1998 Ford Escort ZX2 from North America - Comments

I have a 1998 ZX2 and the A/C recently died - I'm getting it fixed soon. It has been a great car but I had a very unusual problem that took 6 shops (including the dealership) and probably about $1000.00 to fix. It ended up hooting (yup, I said hooting) embarrassingly loud so that people walking down the street would turn and look when the engine would heat up a little. There was a plugged valve or something that as soon as the engine would build up pressure it would blow the oil dipstick tube like a trumpet. The mechanic that figured it out fixed it in 2 seconds and didn't charge me. But it is a great car.

I'd like to find out what the problem was with the oil tube trumpet. Mine builds up pressuse and burns oil on the highway.

I'm thinking that it is the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve that plugged up in this case. If this valve plugs, blow-by gases in the engine will not be able to escape, resulting in a pressure build-up in the crankcase. (It will try to come out any way it can, including the dipstick tube!) This will also cause oil leakage and consumption problems as well!! Good luck with that.

That is the PCV valve causing the howl, mine does it and I just replaced it and made sure the hose is not restricted!