A smoking cossie on the over run and intial acceleration after over run is quite often caused by worn piston oil rings so beware!! that said my old cossie went on like that for 2 years with no problems apart from having to top up the oil every now and then, very imbaressing though the large puff of blue smoke everytime you back off and accerate.
Also look out for coolant leaking out of the osf of the head gasket just below the front exhaust manifold this is also a common problem and normally leaves a whiteish stain down the block or orange if the coolant hasn't been topped up with antifreeze,doesn't normally drip though as the heat of the engine drys it before it gets of the block.
Also check to see if the rad has swelled(bowed at bottom)as this is a sure sign the headgasket is starting to leak.

[Edited by GINGA - 12/11/2002 2:58:11 PM]

 

I have been told this and while it sounds pausible, I'm not sure if this is correct..

'Smoking on the overrun is caused by the rapid change from positve pressure to negative pressure in the chamber when you cose the throttle body. When running higher boost the change is more severe and it tends to suck oil down the valve, from the stem seal. This along with the overfueling leads to the typical 'brown' smoke on overrun.'



Sounds plausible because mine gives a good old puff of brown after lifting off. The engines only done about 4000mls and the compressions fine. Most of the stages 3s I've seen do the same.
It can be quite a cloud if your standing behind it on a r/r
Good for making a quick escape though (in a cloud of smoke...)


But I would think blue smoke itself on a stage 1 would be a cause for concern.

[Edited by Scot123 - 12/11/2002 11:30:03 PM]

 

Do they all smoke? i think every cosworth i have ever seen ejects a huge ploom of smoke at some point. is it normal to have some smoke, or should they be clear.

Swithering between buying a scooby or an escort cos.

 

Fuel aint a bad thing to come out the exhaust, better than the det the scoob produce's

 

Davie

All cossies tend to smoke on over-run (and flame ), this may be due to the fact that they are all chipped by now and overfuel on over run or the fact that even the newest is getting on a bit now Most of the time it's either black smoke from overfuel or blue from blown turbo seals A friend did 2 turbos on his by thrashing it from cold etc

Paul

 

right, so when buying i should look for blue smoke and get one that aint chipped.Rarer than hens teeth.

what were the plates of the newest escorts.

 

Davie

To be honest unchipped ones are the ones to buy but like you say they are rare as hens teeth An unchipped one is less likely to have been thrashed too Not sure about buying one that gives out blue smoke though there must still be some nice ones out there.

Paul

 

and the latest plates were P if I remember correctly

Paul

 

yeh thought the last ones were '96. Read various things on the web about blue smoke and cuffed oil seals. but apart from the engine, what else goes wrong, i know i should look for un-even panels, rust etc. But with buying a cossie i need to look under the skin. The lsat thing i want is 2 or three cosworths rolled into one!

And also one that hasn't been rolled literally. Thinking about it coz they are getting rarer and rarer, a chance to own a bit of history i suppose.

Thought about a sapph, but my other half thinks they look like taxis!

Cheers!

 

Davie

I don't know a great deal about cossies just look for the usual stuff and be very very careful. Some cossies are now starting to show signs of rust and check the history. If you buy a modded one make sure that you know who did it and check out that they are reputable (my mates cossie blew shortly after he bought it because someone whacked the boost up too far ) Also an HPI check just has to been done on a cossie

Paul

 

Yeh i have seen loadsa cossies do that. Reading further and have been advised not to touch ones which have been chipped with no other mods. What mods are commonly carried out as an extension to the chip. As far as i'm aware a chip ups boost, smoothes fuel delivery out adjust rev limiter etc.

There is actually very little information available on the web about the ups and downs of them.

D

 

Davie

I should have a buying guide in a magazine or 2 that I could fax you if you like. Mail me offline if you like

Paul

 

only have access to works fax and they won't be happy. Could you scan it and send it to d_aitchison@hotmail.com?

 

Ah Cossys Had loads of em. I wouldnt worry about getting a chipped one (stage 1 is fine) as long as its not puffing out loads of smoke. Try and get to see and hear it run from cold otherwise once its warmed up it could hide some tell tale signs that either the turbo or rings need replacing. Most of mine were stage 3 running 22-24psi+ and they seemed bullet proof and had no major problems at all. At the same time I never brutally launched mine (also check the transfer box for any whines)

Put out a post on the rsownersclub BB and you'll no doubt get the info you want and possible help from someone on your doorstep (there helpful at times )

Good luck with your decision

Nath

 

I have posted on RSOC and to no avail

 

I just bounced it btt so hopefully you might get some more replies on the rsoc bb!

Nath

 

Not talking about brown/black smoke as like you say its caused by xs fuel just the blue smoke that you often see on cossies on over run and acceleration after over run,I spent quite a while trying to stop this changing the turbo,valve seals fitting a bailey breather system etc but to no avail,apparently a compression test doesn't show it up either as only the oil rings are affected not the compression rings,doesn't seem to really affect the engine though just annoying puff of blue smoke and have to top up the oil more than is realy required.

 

Scot123 posted the real reason....unless there is mechanical wear of course......


the smoking can be rectified with the correct breather system fitted

 

Davie,

There is a buyers guide to the t25 small turbo (newest) Escort Cossie in the latest issue of Performance Ford magazine.

Pretty good stuff, i suggest you give it a look!

Kosy

 

Hmm, do i sacrifice power and get the new one purely for less miles on the clock, or so i buy the t35. either one can reliably be tuned to 330 brake for around 1500 notes.

 

Davie
You wont get 330 from the small turbo one.
Regards
Biff

 

You can easily covert the small turbo to the T35 if you want a newer model. It was in one of the Fordy mags recently, can remember the cost though.

 

costs about 3k as you need all the management as well

 

The management system on a small turbo is Fords own thing...no camparison to the big turbo systems really. Go for the big turbo model, it might be a bit older but a Cherished number hides that

Nath

 

You can have mine if you want. However it does smoke But after christmas I'm replacing the turbo so that should be sweet.
And its a 3-door, no taxi impressions here matey!
Mail me offline if you're interested.
astraboy.