Hi guys, got the Mrs a 2003 focus 1.8 ghia with the zetec engine. Noticed yesterday it don't like to tick over very well, so decided to check the usual suspects, air filter plugs etc.

Turns out the air filter was saturated with oil from the breather pipe off the rocker cover.

First thought was head gasket, but no oil in water, or water in oil, no loss of either oil or water, no loss of power, drove 90 odd miles, no overheating etc.

Checked up online and it seems it could be either a blocked crankcase breather pipe or the pcv valve? or both....

My question is, can I change the valve myself, and where is the breather pipe for the crank case, and also where is the pcv valve?

Cheers guys,

Pete

It might be a split breather pipe rather than a blocked one? I had that problem (as well as a stuck idle control valve).

The breather pipe starts from the back of the PCV valve which is located to the right of the main block. You'll see the 4 HT leads go into the coilpack. If you look down and behind that you'll see a black pipe go straight out towards the rear of the engine bay and then turn at right angles, straight for a bit and then another bend before it goes into the back of the engine.

My pipe failed close to the point it goes into the back of the engine which seems to be a common problem. If you turn the engine on (may need someone to do this for you) and look at the pipe where it goes into the back of the engine, you may see it collapse on itself a bit, if it doesn't try poking or squeezing it and see if you can hear it sucking in air and whether the engine revs change as you do this.

This is the replacement pipe you'll want http://www.fordpartsuk.com/shop/ford_focus_zetec_crankcase_breather_hose_from_1998_to_2001_f_1076244_c_372.htm

Thanks for the info dhr, I will look at it in the morning to see if it is collapsing or split etc. Does the pcv valve get blocked as well?

Is it easy to replace?

Regards

Pete

The pcv valve has a spring inside it which gets weak its easy and cheap to replace and available from ford if you follow the above pipe to the front of the engine it goes into the valve which just pulls out of the rubber

Ok, thanks for the info guys, will look into this further.

Regards

Pete