oil in spark plugs

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

was helping a friend change his spark plugs and there was oil in the well. It seeped through the threads and onto the tip of the spark plugs, however the car ran great and did not experience any misfires or anything. I saw oil on top of the piston.

Whats going to happen to the oil on the piston after it gets burned off?

 

[mechjames]

Originally Posted By: calvinnnnnnnnn
was helping a friend change his spark plugs and there was oil in the well. It seeped through the threads and onto the tip of the spark plugs, however the car ran great and did not experience any misfires or anything. I saw oil on top of the piston.

Whats going to happen to the oil on the piston after it gets burned off?


Most likely the spark plug tube seals are gone.

What will happen to the oil after it gets burned off? It comes out your tailpipe and goes to the atmosphere.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

since the plug was like submerged in oil, should i replace it? what is a "fouled" plug?

 

[CourierDriver]

When I was younger, we sold oil burning sparkplugs, they may still do that, hvent seen that for years now............

 

[The_Jeff]

If you get oil down the spark plug tubes (typically in a twin cam inline 4 cyl engine) it eventually rots the plug wires to the point of misfiring.

A fouled plug will have oil across the gap. Your firing side of the plug was likely good until you unthreaded it and the oil that was above it fell past the threads. If it looks okay, wipe it off and put it back in.

Your real issue as said above is fixing the oil leak.

 

[mechtech2]

Valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals that are leaking can cause this. It is rather common.

The plugs can misfire, and it might not be enough to really feel. But enough to actually lose.

 

[PeteTheFarmer]

+1 that it's the gasket the seals the spark plug tubes. Fix it before the oil ruins the spark plug wire boot and insulation.

 

[willix]

The plug boot does a good job of sealing the oil out....usually. If you pull the boot all bets are off. If the boot isn't cleaned dry or replaced carbon tracking is in near future. Once this happens the plug boot is tattooed with a carbon track that won't clean up. It sounds like the plugs didn't seated proper. This may have avoided you boot contamination if the oil seeped in, they usually fill the well. It's time for VC gaskets.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

thanks, ordered a set

 

[Nick R]

Yup, had this problem in my cavalier when I got it. The valve cover gasket was leaking about spark plug #3. There was oil on it, but it ran fine. Changed the gasket and replaced the spark plugs and all is fine 5000 miles later.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

stupid question but is it okay to leave the spark plug wires hanging from the distributor? i wont be able to fix it for a week and dont want the oil to saturate the tip of the plug wires. Is there a small current running through the wires even when the car is off?

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

need response asap!

okay to leave spark plug wires hanging from distributor? im afraid there might be some current in the plugs when the car is off and that might damage the ignition system..

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: calvinnnnnnnnn
need response asap!

okay to leave spark plug wires hanging from distributor? im afraid there might be some current in the plugs when the car is off and that might damage the ignition system..



Shouldn't be a problem as long as no one attempts to start the car...I would disconnect the battery to be safe to be 100% sure you won't damage the coil.

 

[mechtech2]

Vizzy is right.
DO NOT let anyone try to start the car.
Other than that, you could leave them hanging for years.
But I'll bet spiders will make their little nests in the ends if you do!

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: calvinnnnnnnnn
was helping a friend change his spark plugs and there was oil in the well. It seeped through the threads and onto the tip of the spark plugs, however the car ran great and did not experience any misfires or anything. I saw oil on top of the piston.

Whats going to happen to the oil on the piston after it gets burned off?


My wife's old Chrysler 3.5 v6 had one leaky plug tube for the last 150,000 miles of its life (well, more than that- its still out there running somewhere). That plug ran submerged in oil all that time and never had any trouble at all. It was always the easiest plug to change, too It was really only about a spoon full of oil, so having it drop down into the cylinder when I changed the plug was no big deal. It burned off within 2 seconds of starting the engine up after the new plugs were in.