Ford Zetec

The Zetec is the name given to a range of current production engines manufactured by Ford. For marketing reasons, they have labelled many different types of engines the 'Zetec' with different suffixes to specify the particular variant. Production has recently started on a new range of 4 cylinder engines called the Duratec and, consequently, Ford have recently started renaming all of their engines the 'Duratec' with different suffixes. A good example of this is the Ford Focus RS. This features a turbocharged engine labelled as the Duratec RS, but the engine is actually an uprated Phase 3 Zetec-E.

This site is primarily aimed at the Zetec-E variant which is available in three capacities, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre and has featured three main development phases. The Zetec-E engines were designed to be mounted transversely in a front wheel drive configuration and all feature a cast iron block and a 16 valve cast aluminium cylinder head. The induction is provided by a plenum based injection system featuring a single throttle body.

The Zetec-E was originally available on the Ford Escort from around 1991 in 1.6 and 1.8 litre capacities. It was then widely adopted in 1992 when the Mondeo replaced the Sierra. This introduced the 2.0 litre engine in addition to the 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines.

There are three main phase variants of the Zetec-E, the Phase 1, 2 and 3 (or Evo 1, 2 and 3). There is very little difference between the Phase 1 and Phase 2 variants, and for our purposes they can be treated as the same. However, the Phase 3 engine is considerably different both internally and externally. The table below shows the major differences.

	Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Cam Shaft Cover	Aluminium		Early: Black Coated Magnesium Later: Plastic
Label	DOHC 16v	16v Zetec	16v Zetec
Sump	Single Part Aluminium		Two Part Aluminium / Tin
Water Pump	Directly Above Crank		Offset to Exhaust Side of Crank
Oil Filter	Angled Downwards		Horizontal
Cam Belt Cover	Plastic		Plastic / Aluminium
Followers	Hydraulic		Solid

The Phase 3 engine also has larger inlet valves and better breathing as standard yielding around 5-10 bhp performance increase over the Phase 1/2 engines with the same capacity.

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Engine Identification

The Phase 1 and 2 engines can be identified from a three digit code on the block near the engine number. This is usually stamped onto the edge of the bell housing mounting flange on the exhaust side near the crank position sensor. Don't be too worried if the engine you find doesn't have a number stamped here. When engines are replaced with new units from Ford the dealer is supposed to transfer the old engines number onto the new engine prior to sending the old engine back to Ford, this is often not done. I actually had this situation when my brand new Ford Focus needed a new engine after only 1 week and the dealer confirmed with Ford the process. If you are in this situation, then it is important to get the engine number from the engine donor cars V5 log book and have this stamped onto the engine.

The Phase 3 engine may have a 4 digit code stamped onto the block, but also has a label stuck onto the front of the cam belt cover. This will start with a 4 digit code which is the variant identifier.

The table below should help identify which variant you have from the engines code number.

1.6 Litre Engines (1597cc - Phase 1 & 2)

Code	Standard Power	Standard Torque	Vehicle
L1E L1H L1J	90 PS @ 5500	134 Nm @ 3000	Escort 1.6
L1F L1J	88 PS @ 5250	138 Nm @ 3500	Mondeo 1.6 (To 05/98)

1.6 Litre Engines (1598cc - Phase 3)

Code	Standard Power	Standard Torque	Vehicle
L1N L1Q	88 PS @ 5250	138 Nm @ 3000	Mondeo 1.6 (05/98 - 05/01)

1.8 Litre Engines (1796cc - Phase 1 & 2)

Code	Standard Power	Standard Torque	Vehicle
RDA	105 PS @ 5500	153 Nm @ 4000	Escort 1.8
RKC	115 PS @ 5500	159 Nm @ 4500	Escort 1.8
RQB	130 PS @ 6250	162 Nm @ 4500	Escort 1.8 XR3i and GTi
RKA RKB	112 PS @ 5750	158 Nm @ 3750	Mondeo 1.8 (To 05/98)

1.8 Litre Engines (1796cc - Phase 3)

Code	Standard Power	Standard Torque	Vehicle
RKF RKH	115 PS @ 5750	159 Nm @ 4500	Mondeo 1.8 (05/98 On)
EYDA To EYDH	115 PS @ 5750	158 Nm @ 3750	Focus 1.8

2.0 Litre Engines (1988cc - Phase 1 & 2)

Code	Standard Power	Standard Torque	Vehicle
NGA	132 PS @ 6000	180 Nm @ 4000	Mondeo 2.0 (To 05/98)

2.0 Litre Engines (1989cc - Phase 3)

Code	Standard Power	Standard Torque	Vehicle
NGB NGC	130 PS @ 6000	180 Nm @ 4000	Mondeo 2.0 (05/98 On)
EBBC EBBD EDBA EDBB	125 PS @ 6000	180 Nm @ 4000	Cougar 2.0
EDDA To EDDG	135 PS @ 6000	180 Nm @ 4000	Focus 2.0