Dead engine after 200.000 kilometers

[wlknsn]

Hi Everybody,

I'm not a new member here, but I was kinda inactive lately. Not like I was super-active before, but every know and then I came here to read some topics and posts.

Yesterday my precious Clio 197's engine stopped working. It started to make a very metallic knocking sound and when I heared it, I stopped it right away. I was hoping it was just the water pump, or the hydraulic valve lash adjuster, or whatever not THAT big of a fault.

I took it to the service coz I didn't have time to work on it myself, and I let them open it up. What was really shocking is that everything (block, around the valves, etc) was full with burr (small pieces of metal from the engine). They don't know the exact reason yet, but if it wasn't my car, I would have said the oil wasn't changed. But since its mine, I know that I've changed the oil every 8000km, and I did every service according to the manual. I've never pushed it cold, I've never done anything brutal to it that should have led to this. It didn't really make any noise even the ride 1 hour before it went bad.

The engine has 200 000kilometers in it, maybe this was its limit?

Anyone here with same experience? Or is it just me being kinda unlucky here? I hope I'll have some more info tomorrow.

Right now what it looks like is if I'm lucky I can get away with "just" a full overhaul, but if I'm unlucky, I have to find a new engine for it

Sorry for my english, I hope it is still understandable.
Best Regards from Hungary.

 

[Gez]

Sad news buddy.

125,000 miles isn't all that high, these engines are known for going on and on with regular oil changes, there's a few 172/182's with 180k+ and still going strong.

It sounds like it's going to be an expensive fix by rebuilding it, I'd personally just buy another engine from a breakers with warranty on it, from the likes of Renparts. New belts and fresh oil and it should be good to go again.

 

[Chris]

Very sorry to hear mate.

As Gez said, its not a huge amount of miles, but its still a good amount before its gone.

 

[Pav]

sorry to hear that..would have thought these engines are designed to last longer than that..hope you wont have to spend a fortune to get it fixed..

 

[Matt W]

Did you have the cambelt kit changed at a specialist?

 

[wlknsn]

Hey guys,

Yes, I've had the cambelt kit changed at a specialist, like 30.000km before.

I got some updates: One of the winches' bearing seems to be the source of the failure. The others are perfectly working, it might have been quality issues at that one. The damage is quite big, they are trying to save as many parts as possible, I'm hoping for the best.

There is a chance that I have to buy a new engine. Any ideas, where should I start to search? Here in Hungary there is none for sale. There are like 25ish Clio 197 around in the country, so this doesnt seem to be like a big source of damaged cars with a somewhat working engine.

And yes, it seems like a fortune will be spent on this repair

 

[Pav]

have you looked into getting a megane engine instead??

 

[Tutuur]

I've got a 45.000km engine which will be going on sale but not before i fit the megane 225 engine which will take a while.

sorry!

 

[Gez]

Try RenParts. Although you'll probably be paying more for postage out to you, it shouldn't hit your wallet anywhere near having a full rebuild on that dead engine.

 

[wlknsn]

Well, I was thinking about the megane engine^^

Still not sure which is better. I'll make a deeper research on the swap

 

[Pav]

meg way is better...

 

[Palmer]

Low mileage clio 200 engine on ebay at moment

 

[wlknsn]

OK, so it has been decided: I'm buying a "new" enginge for my 197.

If you guys have any idea where to look for a new one, I'd appreciate your advice.

Maybe anyone from this forum selling his engine because of a Megane RS swap ?

Regards,
Balázs

 

[Tutuur]

As i said, i have a clio with an engine which has only done 45tkm, the problem is i'm not ready for the swap yet. Would love to sell it to you but that would mean i won't have an engine anymore

 

[wlknsn]

As i said, i have a clio with an engine which has only done 45tkm, the problem is i'm not ready for the swap yet. Would love to sell it to you but that would mean i won't have an engine anymore

What do you think, when will your swap be ready? If I end up without no engine till you finish your upgrade, we can still make a business

 

[James17]

thats a little worrying considering my 197 is on almost 110,000 miles! anic:

 

[Tutuur]

I'm not sure when i'll begin but i'm afraid you will need the engine before that!

 

[ben_r1]

Be interesting to see what failed?