Changed Spark Plugs Today and One covered in Oil????
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Well today i decided i would try and cure my lumpy and hesitant engine problem, so decided to buy some new spark plugs. I changed the first 3 with
no problems, old ones looked brown and worn but in general ok condition.
When i unscrewed the 4th one i discovered it was covered from the thread down in oil from the engine. Where is the Oil coming from is the question, the engine seems to tick over ok and also runs fine apart from hesitant at times acceleration especially in 2nd gear. HELP PLEASE
Wayne :?: :?: :x
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Chances are the oil is from the rocker cover gasket, which leaks down into the spark plug holes. This isn't a big deal, just needs replaced. Was your HT lead for that plug wet too? I bet the hesitation is the poor spark, caused by the oil shorting the spark to the head, instead of via the electrode. Probably could do with new leads if this is the case.
The otherside of it is if the plug was dry above the threads and wet below. This would indicate oil in your combustion chamber, caused by valve stem seals failing, valve guides, cracked head or failing piston rings. This is unlikely. You'd be getting through oil like a 2 stroke.
I bet it's the first scenario though. You'd be seeing some serious smoke out the exhaust if it was the second scenario. Perhaps it appears thread down as inevitably the oil will drip down as you take the plug out. The plug electode would be seriously mucky:
temp hot linking :P
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@4b11fc778b=Marco:
Chances are the oil is from the rocker cover gasket, which leaks down into the spark plug holes. This isn't a big deal, just needs replaced. Was your HT lead for that plug wet too? I bet the hesitation is the poor spark, caused by the oil shorting the spark to the head, instead of via the electrode. Probably could do with new leads if this is the case.
The otherside of it is if the plug was dry above the threads and wet below. This would indicate oil in your combustion chamber, caused by valve stem seals failing, valve guides, cracked head or failing piston rings. This is unlikely. You'd be getting through oil like a 2 stroke.
I bet it's the first scenario though. You'd be seeing some serious smoke out the exhaust if it was the second scenario. Perhaps it appears thread down as inevitably the oil will drip down as you take the plug out. The plug electode would be seriously mucky:
temp hot linking :P
Phew that's a relief, i think your spot on with the first diagnosis marco, the car hasn't lost a drop of oil since Friday when i brought it, and no signs at all of smoke or anything else nasty. The rocker cover seams to be leaking anyway onto other parts including the distributor cap. Ok any chance of an how to guide to replace gasket, and also how much roughly for gasket.
I take it its just a case of follow rocker cover bolts and undo one at a time or is there a set sequence to undo.
Many thanks
Wayne :D
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Sequence is only necessary for retightening.
For a temporary fix, you can use my favourite solution, silicone! On the rocker it should be perfect since that area isnt submerged in oil or under any real pressure. Simply get clean rag, mop up the oil dribbles, use some rubbing alcohol, or if you dont have any of that handy, some nail varnish remover would do just fine, apply that to another piece of clean rag and run it over the previously cleaned area, then some well placed patches of silicone where need be. Remember to smush the silicone in so as to get it to seal (get a good bit of saliva on your finger to stop it sticking to your fingers while you smear it about). Leave it for a few hours and you should be good to go.
As I said, its a temporary fix, though you could use it for aslong as itll hold, which could be a years if you prepped the area well. In any case, itll give you a chance to determine if that was the problem with the plugs/hesitation, and also allow you to take a little break as youve been spending out a bit since you got this car the other day.
In the mean time, Id grab a download of the workshop manual that we have onsite, always good for a read when your looking at doing something.
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@08e4fb31a1=Jesta:
Sequence is only necessary for retightening.
For a temporary fix, you can use my favourite solution, silicone! On the rocker it should be perfect since that area isnt submerged in oil or under any real pressure. Simply get clean rag, mop up the oil dribbles, use some rubbing alcohol, or if you dont have any of that handy, some nail varnish remover would do just fine, apply that to another piece of clean rag and run it over the previously cleaned area, then some well placed patches of silicone where need be. Remember to smush the silicone in so as to get it to seal (get a good bit of saliva on your finger to stop it sticking to your fingers while you smear it about). Leave it for a few hours and you should be good to go.
As I said, its a temporary fix, though you could use it for aslong as itll hold, which could be a years if you prepped the area well. In any case, itll give you a chance to determine if that was the problem with the plugs/hesitation, and also allow you to take a little break as youve been spending out a bit since you got this car the other day.
In the mean time, Id grab a download of the workshop manual that we have onsite, always good for a read when your looking at doing something.
Thanks jesta, the silicon idea sounds really good if I had some handy, lol :D but I haven't,
So I should imagine the gasket isnt much more than a canister of silicone, so I think I will
Replace that, I will download Manuel off here and when I get gasket I will post up if its cured the problem. Many thanks guys
Wayne.
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No problems, I should imagine the best/cheapest place to get one from would be fordprobestore.co.uk
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@21a45bc11e=Jesta:
No problems, I should imagine the best/cheapest place to get one from would be fordprobestore.co.uk
Well here is what i have found on fordprobestore.co.uk
http://www.fordprobestore.co.uk/store/index.php?cPath=51_74&sort=2a&page=1
Now i know this might be an odd question for you matey, but is my 1996 1.6i the SOHD or DOHC, if you need a picture of my engine i will post one up, just wondered if they were fitted with either the Single or Double as standard in 1996?????
Many thanks
Wayne :oops:
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I couldnt tell you, I always thought the 1.6 was a DOHC, never seen a rocker cover that suggested it was SOHC, be best posting a pic as thats something I cannot answer. I have a V6 which is QOHC (kinda lol) :P
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hmm i was to believe that the 1.5 imports were DOHC and the uk 1.6's were SOHC? wait for DJ to finish work to be sure lol
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or look at the uk-mx3 modders guide:
@74034ec80b:B6 The straight-4 was available in two versions, an 88hp SOHC B6-ME unit which powered 1992 and 1993 models, or a 106hp DOHC/16-valve B6-D unit which was found in 1994 and later models.
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@f056ca6fcf=daniel:
hmm i was to believe that the 1.5 imports were DOHC and the uk 1.6's were SOHC? wait for DJ to finish work to be sure lol
Pretty much same engine just smaller bores, different cams and ecu
the 1.5 pumps out more bhp than the standard 1.6They are a B5D, a japanese only version of the the 1.5 SOHC engine that they used a lot in kia's and fords but mazda gave it the ZE treatment with the B6 DOHC head with different cams and a different inlet manifold design
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Ok guys here is a few pics of Mx3 engine in ours,
which one is it SOHC or DOHC, i need to order gasket tomorrow night so if you could advise i would be very grateful. Also i have tried to download manuel off here with no success, so i had a look at the other manuel on MX3 . com and i couldn't find a step by step guide on how to change gasket, could anyone help please.
Many thanks
Wayne
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Both of those pics are of a dohc fella
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@d14fdfc360=Raines:
Both of those pics are of a dohc fella
Thank you Raines i thought it was, but thought i would double check before ordering replacement Gasket, i will order now from probestore.
Thanks mate
Wayne
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on top of your cam cover it will read shoc or dhoc.. from that pic you have a dohc ok..hope that helps
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@9a8af0e002=Raines:
on top of your cam cover it will read shoc or dhoc.. from that pic you have a dohc ok..hope that helps
:oops: :oops: Took them pics at 9.25pm tonight, and didn't even notice DHOC on cam cover lol :D . Ordered replacement Gasket from Probestore just so hopefully will receive it before Saturday.
Thanks matey
Wayne
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Welcome fella,.. hope you get it and sort it soon…
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beat me to it Raines, its also a 16valve, by mazda, apparently :P
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@e51d6f7362=Jesta:
beat me to it Raines, its also a 16valve, by mazda, apparently :P
Hahaha trust you…. 8)
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Just to update this post, on Saturday i took the MX3 down to my mates house for the rocker cover gasket change, whilst i was fitting some new speakers back and front, my mate took the rocker cover off, and discovered the gasket was not split anywhere. He checked the plugs and there wasn't any oil on any of them, and they were black on the top of each plug where they spark. He changed the gasket anyway, and suggested it might be the automatic choke causing the hesitancy of the engine. We also could hear some air possibly escaping from somewhere, but after inspecting every pipe on the car, we couldn't find anything. I have new spark plugs, Air filter, Oil and filter, fan belt, and new performance ht leads on order, and will see if that makes things any better, we have also turned the tick over screw up a little to stop the car from stalling when slowing down. I am also looking into the cost of a full stainless steel custom exhaust system, because that could also cause the car to hesitate, especially the cat. Any ideas would be very much appreciated, many thanks.
Wayne.
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if its stalling, hesitates a lot, kanaroos a bit and you can hear air when its running, check the plastic pipe from the air filter box to the engine, its a big problem on V6 engines but the 1.6 does have it now and again, any splits, cracks not tightened or air getting in anywhere along that pipe it gets false readings from the sensors.
They are brittle when old so dont pull it about too much but bend it slightly to see if it has cracks etc in the pipe
