hi everyone i need help i am thinking of buying a 1.4 8 valve mpi i have herd they can suffer from leaks from the coolent system is it serious is their any other gripes with these engines

Hi

my 1.4 8v leaked coolant from the temp sensor on the radiator, fixed under warranty, but started leaking again just before I got rid of it. Was told at the time that leaks were common cos "some come with a thick washer, some come with a thin washer & some have no washer at all"

Regards

Rob

cheers mate

hi everyone i need help i am thinking of buying a 1.4 8 valve mpi i have herd they can suffer from leaks from the coolent system is it serious is their any other gripes with these engines

Acoording to Honest John,

Below minus 8 degrees centigrade, condensation in sumps of 1.0 and 1.4 engines emulsifies and blocks crankcase breather pipe leading to lack of engine lubrication and engine failure

Head gasket failures and misaligned auxiliary drive belt on 1.4 8v. Further compalints about 1.4 8v include poor throttle response, mechanical unreliability, fuses blowing in immobiliser circuit due to a fuel pump fault, engine coolant loss due to bottom hose seal failing and, in around 5% of cars, coolant loss through head gasket due to insufficiently torqued stretch bolts. (Coolant loss meant one owner needed a new waterpump, cylinder head gasket and coolant reservoir as a result of overheating.)

I personally found they don't take agressive driving very well, mine has all gone clattery and "Loose"

If you can try to stretch your budget to a 1.4 16v, they are much better to drive

Clattery and lose could be the timing chain getting noisy as for 16v's...great once they are moving,scary pulling out of junctions in front of traffic,too much throttle lapse ! Head gasket failures should be few and far between now as only really early cars suffered and most were sorted under warranty.Never heard of ECU fuses blowing or bottom hose seal giving up.Early cars again suffered with water pump problems but again should sorted now.The 8v in my mind is a good engine although not the fastest if looked after properly,16v's would not be my choice due to that throttle lapse,why not go for a diesel TDi which is fun but proberly still £££

Clattery and lose could be the timing chain getting noisy as for 16v's...great once they are moving,scary pulling out of junctions in front of traffic,too much throttle lapse ! Head gasket failures should be few and far between now as only really early cars suffered and most were sorted under warranty.Never heard of ECU fuses blowing or bottom hose seal giving up.Early cars again suffered with water pump problems but again should sorted now.The 8v in my mind is a good engine although not the fastest if looked after properly,16v's would not be my choice due to that throttle lapse,why not go for a diesel TDi which is fun but proberly still