Hi All,

So I've been given a Ford Focus, S Plate, 1.4 Petrol engined.

So far everything seems to be ok, despite a dodgey boot latch that has a particular knack to closing it.

My main problem is this;

When the engine has warmed up (say after 10-15 minutes of driving or what ever) when the revs are low, and the engine is under load (for example, taking off at traffic lights or going around a tight corner in 2nd at a slow speed) the engine momentarily makes a very prominent rattle, almost like the sound of a straining diesel or dry tappets, and when I look in my rear view mirror i am leaving behind a cloud of oily smelling grey smoke.

It doesn't seem to do it when the engine's cold or when I first set off, its only once it's warmed up (say the temp gauge is at half mast) and its only in low revs i'd say around 1500 or less.

I'm stumped as to what it is. Admittedly it's not had a service for a while but the oil level is ok, it's not losing water or any of the obvious signs of a pending head gasket failure, so i'm stuck as to what else it could be.

Has anyone else had a similar problem or any ideas as to what it may be?

I'm hoping to get it in to a garage for a mechanic to have a look at but I thought it would be worth asking first, potentially saving any nasty suprises.

Many thanks in advance.

-Adam

Hi welcome :)

Could be valve stem oil seals / valve stem guides worn its a possibility and was a common complaint with the 1.4 engine also the SE enignes are quite well known for a weakspot where the

oil control rings can shatter / break, and cause fairly major oil

consumption. This is almost always a result of revving the engine hard when

still cold, and can happen at any time.unfortunately its not an easy job and can be expensive to repair you could check the breather pipe to the airbox isnt blocked or gunked up the 1.4 was notoriously underpowered for the focus so it needed a lot of revving to make it move hence why many are driven hard when cold