zetec vs duratec

[bwatt]

in your opinion whats a better engine the zetec or duratec?



brandon

[Lancer211]

For what?

For the exact same price, I'd take the Duratec over the Zetec on balance.

But in the real world, it's a lot easier to get a used Zetec than used Duratec.

[bwatt]

well to do work on urself and for hp and reliability. i'm just basically trying to figure out overall what engine is better.



brandon

[Lancer211]

Well, the Zetec has a slightly longer track record of fairly good reliability than the Duratec, but they're both pretty reliable. The 2.0L Duratec vs. the 2.0L Zetec? The Zetec is a bit simpler so it's got that going for it, although I prefer the Duratec's placement of the intake ports in the front and the exhaust ports facing the rear. In terms of modding, there are far more aftermarket Zetec performance parts available, but I'd take the Duratec. The Zetec is nearly at its limit in stock form, while the Duratec gives you better potential for upgrading.

The Duratec is also more efficient, and produces slightly more power, stock, as well as polluting less.

So, if it's a Zetec for $200 or a Duratec for $500, take the Zetec. If they're both $300, take the Duratec.

It's really six of one, half dozen of the other.

[Zoomer69]

In the following order, best to worst:
2.3L Duratec
2.0L Zetec (SVT version)
2.0L Duratec
2.0L Zetec
2.0L SPI

The 2.3L Duratec is the optimum engine for everything but gas mileage, and it's really not far off in that department either. This is the only Focus that you can genuinely call torquey. You can easily get one to hit 200hp at the wheels NA, and far more than that with a turbo. The main downside is that it's not all that easy to find in a Focus, particularly prior to '05. At least the ST is a reasonable facsimile of the SVT out of the box, and it has the potential for even greater performance with careful modding.

The SVT motor embodies the best outcome you could get from modifying the Zetec short of forced-induction. Sadly, as such it leaves little room for you to extract more power short of forced-induction, and its 6-speed tranny is not geared for the dragstrip. But, the car that comes with this engine is the finest Focus ever to be sold in the US, from the sporty interior to the awesome brakes to the incredible suspension tuning. If I had to do it over again, this is the Focus I'd buy.

The 2.0L Duratec is superior in every way imaginable to the garden variety Zetec - more efficient, more powerful, more responsive to mods. But the 2.0 can only be found in an '05 and up Focus, which in all other respects was not nearly as good a car. And, frankly, the Duratec you want is the 2.3L, or better yet, the 2.5L out of the Fusion or Escape.

The 2.0L Zetec is durable and has the best selection of parts for extracting more power. The problem is, to get an appreciable power bump out of the Zetec, you have to throw a lot of parts at it. By the time you buy all those parts and get it tuned properly, you'll have performance comparable to the SVT, for the cost of an SVT, and not have nearly as nice a car to show for it.

The SPI's hallmark is that it was cheap and reliable. Mostly, it was cheap. It's adequate for grocery getters, but you're fighting an uphill battle trying to make one fast. Ford finally put this motor out of its misery in 2004, and thank goodness.

[20focus03]

i think the zetec should be above the 2.0 duratec on that list

[bwatt]

whats cars all came with the 2.3 duratec?

[hEaT]

Originally Posted by bwatt

whats cars all came with the 2.3 duratec?

05-07 Focus ST's
03-04 select ZX3's

[Zoomer69]

Originally Posted by bwatt

whats cars all came with the 2.3 duratec?

All Focuses sold in the 5 states that followed California's smog laws in 2003 and 2004 were powered by the 2.3L Duratec (except SVT models).

[20focus03]

man the svt would have been 10x better with the duratec

[bwatt]

agree i drove an svt before the reg zx3 and i was kinda let down by it

[20focus03]

let down by an svt? thats crazy talk,that car comes alive on a road course and higher rpms,im just stating it would be better with a 2.3

[TolusD]

Originally Posted by bwatt

agree i drove an svt before the reg zx3 and i was kinda let down by it

I'd sooner tell Jim Jones that his Kool-Aid sucks and slap the sun glasses off him in front of his machine gun toting lackeys than I would post anything on FJ about the SVT that doesn't involve spontaneous emission.

That's a dangerous road you're on new guy.

[bwatt]

lol i will say tho the svt i test drove had amazing handling and took corners really really fast

[Lancer211]

Originally Posted by TolusD

I'd sooner tell Jim Jones that his Kool-Aid sucks and slap the sun glasses off him in front of his machine gun toting lackeys than I would post anything on FJ about the SVT that doesn't involve spontaneous emission.

That's a dangerous road you're on new guy.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by bwatt

agree i drove an svt before the reg zx3 and i was kinda let down by it

One thing to remember about SVT's is that the performance varies quite a bit from one to another depending on minor mods and tuning.

If you drove mine as it was when it was stone stock and compared it to the way it is now you wouldn't think it was the same car.

Also remember that the SVT really needs to be revved hard to get everything out of it and with the gearing of the Getrag it doesn't have that much more accelleration from a dig compared to a regular Focus but once you get into the higher revs of 2nd gear and into third is where it really starts showing the difference.

All that said, I wish they had continued the SVT and stuck a D2.3 in it because that engine really does have more potential than the SVT Zetec.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by TolusD

I'd sooner tell Jim Jones that his Kool-Aid sucks and slap the sun glasses off him in front of his machine gun toting lackeys than I would post anything on FJ about the SVT that doesn't involve spontaneous emission.

That's a dangerous road you're on new guy.

Not really, The SVT is/was a great package and is quite a step beyond a regular Focus but I've been saying for years the the D2.3 is a better engine than the SVT Zetec.

A breathed on 2.3 would have been spectacular in a 2005 SVT if they'd continued with it and let SVT work their freeflowing intake/exhaust magic on it so it could breathe properly.

If my 2.0 ever dies I'd seriously consider finding a wrecked ST and swapping the 2.3/MTX into the SVT chassis.

[G-forces]

The last time I said this, it turned into a big brouhaha... but I... just... can't... stop...

No way the D2.3 is superior to the SVT Zetec (qualifier: for track use). The oiling, cooling, and bore/stroke of the SVT will allow it to keep on going, after the 2.3 is in for a rebuild. The SVT could literally be driven off the lot and on to a track... with reasonable results.

On the other hand for around town bragidosious behavior, the 2.3 has more low end grunt and should impress more, as well as be easier to get around in freeway traffic.

[OmniFocus]

Yeah, can't say I've seen any evidence that would back that one up.

Unless somebody is either A) already a Zetec owner, or B) designing for a specific application where space is a constraint, I can't see any value in choosing a Zetec over a Duratec.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by G-forces

The last time I said this, it turned into a big brouhaha... but I... just... can't... stop...

No way the D2.3 is superior to the SVT Zetec (qualifier: for track use). The oiling, cooling, and bore/stroke of the SVT will allow it to keep on going, after the 2.3 is in for a rebuild. The SVT could literally be driven off the lot and on to a track... with reasonable results.

On the other hand for around town bragidosious behavior, the 2.3 has more low end grunt and should impress more, as well as be easier to get around in freeway traffic.

My point was that if SVT had been allowed to do with the 2.3 what they did with the Zetec they would probably had a much stronger performer than the Zetec SVT was.

No question that stock for stock the SVT was the better package, Mod a 2.3 though and the tables get turned.

I'd never change mine unless it grenaded itself, I love it just the way it is.

I guess the answer to the OP's question is another question, What do you want from teh car and how much work do you want to put into it.

The SVT is a complete package in stock form.

[bwatt]

well right now nothing b/c im still in college but once i graduate i'm hoping to build the motor up and turbo it

[bwatt]

oh and the reason i prolly was let down by the svt was 1. it was my driver ed teacher's svt and i didn't want to rev it too high and 2. it was wet out and i didnt want to lose it in a turn

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by bwatt

oh and the reason i prolly was let down by the svt was 1. it was my driver ed teacher's svt and i didn't want to rev it too high and 2. it was wet out and i didnt want to lose it in a turn

Um, yeah, that'd be a let down. The SVT begs to be thrashed, it doesn't really come alive until you get past 5000 rpm.

The harder you drive them the better they are.

[OmniFocus]

Originally Posted by FORDSVTPARTS

The harder you drive them the better they are.

True that... and after a few bolt-ons and a tune that'll let you rev to 7500, they're even more awesome.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by OmniFocus

True that... and after a few bolt-ons and a tune that'll let you rev to 7500, they're even more awesome.

I've been wondering about raising the rev limit, any issues with doing that?