Post by SamHi,
I've recently bought a Ford Escort MK4 XR3i but I'm a bit lost with the
actual design of the engine. Its a 1989 XR3i 1.6, is there an easy way to
identify the engine properly? I'm not sure if its a CVH, EFi or MFi, I'm a
bit of a newbie at this sort of stuff!
In a mk4 it will definately be a CVH. These have the characteristic grey
pressed tin wide and low rocker cover with about 12 m6 bolts around the
periphery. You will probably see the edge of the cork gasket which seals it,
or not as the case maybe- after awhile they leak oil down the plug holes
causing misfires..
The MFi has a long alloy top to its inlet manifold with the ford logo cast
into it, with the throttle body on the right and the inlet hose goes around
the back of the brake servo, and aircleaner / fuel distributor on the right
as you look at the engine.
The EFi has "efi" stamped in top of the manifold and the throttle body in
the middle with the inlet trunking passing over the rocker cover to the
front and the air cleaner on the left of the bay.
The heads are not the same, although the blocks are. (basically)
I suspect you have an MFi engine.
If you're expecting to keep it for awhile and expect the best the CVH can
muster you ought to have the cam and lifters replaced straight away, and do
the inlet valve oil seals whilst your at it. In any cvh thats done more than
about 70,000 miles they'll be shot, even if the top end is relatively quiet.
About £175. Don't use anything but genuine Ford lifters and cam.
Tim..