I was changing the oil in a friend's Ford Ka the other day.
I noticed rather than more usual 10W40 the old Valencia Engine in it took 10W30.
Now this seemed odd to me so I did some checking.
It *seems* that the Zetec engine requires 10W30 and Ford *may* be recommending the same oil just to be consistent over their entire range.
Am I being too cynical?
PS: Hello and happy new year to all!
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What! Is this the slimey young Toad who hasn't posted for nearly 2 years???? Happy New Year to you to0 but plllleeeaaasssse don't start any more threads on sodium valves :)
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Hi
Is that the endura engine.
--
(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
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FD: It *is* the Endura engine (ie the Valencia Engine out of the 60's Anglia). I can't imagine for a second this needs 10W30 since the 10W30 is surely just to make the Zetecs hydrolic valves work properly. The Endura (Valencia) doesn't have hydraulic valves. So I conclude they just use the 10W30 to be consistant across the range.
VM: Yep. It is indeed the old Toad. Glad to be back. Hoping to post a *lot* less than I used to though!
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"...post a lot less than I used to..."
Toad Industries went belly up due to the lack of commitment of the CEO did it? :)
Good to have you back BTW!
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No, you are not being synical. As noted in Halfords the other week, it says "Ford are now recommending using 10W30 in this (HCS, Endura-E) engines. The original specification (10W40) can still be used.
I'm still using 10W40 in mine, 10W30 seems a bit thin for an engine design of such heritage.
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Thanks MFarrow.
10W40 is cheaper and I've always got some hanging around my garage.
I had to make a special trip for 10W30 and it cost me more as well.
Plus thicker is better, innit!
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well the newer Ka has a different cylinder head to stop the plugs welding themselves into place as they do on the older ones
maybe this makes a difference ?
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Interesting.
This one certainly has the older cylinder head 'cos it's '97 and one of the plugs seems stuck fast. I copperslipped three of them and am planning to spray WD40 on the remaining one for a few days (it forms a nice pool) and try to get it out with the engine nice and warm.
1) Wonder if the valves and head are different enough to warrent thinner oil.
2) I *thought* the problem with plugs getting stuck and snapped was the plugs Ford use, not the cyl head?
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just checked the valve gear etc is different as well as the head, thats how it went from 60 to 70 PS at the same time, they changed name from Endura-E to Duratec at the same time, although its the same engine with a new head
typically plugs need drilling out, its a very common job
its a "feature" of this engine design and the cylinder head that the plugs seize, and the service schedule never had "remove and grease then replace plugs" as it should have had in the circumstances
dont think you can blame the plugs, think any plugs would go the same way, only cure is regular plug removal, clean and replace
maybe they just changed the oil spec cos it was easier than asking owners to figure out which engine the had, i can imagine the little old dears just thinking "well its a Ka"
incidentally this whole new engine thing is still living on cos they have a factory tooled up to make this engine which would cost lots to retool, or swap production to another enginer plant, so they make do with this small improvement, 1.25 (isnt that a Yamaha designed engine) in Fiesta is better choice and would fit - but they dont have production capacity to make it for Ka, also they like a little product diferentation between Ka and Fiesta
etc
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I see... ...and the new head might use the hydraulic valves out of the Zetec hence the oil. It all becomes clear.
Will change the Ka back to 10W40 next time.
Yes, I'd heard the 1.25 is a great engine and IIRC it *is* Yamaha. [1]Whether it's the engine out of the FJ1200 or not I don't know.
I've learned the regular plug removal lesson! I copperslip these babies from time to time.
I hope it doesn't have to be drilled. Will try hard with the WD40!
Cheers for the info JD.
[1] I think the 'old spice legends' use it and I've seen them at Brands having a great time with it!
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I wrote "Old S=p=i=c=e Legends".
Hardly offensive.
If you're interested:
www.legends-cars.com/
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>>Hardly offensive.
No, not really. I shall have a look at the swear filter later to see how it might be "retargeted".
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well new one uses "lightened and reduced friction valve gear", dont say anything about hydralic
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just checked the valve gear etc is different as well as the head, thats how it went from 60 to 70 PS at the same time, they changed name from Endura-E to Duratec at the same time, although its the same engine with a new head
If it's a 97 model it will be the Endura-E engine. The Ka engine was only changed to the Duratec late in 2002. Up until then, the Endura-E engine is still the old Valencia design. It may probably have tighter tolerances than the early engines like the HCS and before, but it won't be the same as a Zetec I suspect.
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This thread has just set me googling to check my recollection that the Ka has the "Kent" pushrod engine (1959 Anglia, sundry Escorts and Cortinas?) - so it was, apparently renamed Valencia when it appeared in the Fiesta, and ultimately Endura. This probably isn't news to anyone but me - I'll just nod off again now...
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But the Anglia only had three main bearings,(I snapped a crankshaft next to the centre bearing in one)and no cross flow head.The Escort introduced the x-flow five bearing engine.As for oil viscosity I would use a slightly thicker oil when an engine is getting a bit worn,as long as there is no problem with hydraulic lifters.
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The 'new' cylinder head (late 2002+) comes with a new block. Still chain-driven but with oil filter at the front this time so you can't mistake it for the old one. It's also OHC.
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if new ka and all other fords need this other oil, and the old one is ok with it, they probably just did this to get the old oil out of the ford supply chain, otherwise they would have to endorse someone elses oil
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"oil filter at the front this time"
Just as well. I'm still damaged from the burns I got from the exhaust last time....
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I found the best wy to remove plugs on my son's car was to make a little dam of putty round the plug well to allow a lake of penetrating oil mixed with engine oil to stay around the plug screws. Left for a week's driving (son's 1993 1.1 Feester) and then clear away.
Plugs cameout a treat - (also when twisting them used the 2 twists forward, tighten up, untighten a bit more, etc trick. Helps clear threads)
madf
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Well I never... ToTH.
I waited and waited looking out to sea at Ardrishaig...did you show...did you call...did you......!
Anyway this little Ka...do a bit with these and they are usually nacked by 3/4yrs due to old engine design, short runs coupled with Ford's attempt to embrace the minimal maintenance schedule.
They need a decent 10/30 or 10/40 semi-syn... and at 6mth intervals regardless of how little mileage.
Oh and the plugs... major stress everytime one comes in for its first plug change at 30,000 miles plus. Not broken one yet but the day will come.
Regards,
M.M (DW as was)
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