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        General >> Problems >> Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
        
(Message started by: Bruiser on May 10^th, 2008, 12:40pm)

Title: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by Bruiser on May 10^th, 2008, 12:40pm

Hi guys, noticed the car was running a bit rough so looked at the spark plugs. No.1 cylinder (closest to rad) was covered in oil, literally dripping. 2,3 and 4 were fine.

Looking down the cylinder with a torch noticed oil on the piston, I assume this can only be piston rings right?

Could this be anything simple? or has anyone else experienced this with the 2.3 engine?

Anyway I cleaned the plugs and checked the gaps and seems to run better but am worried about piston rings/lack of compression etc.

It's a 98 with 80,000 miles regularly serviced.

Any advice would be much appreciated, cheers.

B

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by jonnycab on May 10^th, 2008, 12:49pm

Could be rocker cover gasket leaking :)

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by scorpio_man on May 10^th, 2008, 1:30pm

on 05/10/08 at 12:49:14, jonnycab wrote:

Could be rocker cover gasket leaking :)

[]

the spark plugs have their own gasket as well. first thing i'd do.

hth

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by ChrisF on May 12^th, 2008, 5:07pm

You didn't say whether the oil was on the plug body or the electrode, if it was the former then it is probably the rocker gasket as Jonny said and the oil on the top of the piston is probably from the bottom of the plug tube, falling through the hole when you took the plug out.

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by ottopmh on May 14^th, 2008, 11:52am

I have the same problem with cylinders 1 and 2, some oil on the plug bodies. It's due to leaking rocker gasket. I haven't changed it as it is not leaking that much yet.

But I have another problem with the spark plugs - they are getting loose. Has anyone else had this problem? Ford says 18Nm, I have consulted local garage and I'm currently using 25Nm. Plugs are still getting loose after few months and especially during summer time / warm weathers when A/C is in heavy use. Oil can not be blaimed as I've had this prob longer than leaking rocker gasket.

Symptom is rather interesting noise when the engine is under (heavy) load.

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by Bruiser on May 14^th, 2008, 7:29pm

Phew!
:)
Thought the engine was possibly broken... thanks!

Funny you mention where the oil is on the spark plugs, I didnt think that the oil dripped into the cylinder (which it obviously has) automatically thought rings were shot.

Only the plug body really had oil not the electrode.

Funny ottopmh mentions the plugs being loose as plug 2 was strangely loose. used to do them hand tight with not much pressure however this time used the ratchet with a bit of torque (no torque wrench that goes down that low). Hope they stay tight, keep an eye on them.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by TiberiuS on May 14^th, 2008, 9:54pm

on 05/14/08 at 19:29:00, Bruiser wrote:

Funny ottopmh mentions the plugs being loose as plug 2 was strangely loose

Yes, same here. When I changed mine, two were quite loose and had baked the connectors on the ends of the HT leads.

My rocker cover gasket used to seep a bit at the rear, it never got any worse or caused any problems, I think it's quite common.

Regards, Bruce.

Title: Re: Spark plug covered in oil - 2.3
Post by jonnycab on May 15^th, 2008, 3:27am

Regarding loose spark plugs...

A little while back, a fellow cabbie with a 2.3 Scorp estate had a strange rattling noise coming from the top of his engine that would get worse when revving.
A few of us mechanically minded cabbies ::) had a listen & came to the conclusion that it was either a broken valve spring or one of the self adjusters was busted :-/
He drove it like this for a couple of thousand miles, but it never got any worse.
Eventually he took it to a garage & they found the problem straight away....yep ;)....a loose spark plug :)

I didn't think a loose plug would be capable of causing that kind of noise.....it really was one hell of a clatter :)

As for how much to tighten the plugs up. I do 'em up real tight, & I've never had a problem getting them out again when they need replacing :)

A good tip for when changing the plugs is to get down the hole with a long screw driver & scrape off any debris etc from around the plug seat in the head. This will ensure a good, gas tight fit when putting the plugs in :)