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DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: ///m42 sport on March 19, 2012, 10:15:29 PM

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: ///m42 sport on March 19, 2012, 10:15:29 PM

(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c57/m42sport/1febaebb.jpg)
well aint this great.  I think I just found why my engine was losing oil. There are also small bits of metal on the spark plug. I'm guessing the cylinder is toast too?

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: Geoff on March 20, 2012, 04:45:26 AM

how many miles has that plug done?   I guess my question would have to be, did the plug fail or did conditions in the combustion chamber make it look like that?        either way, that is one ugly sucker
                                                      Geoff

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: Gabs on March 20, 2012, 08:31:09 AM

The bits of metal could also have traveled into the cylinder through Oil, Drain some oil and check for metal bits, invest in a magnetic drain plug. While that plug is quite nasty, doesn't necessarily mean your cylinder is toast, clean that plug up with carb cleaner and it may even work again. A Compression test If your really concerned about the cylinder.

That being said I suppose you could conclude that the rings may be worn down, maybe not toast but worn down. Letting excess oil into the cylinder, rent a compression tester and see what your numbers look like.

Edit In: How bad is the oil consumption?

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: ///m42 sport on March 20, 2012, 04:42:35 PM

alright thanks.  I'll drain oil and see whats going on.  Whats weird is that the plug wires for cylinder 2 and 3 popped off by themselves.  Has this happened to anyone else?

Going to hold off on the cheap compression kit since theres nothing I'm going to be doing diff at this point.  Its just going to sit in the garage for a while

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: MLM on March 20, 2012, 05:47:01 PM

Was the engine knocking much?

Metal particals can be blasted off the piston etc by detonation.

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: DesktopDave on March 20, 2012, 07:48:37 PM

If you get a compression kit, make sure it has a nice extension...those bores are way too deep for the cheap Chinese one I bought...

Title: spark plug failure
Post by: ///m42 sport on March 29, 2012, 06:36:49 PM

yeah, I didnt notice any knocking.  It was running pretty smooth, I just happen to check the spark plugs that night by chance.