Ford Focus RS owner's Head gasket problems.
Jan 11, 2018, 05:23 AM
#31
The RS is always a limited production run at the end of one Focus body style before transitioning to another. The MK4 is going to be coming out next year. The MK2 RS was also a limited production run about 7 years ago and only over seas. This is the normal cycle for the cars.
Last edited by mt057; Jan 11, 2018 at 05:37 AM.
Jan 11, 2018, 05:34 AM
#32
Personally, I plan to mod the EVO and keep the RS stock till it is out of the warrant period. I see no reason in modding any new car and losing that assurance. Besides the power and grip is excellent. Not to mention I can power slide the car pretty easily if I enter a sharp turn with some speed and pop the wheel. It feels very well controlled and intuitive. This is done in either track mode with the dampers turned to normal (my favorite mode) or sport mode.
Generally though it has grip for days and can fit four people as well as a good size Costco run. The main complaint of most is the ride is bouncy. This can be fixed with some $200 mountune sport springs but personally i dont mind the ride. For those who do I recommend the Golf R. Both are good cars but I wanted heated seats and Navigation but had to have a stick shift (no paddle shifters for me lol).
Jan 19, 2018, 02:43 AM
#33
Actually, when I first heard it might come to the US I was excited. Its only once the details, and shortcomings, came into focus that I turned bitter. It 'could' have been something special https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escort_RS_Cosworth
Ford really let RS fans down with this. Even the FWD RS is more exiting and tunable car. Looks better in my opinion as well.
When tuned/ worked on, on tarmac i would say just as fast, despite the fact only FWD
I love the 5 cyl. RS sound , sounds amazing!
Also the olders just looks better in my opinion, and more of a type of car what the new RS just only can mimic, even if its faster by the numbers.
its like sex with girls, just because you can came faster, that not necessarily means the sex was better .
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Robevo RS (Jan 21, 2018)
Jan 21, 2018, 10:33 AM
#36
And on the topic at hand, I was just reading about this yesterday.
It's amazing how a subtle design detail like the extra coolant passage can have such are serious negative effect on the system. It will be a case study for engineering failures I'm sure.
It's amazing how a subtle design detail like the extra coolant passage can have such are serious negative effect on the system. It will be a case study for engineering failures I'm sure.
Jan 21, 2018, 11:33 AM
#37
I think they rushed too much to get this car in production. Also i personally think, make it in a "standard" Focus shell was a mistake.
The AWD etc. is debatable, and maybe it's time for some cars loosing the tuner scene, and looking for warranty keeper users rather. Dont know i am not a market guy.
I still think the AWD system is not what we hoped for also.
Dont get me wrong. The Car is a great car out from the show room for many people. Its a fun car. Not a good looking one for what it is though, in my eye.
For me even if the STI is slower, i rather buy that one today instead the FRS. And i am truly not subi engine fan. Other then that its a great car.
Jan 22, 2018, 06:40 PM
#39
I just saw an episode of "The Smoking Tire" . he explained that the head gasket issue happened due to Ford installing the wrong head gasket on the RS. apparently the head gasket of the Mustang 2.3 ecoboost was used and of course they are slightly different
Jan 25, 2018, 12:06 PM
#41
I think they rushed too much to get this car in production. Also i personally think, make it in a "standard" Focus shell was a mistake.
The AWD etc. is debatable, and maybe it's time for some cars loosing the tuner scene, and looking for warranty keeper users rather. Dont know i am not a market guy.
I still think the AWD system is not what we hoped for also.
Dont get me wrong. The Car is a great car out from the show room for many people. Its a fun car. Not a good looking one for what it is though, in my eye.
For me even if the STI is slower, i rather buy that one today instead the FRS. And i am truly not subi engine fan. Other then that its a great car.
The AWD etc. is debatable, and maybe it's time for some cars loosing the tuner scene, and looking for warranty keeper users rather. Dont know i am not a market guy.
I still think the AWD system is not what we hoped for also.
Dont get me wrong. The Car is a great car out from the show room for many people. Its a fun car. Not a good looking one for what it is though, in my eye.
For me even if the STI is slower, i rather buy that one today instead the FRS. And i am truly not subi engine fan. Other then that its a great car.
what's the difference between a TSB, FSA, and recall?
Jan 25, 2018, 12:45 PM
#42
The FSA is pretty much for "customer satisfaction", meaning the issue is not necessarily a safety issue, but should be fixed. It's Ford's way of saying 'we ****ed up, but not enough to endanger your life, so it's 'not that bad''.
The difference between the gaskets is actually because of the block.
The mustang block used a saw cut between the cylinders, so coolant is routed from the block, through the saw cut, and up into the head via the holes in the head gasket (if you look at the reference images posted earlier, you can see what holes I am talking about).
The RS uses a bore bridge coolant passage between the cylinders, pretty much a 'V' cut below the block surface of the block that sends coolant through a single hole which lines up with the head.
When the mustang gasket is used with this design, it allows coolant to 'leak' in between the cylinders from the extra hole in the head gasket and, because there is no return hole, the coolant sits in this passage, heating up and eating away at the elastomer on the head gasket.
The difference between the gaskets is actually because of the block.
The mustang block used a saw cut between the cylinders, so coolant is routed from the block, through the saw cut, and up into the head via the holes in the head gasket (if you look at the reference images posted earlier, you can see what holes I am talking about).
The RS uses a bore bridge coolant passage between the cylinders, pretty much a 'V' cut below the block surface of the block that sends coolant through a single hole which lines up with the head.
When the mustang gasket is used with this design, it allows coolant to 'leak' in between the cylinders from the extra hole in the head gasket and, because there is no return hole, the coolant sits in this passage, heating up and eating away at the elastomer on the head gasket.
Jan 25, 2018, 09:16 PM
#45