Wear and tear on saxo engines.

1. logic_guy Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423

   #1 30th October 2011, 23:35

   I've been wondering how durable the engines of these little cars are? I checked my oil today and its black, I'm worrying because only 5 k ago it had clean, transparent oil.
   
   what is the weakest component in the engine?
2. Cam Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Nov 2010 Kent Posts: 8439 Gen 7 Celica 190.

   #2 31st October 2011, 00:08

   Depends how its driven..
3. user_28362 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5306 911 Turbo

   #3 31st October 2011, 06:51

   Black oil is good, shows its doing it's job
4. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

   #4 31st October 2011, 07:35

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by jonathon5 Black oil is good, shows its doing it's job

   Unless its as thin as mine was!
5. m4tt274 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Sep 2011 Doncaster Posts: 2627 Fabia VRS, mk1 fiesta + some others

   #5 31st October 2011, 07:45

   after some abuse my top end got more tappy than it was. black oil means its doing its job, on and engine thats driven hard i change the oil every 5K anyway
6. Stevo123 Established Member Joined: Apr 2009 Redcar Posts: 1971 2000 Posi Blue vtr

   #6 1st November 2011, 15:43

   Engines are really strong generally, head gaskets go around 60-70k miles and starter motors seem to get weak on a few of them. As mentioned the weekest point of the engine is the driver/maintainer, keep the oil fresh, change every 5-6k miles with a new filter, 10/40 semi synth is fine on a standard vtr motor. Don't rag the car when it's cold - mechanical sympathy is needed with french cars!
7. f13sta Established Member Joined: Sep 2010 loughborough Posts: 2229 1988 ford fiesta mk2 1.4- 2001 black saxo furio (d

   #7 1st November 2011, 19:09

   there not too bad mines on 134k and still going strong, have done some engine work i.e head gasket valve stems, valve re-grind ect.
   
   oil is as clean when comes out to when it went in when i service it or maybe a little darker but it is a really clean engine and i'm ocd when it comes to servicing i only do about 3-3.5K a year but i service every 6months. i'm a mechanic so it's not as expensive for me as it is for most people.
   
   but back to my main point, never had a problem with it tapps a little now but i haven't done he tappets since re-build. but it were silent before hand tho.
8. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #8 1st November 2011, 20:19

   As said good servicing is the key. My mate had a little 1.1 8v TU in his old saxo, It was suffering a head gasket failure as there was oil in the cooling system, unless it hadnt been cleaned properly, buteven with 120k it on it ran fine, and it he did used to belt it done the motorway every day and give it some stick as he didnt have much mechanical sympathy
9. user_35090 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 west mids (dudley) Posts: 1201 cammed 106 flatty

   #9 3rd November 2011, 22:26

   114k vtr boosted engine and im absuing it now its near the end of its life. slightly tappety butstill strong. and its all standard internals. let the engine warm up before going out for a blast. and as said, fresh oil every 5-10k.
10. logic_guy Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423

    #10 3rd November 2011, 22:31

    What worry's me is wearing out piston rings and valve seals. Only done 65K.
    
    I treat it with TLC, not driving about 3.5k around town/ pulling away and i ALWAYS let the car warm up fully before giving it some beans. I think i'm scaring my self?
11. ReV0h_VTS Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 98 Black Saxo VTS mkII

    #11 3rd November 2011, 23:04

    Hmmm, i think i need to start showing some love to my motor. Give it some beans every now and again from cold. I still don't rag it all over the place though. Should stay strong for a while from what you guys are saying.
12. ReV0h_VTS Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 98 Black Saxo VTS mkII

    #12 3rd November 2011, 23:16

    Hmmm, i think i need to start showing some love to my motor. Give it some beans every now and again from cold. I still don't rag it all over the place though. Should stay strong for a while from what you guys are saying.
13. Barry123 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2005 Aycliffe Posts: 32205 Saxo VTS

    #13 4th November 2011, 02:28

    Really wouldn't worry about it. My S is into the 100k mileage and it runs sweet as a nut. I've had it from the last 30 k miles so it's had 80 k of presumably god awful abuse. They're pretty good, just wish the same could be said rest of the car.
14. ReV0h_VTS Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2007 Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 98 Black Saxo VTS mkII

    #14 4th November 2011, 10:40

    hehe, gotta agree with that last post, Feels like it's shedding weight via nuts and bolts falling off when i'm driving along
15. Gabbastard Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2002 United Kingdom Posts: 8390

    #15 4th November 2011, 11:16

    I had an old VTR engine that had been abused stupid, Im talking attempts being made to get it to blow up and it wouldnt die.
    
    Also know of a guy whose oil filter fell off on his VTS while on a test drive the night before a track day - he drove it a mile or two home,put a new filter on and filled the oil. It was fine.
16. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #16 4th November 2011, 11:48

    Stem seals are not hard to change anyway, while you are there lap in the valves and do the head gasket. Afternoons work to be fair
17. user_39613 Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006

    #17 4th November 2011, 16:13

    My 16v has been fine, give it abit not much, only ever had one of the camshaft pullys sheer off. New engine seems fine.
18. KrisB Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Dorking,Surrey,M25 J9 Posts: 2616 Static -80mm Peugeot 405

    #18 4th November 2011, 16:16

    With regards to oil, you need an oil with good detergent properties. Generally the more you spend the better.