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        General >> Problems >> Plugs in Oil, anyone?
        
(Message started by: Pegasus on Feb 10^th, 2005, 1:37pm)

Title: Plugs in Oil, anyone?
Post by Pegasus on Feb 10^th, 2005, 1:37pm

Hi again,

Changed the plugs yesterday. Found 10-25ml 'oil' down each of the tubes. Managed to get most of it out prior to change.
It was a cleanish brown. I don't have to top up engine oil (but changed 6 monthly and these volumes wouldn't be noticed anyway).

But where did it come from ???
A friend suggested the gasket(s) on the rocker covers have gone.
Any suggestions gratefully received.

Admit this is the first time I've done this cos engine running beautifully and always had it serviced by main dealer (last service 10k ago - they now admit they hadn't changed plugs during the last 2 services so its been 4years & 28k miles since last change >:()

Cheers

P

Title: Re: Plugs in Oil, anyone?
Post by gaz01gaz on Feb 10^th, 2005, 2:48pm

hi,is this a 24v??? i had exactly the same problem,didnt half smoke for a few minutes after changing them ,i think some oil went down the spark plug hole ??? a few weeks later i changed my cam cover gaskets but found no oil at all???gaz

Title: Re: Plugs in Oil, anyone?
Post by Eric_R on Feb 10^th, 2005, 4:06pm

Pegasus,
Yes, the spark plugs are buried deep inside the cam covers and have a special gasket to separate them from the lubrication inside the cam covers. If there is even a tiny leak the oil collects in the spark plug chambers without anywhere else to go. Get them all dry inside and monitor the plugs weekly to get some idea of how bad the seepage is. If it is very slight you might consider whether to leave it like it is and clean them out periodically - the oil should not effect the electrode provided the plug leads are Ford ones in good condition because they seal round the body of the plug and keep the electrode clean. If the plug chambers fill up too quickly then consider changing the camcover gasket - but this requires care because of the inlet system - it's do-able but you mustn't rush the job. ;)

The spark plugs are okay to go for 24 months, but should really have been changed the last time, so that was a bit naughty - however the platinum electrodes are amazingly resistant to burning.

Title: Re: Plugs in Oil, anyone?
Post by OddJob on Feb 10^th, 2005, 11:56pm

on 02/10/05 at 16:06:27, Eric_R wrote:

- but this requires care because of the inlet system -

OH how true!!!
The first week after buying the car I decided to have a service done, where upon, the garage informed me of small oil deposits around the plugs due to leaking gaskets :o naturally I decided to have them replaced, little did I now at the time of the problems this would cause :'( Apparently when they attempted to traverse the inlet system they were greeted with siezed bolts causing nothing but a major headache.
Anyhow all was eventually corrected and repaired but one days work ended up as two and with a 100% increase on the bill to boot :'(
So please be warned it's not a job for the faint hearted ;)

OddJob

Title: Re: Plugs in Oil, anyone?
Post by Pegasus on Feb 11^th, 2005, 10:52am

Hi Gaz, Eric & Oddjob,

Gaz: yep its a 2.9 Cos - and didn't it just smoke.

From Eric and Oddjob's info I'll not be in too much of a rush to replace gaskets. If its taken this long to get a small amount of oil I wont worry too much but I'll keep an eye on it just in case its a recent development. At least I know what to look for - thanks Guys :)

P