intend to keep yours for ever than you could consider re-building the engine but there are always bits you think you should do while you have it apart and the bill will be loads more than you anticipate.
jeremy
I appreciate the problems of buying second hand engines - and even with a guaranteed one you have the risk of getting one which is borderline - ie you don't like it for some reason or other but its not bad enough to claim under the guarantee.
I would suggest that as ZX's are now very cheap that you consider getting another car. You may even be able to trade it - albeit for a near scrap value.
If you intend to keep yours for ever than you could consider re-building the engine but there are always bits you think you should do while you have it apart and the bill will be loads more than you anticipate.
jeremy
The car is in excellent condition. Bodys lovely, the paint work is exceptional. The interior hasnt got a mark on it. I cant really think of it as disposable item its been in the family for 8 years.
To be honest when I first bought the car of my dad the engine sounded good when it was cold. But has been since the head gasket was changed I noticed the noise and it has become worse of a period of time.
Its had oil changes at 3000 mile intervals i.e. 3 a year or maybe 4 using semi synth and purflux filters. im just disapointed that it doesnt sound as sweet as I think it should when its cold. Ive spoken to my mechanic about it when it went in for its check over and he said it sounds sweet. But he did say that the valve gear was a little noisy and was becuase of its age and mileage, but he didnt here it from cold it was still warm.
To be honest when I first bought the car of my dad the engine sounded good when it was cold. But has been since the head gasket was changed I noticed the noise and it has become worse of a period of time.
Its had oil changes at 3000 mile intervals i.e. 3 a year or maybe 4 using semi synth and purflux filters. im just disapointed that it doesnt sound as sweet as I think it should when its cold. Ive spoken to my mechanic about it when it went in for its check over and he said it sounds sweet. But he did say that the valve gear was a little noisy and was becuase of its age and mileage, but he didnt here it from cold it was still warm.