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Are Zetecs as good as I think they are.
emwmarine - 28/3/13 at 08:57 PM

Stripping down my Blacktop at the moment and soon to send my sump off to Strontium Dog on here.

However the reason for the strip down and replacement of bearings, water pump etc, was that I bought the engine from an ebay scrappy with'76k' miles on it. Given they are still selling 2.0l zetecs with 76k miles and the same photo as mine meant that I have put little credence in the mileage.

The rusty outside appearance and the black sludge oil did little to make the think anything other than the engine would be worn out.

However last week looking at the camshafts, I couldn't see any wear on the cams.

This evening I started stripping down the bottom end and I can't see any wear on either the crank journals or the bearings.

So assuming the engine has probably see 100k miles - and judging by the oil, without much maintenance towards the end, these zetecs must be pretty good to look like new when stripped down after that.

My old pinto looked shagged out after 30k hard miles.

p.s. Is this right for fitting standard con rod bolts?

BEARING BOLTS / CONROD BOLTS

Stage 1: 25 Nm
Stage 2: 60 degrees

daniel mason - 28/3/13 at 09:15 PM

they are very good.nice and compact too! my uncles running circa 160bhp on dellortos and has had no issues whatsoever in over 5 years of abuse!

SCAR - 28/3/13 at 09:19 PM

Modern engine design and manufacturing tollerances and modern oils = 250k plus engines

big_wasa - 28/3/13 at 09:21 PM

They are a great all round lump

ashg - 28/3/13 at 09:58 PM

have you checked it with feeler gagues, micrometers, dial gauges, and plasti gauges? there is no way a 70-100k engine wont have any wear.

john_p_b - 28/3/13 at 10:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ashg
have you checked it with feeler gagues, micrometers, dial gauges, and plasti gauges? there is no way a 70-100k engine wont have any wear.


of course it will have wear but i've stripped zetecs down with 150k on them and they have only given up due to lack of servicing etc, bores were fine and had it not been for the lack of oil the shells would have been pretty good too!

cracking engines really.

Autoflock Motorsport - 29/3/13 at 01:15 AM

They are great engines, im currently building a N/A 2.0 zetec aiming for early 200's, cams are fine for that power, only real issue is the oil pump, especially when boosted, anything over 7300rpm then be weary, not heard any problems with n/a though but on the boosted side they always fail when cammed and reving towards the glorious 8000 mark

bi22le - 29/3/13 at 01:36 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Autoflock Motorsport
They are great engines, im currently building a N/A 2.0 zetec aiming for early 200's, cams are fine for that power, only real issue is the oil pump, especially when boosted, anything over 7300rpm then be weary, not heard any problems with n/a though but on the boosted side they always fail when cammed and reving towards the glorious 8000 mark


ah, and Thats when you wished you had a 4age ( ducks and runs for cover)!!

emwmarine - 29/3/13 at 09:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ashg
have you checked it with feeler gagues, micrometers, dial gauges, and plasti gauges? there is no way a 70-100k engine wont have any wear.


I didn't say it didn't have any wear, I just thought that compared to other obviously shagged engines I have stripped there was no visible wear.

rusty nuts - 29/3/13 at 10:01 AM

I don't think I would bother stripping a Zetec to rebuild unless I was going to modify it , they are costly to rebuild but available very cheaply second hand probably due to lack of demand as they are so reliable?

emwmarine - 29/3/13 at 03:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
I don't think I would bother stripping a Zetec to rebuild unless I was going to modify it , they are costly to rebuild but available very cheaply second hand probably due to lack of demand as they are so reliable?


All I am doing is putting new shells in as I want to replace the con rod bolts anyway. Just surprised at the condition of it.

britishtrident - 29/3/13 at 05:18 PM

Modern engines last almost forever mainly due to synthetic oils that don't don't sludge and are less viscous at cold starts.