Oil where spark plug enters head
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Oil where spark plug enters head
So, I've got a fair bit of 'wetting' around the base of the plug. It's evident that it's coming from within the bore but what would cause this to occur?
Last edited by what2do on 19 Oct 2016, 21:07, edited 1 time in total.
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head

This may be the correct image.
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
- kevtherev
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
Plug leaking
Not tight enough
Seal shagged
Stripped threads
Broken plug core.
Not tight enough
Seal shagged
Stripped threads
Broken plug core.
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
kevtherev wrote:Plug leaking
Not tight enough
Seal shagged
Stripped threads
Broken plug core.
Even with these things why so much oil in the compression chamber in the first place?
I have had a loose plug before didn't get that.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
kevtherev wrote:Plug leaking
Not tight enough
Seal shagged
Stripped threads
Broken plug core.
Plug is tight
I will look at seal
Threads are fine
Core is visibly ok.
So, it looks as though it's down to the seal which is bizarre as I have had a loose plug before now and it didn't become wet around the base.
I'll swap plugs around and see if anything changes.
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
- kevtherev
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
you could argue that a leaky valve guide would trundle oil down and onto the plugitchyfeet wrote:kevtherev wrote:Plug leaking
Not tight enough
Seal shagged
Stripped threads
Broken plug core.
Even with these things why so much oil in the compression chamber in the first place?
I have had a loose plug before didn't get that.
then with a bit of pushing from compresion....
my "wet plug recess" was simply a smidge of grease that melted in the recess

have the plug holes been greased or oiled what2do?
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
kevtherev wrote:you could argue that a leaky valve guide would trundle oil down and onto the plugitchyfeet wrote:kevtherev wrote:Plug leaking
Not tight enough
Seal shagged
Stripped threads
Broken plug core.
Even with these things why so much oil in the compression chamber in the first place?
I have had a loose plug before didn't get that.
then with a bit of pushing from compresion....
my "wet plug recess" was simply a smidge of grease that melted in the recess
have the plug holes been greased or oiled what2do?
Nope, no oiling or greasing. Cleaned it thoroughly a few months ago and it was soon as oily again. No, it's not migrating from somewhere else either - oh, how I wish that were the case.

Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
kevtherev wrote: you could argue that a leaky valve guide would trundle oil down and onto the plug
then with a bit of pushing from compresion....
My money is on rings, I find if hard to believe that much oil would come through valves but happy to be proved wrong.
Compression is low and quite a bit or variation but witin the vast wear limits VW give you.
You got the compression figures mitch they were written on a post it?
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
itchyfeet wrote:kevtherev wrote: you could argue that a leaky valve guide would trundle oil down and onto the plug
then with a bit of pushing from compresion....
My money is on rings, I find if hard to believe that much oil would come through valves but happy to be proved wrong.
Compression is low and quite a bit or variation but witin the vast wear limits VW give you.
You got the compression figures mitch they were written on a post it?
Here you go, cyl 1: 10 bar, 2: 8.75 bar, 3: 9 bar, 4: 11 bar.
The wetting is around the plug nearest to the front on the n/s.
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
what2do wrote:
Here you go, cyl 1: 10 bar, 2: 8.75 bar, 3: 9 bar, 4: 11 bar.
The wetting is around the plug nearest to the front on the n/s.
Wet around No1 which has good compression, you may think indicates rings are good.
A test for ring failure when you have low compression, is to put oil in the cylinder, increased compression indicates rings are shot.
Is 4 oily plug too?
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Pe ... firing_ord" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
DG is 10-13bar new, 3 bar variation limit, 8 bar min limit
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
Performance has dropped off a lot since we took those figures, I'll try and do them again but I'm afraid the results will shock me!
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
- kevtherev
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
I stand by my suggestion.
and I think it's no.1 inlet.
those erratic figures read like non sealing valve seat figures to me.

and I think it's no.1 inlet.
those erratic figures read like non sealing valve seat figures to me.
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
Only one way to prove it, off with his head 

1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
itchyfeet wrote:Only one way to prove it, off with his head
Is it worth doing a leak down test to establish what that the problem is?
Why would the glass be anything other than half full?
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
'89 panel van, 1.9 DG.
- itchyfeet
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Re: Oil where spark plug enters head
Why bother if the valve guides are that shagged it will be very clear, if the are not then must be rings.
I suppose you should check your oil breather tower isn't blocked if the crankcase can't breathe it may, I suppose, cause problems where there is air flow via worn valve guides which moves oil with it.
I suppose you should check your oil breather tower isn't blocked if the crankcase can't breathe it may, I suppose, cause problems where there is air flow via worn valve guides which moves oil with it.
1988 DG WBX LPG Tin Top
itchylinks
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