interference engine?

[grimesjm1]

is the 1.8 engine an interference engine? meaning if the timing belt breaks, will the pistons smash the valves?

[grimesjm1]

bump

[grimesjm1]

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[Jet-Lee]

i dont know bout the 1.8 specifically, but I've been told both the 1.9 and 2.0 are. Someone else told me all small Ford motors are interference motors.

[grimesjm1]

thnkas for the reply...actually i just found the answer on gates' web site, they have a list of all engines, and indicate which are interference engines and which are free-running. the 1.9 is a interference engine, however the dohc 1.8's are not. the sohc 1.8 in the older escorts are interference engines.

[Arnoldtheskier]

HMMmm..sure about this?I'll have to go check again..I read that in 1991 the 1.9 was redesigned..AND that 1.9's from 1991 to 1996 were non-interference engines.Seemed to add up to me as Ford THEN took out the timing belt change interval for these engines in their service.Plus..a LOT of people have lost belts with 1.9's and sufferred no engine/valve damage.That is RARE with an interference engine.Seems to me I came across another chart somewhere that didn't list them as interference engines..guess I gotta check it out..

[Frunobulax]

From what I understand, 1.9s changed from interference to non-interference after March of 1991. My 1991 has a post-March engine and it is non-interference.

[grimesjm1]

i think they are interference but i'm not talking from experience so i cna't guarantee it....

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...ocation_id=540

go to that link and click on the easy download list at the bottom of the screen....from what i'm reading they are interference engines...

if this list is wrong, does anyone know whether or not the 1.8 engine is an interference, the list says no but if it's wrong about 1.9, i don't trust it at all.
please let me know what you guys find out

[Arnoldtheskier]

Very interesting stuff!..had a bit of time to do some DIGGING..

From Gates(technical).Ford Escort 1.9 interference engine.
From Goodyear(technical)Ford Escort 1.9 non-interference in 1991.
From Ford(technical)Ford Escort 1.9 non-interference.(In conversation he stated the following)Ford DID remove it's timing belt replacement service interval when this engine was redesigned in 1991 as a non-interference engine..HOWEVER the belt replacement was STILL pretty much mandatory on 1.8 interference engines.This led people to NOT change the belts on 1.8's..EITHER now..with a sharp increase in engine problems and complaints on out of warranty vehicles due to timing belt failures..BEYOND their service length.THIS was one of the reasons they redesigned the 1.9 in the first place in 1991..For more customer satisfaction.Due to the sheer volume of 1.9s produced and still on the road it can and does RARELY happen that perhaps an abused/overrevved/overheated/engine..perhaps a valve spring can break/keeper break/valve stem break/bind in the guide in the head..engine failure can STOP the belt..AND break it.Thus it is not ACTUALLY the belt breaking/tearing the teeth off that caused the problem..it is one of the timing belt sprockets trying to turn as the other is stopped because of mechanical problems that in this case actually snaps the belt.BUT then the belt is blamed for the problem.CLOSE examination/analysis of some belts in some destroyed engines CLEARLY point to the belt NOT failing..NOR worn prior to the engine failure said that an average 1.9 under average operating conditions with ONLY a belt failure there has been designed enough valve to piston clearance/interface that there will be no contact.Because of the above he feels that Gates is correct in referring to the 1.9 as "an interference engine". if this ONLY means that the engine will get a timing belt and MOST likely other needed maintenance,service..PROBABLLY at the same time.Regular timing belt changes mean a much better maintained and treated engine which leads to longer engine life and much greater customer satisfaction.Because of this Ford NOW reccomends that(yes..he conceded..contrary to earlier and service publication,manuals) belts be changed at 60,000.

[grimesjm1]

well you have me confused now lol....you said that the 1.8 is an interference, gates said it isn't. did you have a typo or are you saying that it is an interference? thanks!

[Arnoldtheskier]

Interesting point..when I spoke to Goodyear he noted that 1.8's were interference..I didn't specifically ask Ford about 1.8's..he mentioned a few of them in passing..the manuals I have list a belt change for 1991-1996 1.8's NOT 1.9's.I would GUESS that that means that those 1.8's from 1991 to 1996 ARE interference..AND that the 1.9's in that era are not..hope this helps..

[grimesjm1]

thanks for the help....reason im wondering is i just bought one im going to pick it up this weekend for a work car, i didn't know if i wanted to throw a timing belt in it or not...

hey check out this website i just found on it...


http://www.theautoshop.com/timing.html#FORD

[grimesjm1]

http://www.patgosscarworld.com/ford.htm


this one's from ALLDATA...i think it's impossible for those guys to be wrong!


thanks for the help!
Jared

[Arnoldtheskier]

Jared..can't get that link?Can't find info. on the Alldata site?Wazzit say? Thanks..Arnold.

[grimesjm1]

it says that neither the 1.8 or 1.9 are interference engines...but there is no change interval for the 1.9, 60,000 for 1.8.