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Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 10:38
by evilgoat
Gerty started misfiring on her way home from camping on sunday, running fine on sat, and most of way home and then started with a slight judder, after 20 miles was down on power and felt like we were on 3 cylinders.
Did some investigation last night, and spark plug no 2 was loose, i span it out with my fingers and there was oil around the plug and in the well. All the others were fine. Rotor arm and cap contacts looked tired and leads are old so replacing anyway, which I'm hoping will fix the misfire.
Mostly concerned that i have an issue with rings or valve seals. She does use a bit of oil, dispstick top to bottom in about a 1000 miles.
Original DG engine on 99800 miles.
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 10:57
by itchyfeet
compression check first, it will most likey reveal your engine needs a rebuild.
Rings or valve guides responsible, both need the heads off.
If it is low compression worth an oil pressure check before removing engine to establish if the bottom end is still good.
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 11:44
by evilgoat
Thanks.
Hmmmm Head removal. Dreading that day after reading all the sheared stud horror stories.
Time to find a good specialist.
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 11:59
by itchyfeet
you might expect poor running if your plug was loose but oil coming out is ususlly a sign of oil in the combustion chamber, it should not be there in any significant quantity.
did it look like this?
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 12:34
by evilgoat
yes, like that but there was a small puddle in the well and it soaked as far as the rocker cover gasket.
I also found a small piece of shrapnel - a small pebble of metal maybe 3mm long by 1.5 dia in the plug thread or seat.
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 12:47
by itchyfeet
the engine above is what2do's old one, low compression, I have yet to strip it to find out if rings or valve guides, waiting for him to clean it first
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUNSON-G4101- ... SwVL1WEmyv" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 14:25
by davidoft1
Looks like the plug wasn't tight to me, clean it all off, re-fit plug and see if it does it again
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 14:54
by itchyfeet
davidoft1 wrote:Looks like the plug wasn't tight to me, clean it all off, re-fit plug and see if it does it again
And even with a loose plug whats your theory for where the oil came from?
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 19:25
by hightop ratty
I'd go with itchy feet - or you might end with a dead engine (like I did)
Better to check & fix
, than have to find another
Neither is good - but 1st option is better
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 20:21
by what2do
itchyfeet wrote:you might expect poor running if your plug was loose but oil coming out is ususlly a sign of oil in the combustion chamber, it should not be there in any significant quantity.
did it look like this?
Such a disgrace, immaculate tin wear beside a manky, oily engine! Obviously not a true 'enthusiast'......
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 20:32
by itchyfeet
itchyfeet wrote:the engine above is what2do's old one, I have yet to strip it to find out if rings or valve guides, waiting for him to clean it first
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 05 Sep 2017, 21:23
by what2do
itchyfeet wrote:itchyfeet wrote:the engine above is what2do's old one, I have yet to strip it to find out if rings or valve guides, waiting for him to clean it first
It's cleaner but not quite CLEAN.....
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 06 Sep 2017, 08:04
by evilgoat
It looks like this:
and the plug looks like this:
Please can anyone recommend a good specialist in the midlands who knows the score with these engines?
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 06 Sep 2017, 12:54
by davidoft1
itchyfeet wrote:davidoft1 wrote:Looks like the plug wasn't tight to me, clean it all off, re-fit plug and see if it does it again
And even with a loose plug whats your theory for where the oil came from?
could just be fuel vapour thrown out and stuck to the dirt, cost nothing to run it around for an hour, lots more for an engine rebuild, IF it needs it
Re: Oil around spark plug - Help!
Posted: 06 Sep 2017, 16:06
by itchyfeet
davidoft1 wrote:itchyfeet wrote:davidoft1 wrote:Looks like the plug wasn't tight to me, clean it all off, re-fit plug and see if it does it again
And even with a loose plug whats your theory for where the oil came from?
could just be fuel vapour thrown out and stuck to the dirt, cost nothing to run it around for an hour, lots more for an engine rebuild, IF it needs it
thats why you do a compression test first as I said ( first reply on thread)
I may cost alot to drive round for an hour if there is a broken chunk off the piston forexample it may kill the head.
Driving around for an hour...what sort of methodical testing is that?
fuel vapour ...come on be realistic
