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piston damage?


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rebuildit
New User

Jun 16, 2012, 6:32 PM

Post #1 of 12 (2957 views)
piston damage? Sign In

2000 Ford Escort, 2.0L DOHC 80,000miles
Want to know if my one piston is useable as is. The background is the car had coolant line leak, overheated, and stalled. Found blown head gasket and damaged head because of blow by, but may be able to repair/replace the head. The issue is one piston has three 'dents' about 1/8" wide by 1/32" deep around the top outside edge of the piston. The metal is rolled over almost like a screwdriver got jammed down between the cylinder wall and the piston. I cant feel any scratches on the cylinder wall where the dents are and dont see any pieces of debris. There are no marks on top of the piston. I'm working from my garage and dont have equipment to take the block out (and really dont want to). My question is if the damage on the piston looks bad enough that I should scrap the whole engine.


Thks!UnsureUnsure

PictureHere


(This post was edited by rebuildit on Jun 17, 2012, 7:17 AM)


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 16, 2012, 6:45 PM

Post #2 of 12 (2951 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Can you post an image?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


rebuildit
New User

Jun 17, 2012, 7:19 AM

Post #3 of 12 (2886 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Thanks for asking! I added a picture to the post.


Discretesignals
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Jun 17, 2012, 8:29 AM

Post #4 of 12 (2875 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Not really sure about that. Wondering what the skirt on the piston looks like. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to remove the oil pan and remove the piston from the cylinder to see how the side of the piston and rings look. You'll have to remove the ridge from the cylinder wall.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 17, 2012, 8:31 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 17, 2012, 9:54 AM

Post #5 of 12 (2861 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Ditto with DS. Just don't know with this one and could find a DOHC 2.0 engine for this but it's free software so dunno for sure from that joint.....

Select the engine of your 2000 Ford Escort: Another model of Escort was much larger displacement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is that the one? "P" should be 8th digit of VIN#. If somehow this is OK and head needs replacement and or at least re-machined, fixed as possible if possible would hate to see good $$ and effort to trash a fixed head if that cylinder or others have hidden damage.

? 12 year old or so low mile car but could end up being quite costly.

Appears like piston was able to travel high enough for top ring to hit the ridge? Who knows what else if an overheat what else without going into a total tear down with damage seen like that?

I really don't know what to suggest but leaning toward bailing out of the whole car, get what you can out of what else is good and move on to another car completely by age, possible value of a decent replacement vs the risks on this one. Best I can say,

T



waniac
New User

Jun 17, 2012, 11:57 AM

Post #6 of 12 (2846 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Couldnt retrieve your Picture. Got a lot of recent experience with these little Scorts. Let me know if the damage is in number 4 cilinder. ...Master tech since 90...just so you know Im not a Nub...


re-tired
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Jun 17, 2012, 1:09 PM

Post #7 of 12 (2834 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

A couple of things going against you, first if the hit is near the edge of piston odds are that the top ring has been pinched ,leading to future blowby. When the contact was made it could have flat spotted the rod bearing. Also the wrist pin or surrounding area could be flat spotted or cracked . I agree that the piston/rod should be removed for inpection /replacement.


LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH


Tom Greenleaf
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Jun 17, 2012, 2:00 PM

Post #8 of 12 (2827 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Yep RT. I think top ring went out as pic shows perhaps a rusty ridge with a chip where the dings in piston are? So wrist pin or sides on piston that hold it would probably be the weak link vs bearing at crank.

The link to that pic that didn't open for the person a couple back took my POS 'puter a while to open. The hyperlink converted is...........

https://docs.google.com/...i8PJnTUxKU1dqQndJaEE

?? See if that works?

T



waniac
New User

Jun 17, 2012, 3:53 PM

Post #9 of 12 (2816 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Thank you Tom, Without the Pic I was leaning towards the dreaded #4 intake valve seat dropping. Not enough damage for that. Milage was about correct for it tho.Any how being overheated a reman head is a must. Dont see the car worth a rebuild unless it has sentemental value. Ive recently seen 2 motors with #4 seat shattered. Good luck my friend....Waniac...


Discretesignals
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Jun 17, 2012, 6:23 PM

Post #10 of 12 (2803 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

The majority of the seat falling out problem was on the split port SOHC P 2.0L. We had one in the shop last year that dropped a seat, shattered the piston, and took a chunk out of the cylinder wall. I don't think the DOHC 2.0L had the seat problem, but with the overheating problem the piston probably swelled up so bad it was trying to seize up.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 17, 2012, 6:24 PM)


rebuildit
New User

Jun 17, 2012, 9:13 PM

Post #11 of 12 (2789 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

Thanks for all the viewpoints. I'll try to take the piston out to see if there is more damage under the surface.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 18, 2012, 1:16 AM

Post #12 of 12 (2785 views)
Re: piston damage? Sign In

rebuildit : I think you have the ammunition to decide what to do. Top post said you didn't have your own correct space or equipment to get the whole engine out and didn't want to. If you can get the piston out IMO it would go a long way to know better if this engine would be better to give up on or fix.

To save on buying one time tools see in your area what you can rent if for only once that's a bargain. If this car is otherwise in superior shape AND needs a whole EXACT used engine (not so sure great rebuilt is going to be easy to find) with a boat load of info on it w low miles and do up all the hoses, belts even if it exceeded the total value of the car then I'd go for it. May take a local shop for some if available to you.

Ultimately I suggest to know costs and what is available to you to reduce odds of this being a money pit. That or possibly waste space if you need lots of time and it is in your way.

Good luck with the project,

Tom







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