Wayslow
Wayslow Reader
9/27/12 8:58 p.m.

I went and looked at a 2000 Focus ZX3 for my daughter. It's a stick and has just under 100k miles on it. It sounds like it has a serious lifter tick on it, almost a knock. It's the DOHC engine. The oil looked a bit low and was pitch black.

The price is right so an engine rebuild or swap wouldn't be a deal breaker but I don't really need another project right now. A quick search of the general interweb knowledge runs from the engine is shot to they all do that so just live with it. Therefore I turn to my trusted source of knowledge for all things mechanical.

Kenny_McCormic
Kenny_McCormic Reader
9/27/12 9:13 p.m.

If you can buy it at a blown engine price, do so, flush it out and hope for the best.

spitfirebill
spitfirebill UltraDork
9/28/12 7:21 a.m.

^^^^^^ yea. Add some Marvel Mystery Oil (akaMMO) to the first few oil changes. If it's a lifter, that may free it up.

16vCorey
16vCorey PowerDork
9/28/12 7:43 a.m.

I agree with the rest of the guys. Zetecs are hard to kill (but a lot of boost will do it!). Try to buy it cheap enough that you can pick up a used engine if you have to, and flush the crap out of it.

N Sperlo
N Sperlo PowerDork
9/28/12 8:27 a.m.

Ummm.... What they said.

Flight Service
Flight Service SuperDork
9/28/12 8:57 a.m.

I had the same issue with a Nissan Maxima with 97K. Switched the oil to Shell Rotella T. Sold the car last year with 183K on the ticker.

Good stuff.

yamaha
yamaha Dork
9/28/12 11:21 a.m.

My friends has been doing exactly that since he replaced the head......its in the valvetrain is all we know. If it runs ok and doesn't smoke, I'd try to buy it at the blown engine price and do what everyone else has said.....

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