Fuel in spark plug well

[John_B]

Alright helpful people! Any help, advice anecdotes for this...

I had to drive over a very rough and potholed road a few days ago. I took it steady but regardless when I turned back out onto half-decent tarmac, there was an unusual raspy tone and vibration and it felt down on power. I was not far from home so got back and parked up (it was raining!). I took it out again yesterday and for the first few mins it was fine but then the 'rasp' and vibration came back, along with the smell of fuel.

I am a total newbie, but trying to learn. I thought it could be an ignition lead came loose and I was running on 3 cylinders, or it could be the exhaust has broken/cracked on the rough road?

I've just jacked it up and looked and felt the exhaust. Nothing feels loose and I can't see or feel any holes. So I have checked the ignition leads. The rear three are clean and dry and I have re-seated them with a satisfying *click*.

But the last one I checked (the one furthest to the front, M44) came out very easily. Not sure if that was because it was loose, or because of this....!!!

Forgive me, it's not the easiest thing to photograph!! The gritty residue on the ignition lead wiped straight off, it was brownish in colour and didn't really smell of anything. I wiped around the top inch of the hole the ignition lead goes into and it was more of the same. Although it looks like there is some liquid pooled in the bottom of the hole. Am I safe to stuff some paper towels or rags into that hole to clean it up?

Any ideas what it could be, how it got there or how I can diagnose the problem?

Thanks in advance!
John

 

[Ianmc]

Rocker cover gasket failure lets oil in there on the M44.

 

[John_B]

Rocker cover gasket failure lets oil in there on the M44.

Thanks Ian, that's what I was afraid of, although learning to do stuff like that is why I wanted a project car afterall!

Could there be anything else that would let water/coolant pool in the spark plug well? When I wiped the ignition lead the crud lifted right off and left it clean and dry. If it was oil I might have expected it to be a bit smeary and difficult to remove with just a piece of kitchen roll.

I'll look into changing the rocker gasket anyway, just for the experience!

 

[Stevo7682]

That looks like possible water ingrees ( or damp if sat for extended period )
Look my advice if your not mechanically minded carefully clean around the base of the spark plug with a cloth and thin implement to assist you get a set of lead change them ( or that one minimum) that may get it back up on 4 again but the plugs need changing as well and that one could be corroded in as it looks quite rusty and if it ends up breaking trying to remove it that will be a cylinder head off to fix it.
You need to get someone who knows what they are doing to assess the condition as you cant always tell in a picture just how good or bad something is

They may be someone on here with a bit of knowledge who could maybe cast an eye over it .

Like i said cleaning around the plug and new leads ( they have an order they plug into coil change one at a time theg are different lengths which helps) may restore the power as that lead you have pictures of doesn't look great
But at some point you will need to deal with the plugs as well that will require a bit more care .

Stephen.

 

[John_B]

That looks like possible water ingrees ( or damp if sat for extended period )
Look my advice if your not mechanically minded carefully clean around the base of the spark plug with a cloth and thin implement to assist you get a set of lead change them ( or that one minimum) that may get it back up on 4 again but the plugs need changing as well and that one could be corroded in as it looks quite rusty and if it ends up breaking trying to remove it that will be a cylinder head off to fix it.
You need to get someone who knows what they are doing to assess the condition as you cant always tell in a picture just how good or bad something is

They may be someone on here with a bit of knowledge who could maybe cast an eye over it .

Like i said cleaning around the plug and new leads ( they have an order they plug into coil change one at a time theg are different lengths which helps) may restore the power as that lead you have pictures of doesn't look great
But at some point you will need to deal with the plugs as well that will require a bit more care .

Stephen.

Thanks Stephen, I only fitted those plugs a couple of months and maybe 200miles ago, and the ones that came out were pretty clean (as were the leads and wells at the time), so whatever the problem is, it hasn't been a long term issue.

I'm going to clean it all out tomorrow, I'll get some tissue right down to the bottom and should be able to tell pretty easily if it's water or oil and take it from there!

Thanks

 

[Stevo7682]

If water you possibly have not had the lead in correct clean with wd40 and wipe away excess around and inside the lead will get rid of moisture.
As long as you can clean the excess a bit down the plug hole wont do harm
If all not that old may fix it all once all the gunk removed.
Stephen.

 

[John_B]

So I have managed to clean out the liquid with lots of blue roll, and the liquid is fuel.

will this mean it is coming up through the spark plug threads?

 

[Richard29]

Might be a silly question or you may have already checked. Have you checked the spark plug is nice snd tight?
I had a loose plug on my e91. Misfire down on power. And is was mucky and burnt around the ignition coil.

 

[John_B]

Well this is embarrassing- the spark plug was loose. Not 'rattling around' loose, but barely finger-tight loose.

Cleaned up, tightened and torqued and running sweet as a nut again

Thanks all!

 

[John_B]

Might be a silly question or you may have already checked. Have you checked the spark plug is nice snd tight?
I had a loose plug on my e91. Misfire down on power. And is was mucky and burnt around the ignition coil.

Haha yes, that is exactly what it was.

I didn't want to take the plug out until I got all the fluid cleaned up, which took a while. But as soon as I put the socket on I could feel it was not tight at all

Thanks

 

[AntStark]

Buying a torque wrench is a worthwhile investment.. usually to stop yourself over tightening things. Unless you are a seasoned mechanic its guesswork otherwise

 

[Richard29]

Nice its an easy fix.