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Ticking is one of five things, Big end, Little end, Hydraulic tappet a misfire or a piston ring.
Have you tried a good engine flush (DONT USE OIL ADDITIVE/TREATMENT just a good petrol engine flush, any other stuff can cause a lifter to stick putting it in the way of a piston) it may help the piston rings, also what grade of oil have you been putting init, 5W30 semi synthetic, or 10W40 fully synthetic competition oil. put anything lower grade will make your car run crap and mess with hydraulic tappets also if the head has never been of the valve stem seals could be knackered.
When you say you have a sparkplug covered in oil i take it you mean the electrode end and not the end the HT lead goes on which will mean just a cam cover gasket.
Have you checked you have a spark, if it isnt a good one then in a worn engine you will get oil on your sparkplug cause it isnt burning it causing a misfire and noises.
Had a few of these where the wiring to the coil pack is crap and doing weird stuff so just give that a gentle twist and yank.
When the car is running take of the oil filler and place your hand on top blocking it, is there alot of air trying to get out? check it against another zetec to compare it, alot of pressure may mean piston rings or just alot of wear.
Listening for the big or small ends is a bit harder to do, under the bonnet just open the throttle quick just to raise the revs to about 3000 and letting go, does it tick as it revs up, down or both?
Loads of older zetecs use oil when cold so aslong as it aint litres per couple of hundred miles wouldn,t worry, it will tapp when it needs a top up.

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Is there oil in the engine, the zetec will tap like buggery if theres no oil!

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RIP Ben. Gone but not forgotten.

SportKA - I've driven one and its deffinately a Girls car

Ford Fair 2010 0-60 7.45 secs Trek 4100

Save the trees, wipe your arse with a Cosworth

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My ebay stuff


Is that the best you can do?
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2000 V70 T5 SE - 2.3, 5 cylinder, 20V, VVT, Turbo, 250bhp, cream leather, climate control, the works!

you are using wrong oil dude as jd said could be causing sticky valves

Still doesn't answer why he is using to much oil, i know that a Zetec needs a thinner oil but if he goes back to 5w/30 it'll use even more???

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