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Comments
The valve clatter sounds eerily familiar to the all too common, dreaded 'Dropped Valve Seat' problem that plagues many of these 2.0 SPI engines as they approach 100k miles. Google 'Leakdown Test' to see how to determine if you have adequate compression in each of your four cylinders, and try not to get sick if you find out that your Escort just dropped chunks of its #4 valve seat into the cylinder. (Hint: if you pull the spark plugs, and find one (usually the #4) that looks mangled and/or cleanly 'sandblasted', you may need a valve job...)
It is all good.
It almost sounds like you threw a rod, but I can't imagine it cranking without any untoward noises if that were the case. Have you checked the oil to determine if it is clean (uncontaminated with antifreeze)?
I'm wondering if you have a damaged valve or valve seat that is causing this issue.
How is power vs. what you remember? Still good? Maybe do a quick compression test on it and observe the behavior of the gauge as the engine cranks. If you get immediate, consistent pressure out of all the cylinders, it probably isn't a valve issue.
I used to have pinging issues in mine when I pushed it, but those are much more subtle than a "click click click" and go away immediately when I stopped pushing it (or made it to the top of the hill!).
Escort
Dubai Escorts
As for the car using a lot more fuel than expected, that could be numerous things interacting, and is difficult to gauge by the description provided. Without far more information, there's really not much to go on here.