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Oil (I think) on spark plug connections
samwilliams - 27/1/06 at 06:04 PM

After my problems with the car running last week, which we worked out was due to bad connection between the spark plug leads and the plugs, it's become a recurring problem. (http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=37509 is the last thread).

Essentially, rather than corrossion it was actually a bit of oil covering the connection (it was my friend who cleaned it off, and labelled it as corrossion, but I'm fairly sure it was oil that time too). If I'm quite gentle with it, it seems to not be too bad. This week, I've been going to and from work in it, and it's been fine until today. All I have to do then is clean off the oil and it works fine until the next time.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be causing it, or what would be the best checks to do to try and ascertain the cause?

I know that I could do with new plugs and leads but, unless people think this problem may be down to the plug itself, I'd rather try and get this sorted before sticking some new plugs in just for them to get a bit buggered as it keeps messing up.

So, any suggestions for the next step?

Thanks
Sam

britishtrident - 27/1/06 at 06:16 PM

It is nothing to do with corrosion --- your plug leads get 15KV plus.

Put a new set of plugs in correctly gapped and throughly clean and dry the distibuter cap and coil insulators and spray both with a moisture repellent.
If the problem t returns renew the cap and plug leads as either the cap is craked or the rubber boots are like carbonised causing flashover.

[Edited on 27/1/06 by britishtrident]

rayward - 27/1/06 at 06:23 PM

do you mean you have oil on the end of the spark plug which goes into the cylinders??.

Ray

[Edited on 27/1/06 by rayward]

[Edited on 27/1/06 by rayward]

samwilliams - 27/1/06 at 11:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rayward
do you mean you have oil on the end of the spark plug which goes into the cylinders??.

Ray


Yeah, its on the bits of the spark plugs that the leads attach on to. It only seems to happen on one of them. Sorry if that wasn't clear initially.

Sam

stevebubs - 28/1/06 at 12:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by samwilliams
quote:
Originally posted by rayward
do you mean you have oil on the end of the spark plug which goes into the cylinders??.

Ray


Yeah, its on the bits of the spark plugs that the leads attach on to. It only seems to happen on one of them. Sorry if that wasn't clear initially.

Sam


So it's *not* on the bit in the cylinder but on the lead contact...

rusty nuts - 28/1/06 at 08:58 AM

Leaking rocker cover or breathing heavily from oil filler cap? no where else for oil to come from

samwilliams - 28/1/06 at 11:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Leaking rocker cover or breathing heavily from oil filler cap? no where else for oil to come from


I don't think it's from the oil filler cap, although I suppose that's a possibility, as it is the plug nearest that end. If it does turn out to be the leaking rocker cover, how would I go about sorting that out? Is it just a case of replacing it?

Sam

rusty nuts - 29/1/06 at 09:40 AM

Just replace gasket and make sure the cover isn't distorted where the screws go through. Pinto engines have a spreader plate under the bolts that may help spread load on Xflow covers although I haven't tried it myself.

blueshift - 29/1/06 at 01:40 PM

you could try taping a wad of kitchen roll / cloth around it, driving a bit and see if there's evidence of oil spray coming from a specific direction. might help you narrow it down.