[RevRoy]

I am glad I found this site. I have two Escorts; a 1994 LX Wagon, and a 1997 LX four door sedan. They are great cars, and get an honest 27 mpg (wagon) and 26.5 mpg (sedan). They have been dependable and both run great.

The '97 has 116,312 miles on it, and the '94 has 69,652 miles on it.

 

[denisond3]

Welcome to the forums. I hope you changed the timing belt when your 97 got to 100,000 miles?

 

[RevRoy]

Timing belt

Actually, I rebuilt the engine at 89,000 miles due to clattering valves and excessive oil consuption. So yes, the belt was changed. Thanks anyway.

 

[EscorGo]

Welcome.
89K is hardly broken in. Your 'scort must have been an abused child.

 

[denisond3]

Or it was only used for short trips, never got long drives on the highway. I replaced the rings in two Escorts I rebuilt, just because the oil control rings seemed to be stuck back in the groove. There was plenty of crud behind the rings, both on the engine with 94k on it, and the one with 192k on it.
I just got a 91 1.9 with only 87k on it, and will be taking the engine out to put in new rings, seals, crankbearings and getting a valve job done on the head.
Its just because after 19 years, and only 87k miles - Im ready to replace things that go bad with -Lack- of use.
Anyway, I have to rebuild the tranny too. I think someone put motor oil into it; the seals are gummy.

 

[RevRoy]

Yes, the '97 was an abused child. I knew that when I bought it, but it was dirt-dog cheap! Seems that the single woman who owned it had a hard time remembering to check and change the oil. It was near mint otherwise, never been smoked in, etc.

It helps that our family owns an automotive repair shop.

The '94 wagon is barely broken in. It came from the original owners, an older couple who had decided to stop driving. It is in fantastic condition physically and mechanically (a tiny bit of rust in front of the right rear wheel, which I am going to take care of.

I've always liked Escots. You see a lot of them around, which means that they hold up.

RevRoy