Ford Escort/Express 1.8d: Specs & Performance

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I think this is a great place. Hopefully, I can find some help because I've also become the owner of a self-igniting device in the past few weeks.

In my opinion, my question belongs in the "Diesel - Engine Technology" section, but there seems to be a somewhat unusual rule regarding creating new topics there. So, I'm posting it here... (maybe an admin can move it to the correct place!?)


Okay, so let's get to the topic... I have an Express from 1999 with the 1.8D engine, 44 kW... so far so good. I've already read countless posts online and here, but I haven't found anything really helpful.

I have the Lucas fuel pump installed, and I'm supposedly going 120 km/h... is that really normal, as some people claim? The car has 120,000 km on the odometer and has always been serviced at Ford.
A T4 with a 1.9 diesel engine and 64 horsepower can easily reach 160 km/h... Is Ford really that bad?

What adjustments can be made on the pump to get a little more performance out of it? Is there perhaps an exploded diagram available, because there are several sealed adjustment screws on it.

Okay, I'll start by focusing on the basic things to eliminate possibilities one by one. I've already replaced the air filter, but there's been no improvement. Next, I'll check the diesel filter and the exhaust for leaks. Should I also remove the catalytic converter? Then, I want to look at the valve timing (to what extent can I optimize it, and how?).
I will also adjust the valves later.
Regarding bleeding the fuel system... how much diesel do I usually need to pump out before all the air is removed? Or should I repeat the process multiple times? I drained the fuel sedimenter and water trap, and since then, the fuel injection pump sounds completely different, quieter than before. I stopped after about a liter, but I suspect there's still some air in the system because it hasn't been starting well lately.

Do the engines actually have the same compression ratio as the TDs? So, is it easy to convert them to turbo?

I would like to thank in advance anyone who is knowledgeable about engines and fuel injection pumps and can offer me helpful advice!
I know there are many questions, but I wanted to get straight to the point, also for future generations.

Greetings, and very helpful forum!!

The older 1.8D or TD engines are still swirl chamber diesels and, as a result, quite slow.

But 120 km/h is a bit slow. I used to get around 180-190 km/h with my old Escort MK7 1.8TD with 66 kW.

What is it labeled with, or how is it loaded?

No, it's a new one with a Lucas CAV or something similar fuel injection pump. (as written)

According to the vehicle registration document, the top speed is 143 km/h... but as I said, the vehicle is empty.

Not all at once...

Is there anyone here who is an experienced Ford mechanic, or is it because I unfortunately posted in the wrong section? (But I don't really understand this strange "uniform" rule.)

Well, I'll remain hopeful.

I used to have a Fiesta Courier with a 1.8 D engine and 60 horsepower until 2002. It was registered with a top speed of 140 km/h, and it actually reached that speed. It was more than adequate for keeping up with traffic in the city and on country roads, but I rarely dared to overtake on highways. While you could technically reach 140 km/h with a lot of effort, it was a laborious process from 120 km/h onwards. The acceleration felt quite decent up to 100 km/h, acceptable up to 120 km/h, and after that, there wasn't much more power available.

I had a friend who was a mechanic specializing in Opel cars, and he had just earned his master's certification. He tried to optimize the fuel injection settings, but the maximum speed hardly increased. However, the acceleration in the 90-120 km/h range felt noticeably better. But because of the immense increase in fuel consumption (around 9 liters instead of the previous 6 to 6.5 liters), he reverted the changes after a few months.

Regarding the missing 20 km/h top speed, I recall: Was the timing belt replaced at some point? Were the locking pins used, and was the belt positioned exactly? Many workshops don't have the locking pins and adjust everything "by eye" to the "0" position. If you're off by even one tooth, you'll experience poor starting and very sluggish acceleration with the 1.8 D engine. Also, check the glow plug system! It might be contributing to the poor starting. If someone has already tampered with the fuel pump, did they know what they were doing? Otherwise, have a professional perform the basic adjustment.

The 1.8 D engines are in technically perfect condition, but they are not racing engines; rather, they are reliable and easy-to-drive workhorses. They can be driven relatively lazily in the city, without turbo lag or unusual tuning. The power output is perfectly adequate for speeds up to 90-100 km/h, and you won't feel slow. And even the heating performance is quite pleasant.