fiesta 1.25 zetec - sticking valve??

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Fri 28 Mar 2003 09:33
fiesta 1.25 zetec - sticking valve?? - Pedro(gone fishin')
My wife has a 1.25 zetec Fiesta 1998 R Reg which has done 42000 miles. It has developed an intermittent fault whereby it misfires and will then throw blue smoke. Diagnosed as overfuelling by garage with limited equipment but by the time it was taken for a complete diagnosis evrything was giving a perfect readout. Sainsburys fuel was being used with some short trips and four 30 mile motorway blasts per week. She has switched the fuel to Shell (hopefully more detergent)and I've put through a bottle of "Greased Lightening" fuel system treatment. Everything was fine for 250 miles but now it has started again. After misfire the left hand plug (looking from the front) is black and smells of petrol (not oil). When the vehicle misfires the cat smells (it's called Spooky). I'm obviously concerned about the cat being destroyed (so is Spooky). Also the car uses noticeably more fuel when it's misbehaving. I am aware of the zetec valve problem - does my diagnosis of sticking inlet valve accord with the Backroom experts and is there a quick solution which avoids head off and Ford main dealers? A compression test indicated all was ok. When it is behaving the car flies. Servicing has been every 6000 miles and I have ensured that the vehicle now has 5-30 Ford oil. All suggestions welcome
Pedro (Gone fishin')
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Fri 28 Mar 2003 22:32
fiesta 1.25 zetec - sticking valve?? - David Davies
Sounds as if you have a sticking valve problem,more likely to be an exhaust valve.Ask your garage to try some Forte Gas Treatment used as directed on the bottle.You could also have an oil service done using 5w-30 oil,try driving the car more vigourously and Shell Optimax fuel may help too.
David Davies (Tune-Up Raglan)
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