Soldato
Whats everyones oil filler look like, my gf doesnt drive far to work but im starting to think the headgasket has gone.
How many Focus ST owners on here
- Thread starter Sparky
- Start date
Associate
Think a little bit of 'mayo' in the oil filler cap isn't unusual especially if car is only getting short journeys.
What's the coolant level looking like? Would expect this to drop if the head gasket was letting water get into the oil
What's the coolant level looking like? Would expect this to drop if the head gasket was letting water get into the oil
Soldato
Some mayo can be seen in the indent in the oil filler cap on short journeys. A nice run with loads of power spurts helps this. Check coolant level, and excess smoke from exhaust once upto temp I guess.
Mine got like that not long after I bought it. I just wiped it all up and after the next oil change it never re-appeared.
Soldato
Just driven 20miles if it was condensation would it have gone after a 30min drive?
http://i.imgur.com/VRcoeDc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/VRcoeDc.jpg
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2013
- Posts
- 2,589
Did you clean it off before the drive and it came back?
Associate
Could be slight leak in head gasket or worst case even a small crack in the liners as these engines are prone to going, even standard ones can go due to Volvo changing the T5 bore from 2.3L to 2.5.
Do you have any pressure in your expansion header when the engine is stone cold (left overnight)?
Do you have any pressure in your expansion header when the engine is stone cold (left overnight)?
Soldato
No didn't clean it off before driving.
Soldato
A small request. Anyone know if it's normal for focus st to have some vaccum at the oil cap when taking it off?
I'm suspecting the oil filter housing diaphragm is gone. Though I don't have the sound associated with it, neither any vaccum at the dipstick from what I can tell. This would explain the weird boost problem I'm having then.
I'm suspecting the oil filter housing diaphragm is gone. Though I don't have the sound associated with it, neither any vaccum at the dipstick from what I can tell. This would explain the weird boost problem I'm having then.
Clean it and check it again next time you go out it shouldn’t be there imo. I had a habit of checking mine when I had my ST for 18 months as I was worried about cracked liners and head gaskets etc and I never once had anything like that it was always clean
Stop looking for problems and enjoy the car
you’ve had more problems with that in a month than I did in 18 months with mine. I Take it you have replaced the boost solenoid with having boost problems? What’s actually happening with the boost? Would it not be worth taking back to dreamscience If it’s only been happening since getting it modded? If the oil filter housing was buggered surely there would be the common high pitch whistle noise.
Soldato
Stop looking for problems and enjoy the car
I replaced the solenoid at the start before even modding. Boost has changed, it used to boost to 1.2 and hold from 2-6th and taper off after 5.5k. Now in 2-4th it peaks at 3/4 and holds at half. 5th-6th it goes into 1.2 and holds at 3/4. I don't think it's the mapping and more hardware related.
No high pitch whistle at all. Going to change the recirc valve tomorrow and hope it's that.
Though a part of me thinks it's the cat as the amount of pops and bangs have increased a lot and with it being the standard cat I don't expect it to last long at all.
Due to go into Ds in may for rs clutch and flywheel but I thought I'd have a look before hand so incase it is something I can't do I could give them the heads up. Everything else with the car is fine.
Soldato
Symphoser has been removed. It has a bung at the end of which is meant to go to the pipe at the top of the cam cover. Can't hear any boost leak type noises that's the thing.
Last edited:
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2013
- Posts
- 2,589
You need to clean it off and check again. I'm sure it's just condensate but it is worth checking.
Soldato
Ok so my car seems to have sorted itself? Boost is back and the pull is back along with the torque steer. All I did was give the cat a few whacks? Guessing it's buggered.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2013
- Posts
- 2,589
Did it rattle when you whacked it? If the car has been popping and banging a lot I guess it is possible that the catalyst material has melted or clogged.
Soldato
No, this is why I decided to gently hit it at either end and the middle to see if I could hear any rattles but nothing. Yesterday it was banging and popping a lot before I did the prior, and today hardly anything. No fuel change, temp is around 3c cooler then yesterday too. Going to change the recirc valve today and see how much of a difference it makes if any.
I don't mind the issues as it helps me learn the car a lot more and help others. Spoke to a tuner I buy parts off and he was pretty sure with the symptoms it's the cat.