1991 Ford Escort Popular from UK and Ireland - Comments

Engine gave up in a puff of smoke at 89,000 miles, warning signs - deafening clattering from the engine. Recon engine, same 1.3 hcs as before, valves fell out after 500 miles.

Wheel bearings, track rod ends and general bits and pieces.

The 1.3 hcs engine is a pathetic piece of mechanical wonder from the Eighties, if you view a car with this engine avoid it like the plague.

An accurate review...

Ford only made the Mk 5 Escort for about 2 years, 1990-91, and quickly revised the design releasing the Mk 6 in 91/92. This is a testament to the sheer shoddyness of the Mk5 Escorts (Cosworths & RS2000's excluded).

The easy way to tell a Mk5 from a Mk6 is the rear lights - Mk 6's have curved lights that extend onto the boot lid, Mk 5's have squarer lights that don't. The MK6 has a lot of improvements, including handling, ride comfort, etc. etc.

Did you know that Ford sold a 1100 Escort here in Portugal? Imagine that!!!

Probably your 1300 is a Mustang compared to the 1100, don't be so sad.

HCS!! Need I say more?!!

Driving down the M25 in my 1991 MK5 1.3 Escort at a steady 85 MPH towards London when suddenly I felt a power loss with a drop in speed to 70 MPH. Not knowing what was going on I commented to my friend when a strange rattling noise took over the sound of my radio. BANG! Without any warning a piston penetrated the head and created a massive dent, almost piercing the bonnet! These old skool engines are a waste of time and money! If you want a cheap car don't fall into one of these sheds to put it mildly.

HCS... What more can I say?

I've also fallen into the idea of getting a "cheap economical 1.3 runaround" with the crappy HCS engine. I had a 1.3 1991 Escort. All looked pretty good until the winter when I'd get in the car and find that it either would totally refuse to start (until bump-started),or it would pack up on the roadside. One day after all the problems with this little shed seemed to be sorted I went on a 70 mile trip. All seemed OK until I was 60 miles from home and the temp gauge started pointing on the danger point. The next thing was that the engine started making tractor noises, then the engine seized and my car swerved off the road and into a wall. And I reckon that that was the best place for it. Could have been worse though, I could have got the 1.1 Escort...

I have a 1990 Mk4 shape Orion with 1300 HCS engine, all I can say is fantastic!!! Its now on 160,000 miles and still going strong. I've had the car for 65,000 miles and have never had a single problem. With regular servicing (which I do myself) it just keeps on going. I have replaced 1 or 2 parts, but nothing major. All these engines need is some TLC and they will go forever. After all they can't be that bad if they still fit them in new fords, all be it a fuel injection version.

You are having a joke with us I hope you must be very lucky or drive everywhere very slowly to make that one last like that (next you will tell us your tappets are quiet too)??? as a mechanic I can safely say that the H.C.S engine ranks in the same class as as as??? well nothing comes close that ford has ever made for generel road use even the old Xflow far out performs this peice of money saving junk...

I've got a escort1300 over head valve and it handles v.good after lowering 80mm at the back and 60mm up front it has a few problems, but wot car doesn't its done 169000 miles and still does about 106mph.

The HCS engine is a total piece of junk. Mine has only done 53000 miles and the valve stem seals have gone causing the car to smoke on startup, the engine is also very rattly despite gentle driving and 4000 mile oil changes.

I drive a fiesta down the M1 every weekend at abput 90MPH and that has the engine your all saying is crappy I must be really lucky or just look after my car because as all car you need to go under the bonnet sometimes.

I used to own a 1989 1.3 HCS engined Escort and would drive it 90 miles a day. It performed faultlessly. It is a cracking little engine. OK it does not have a lot of power, but compared to other 1.3 engines of the same age it is fine. Maintenance is simplicity itself. OK those tappets give a distinctive sound - I can always tell a Ford HCS when it passes without looking, but you get used to it.

It is also highly economical - I got roughly 50mpg out of mine, and I wasn't one to crawl along the road. If you think through how you're driving, the car and engine will reward you. I sold mine for £180 as I needed a quick sale - someone got a bargain.

I really do wonder what went wrong with the 1.3 HCS engines as fitted from Mk5 Escorts. I had a 1988 Mk4 Escort with the 1.3 HCS engine and got at least 150,000 miles out of it (the speedo stopped working after that!) but and by the time the car was worth £10 scrap, the engine was still going although the tappets were a little noisy. I then bought a 1991 Mk5 Escort with the 1.3 HCS engine and that was a seriously different story as the engine seized at 78,000 miles. It was the first HCS engined car with fuel injection I've owned so presumably there's been some modifications to the engine, but clearly not for the better. I now drive a 1990 BMW 520 with 203,000 miles on the clock - go figure.