1 spark plug doesn't last very long!

[adwhitt 0]

i changed all 6 spark plugs back in september and the car was running fine. then last week it started being really jerky so i looked at the plugs and they were all fine apart from the one in the 6th cylinder which was covered in think dirty oily gunk. i changed it and now it runs fine again. when i changed them back in september this was the worst one then as well.

 

any ideas why this is?

 

Cheers

[mrbeige 0]

Oil coated spark plugs means you've got oil leaking into the combustion chamber, which IIRC could come from worn valve guides or even knackered oil seal ring on the piston

[andy 0]

Cylinders 1 and 6 will generally be the worse of the 6, my number 6 is the worse generally. Really oily could be for the reasons suggested above, but a lot of VRs eat 1 and 6.

[dirtytorque 0]

well the oil would have to be coming past the pistons or the valves,unless the HG was fubard..

[adwhitt 0]

cheers guys.

 

I got the valve stem seals changed about 6 months ago. Are they not the same thing?

 

I wish i was a mechanic!!!

[Roger Blassberg 0]

Sounds like cylinder bore and/or piston ring wear. How many miles has the engine done?

 

Best wishes

 

RB

[DanVW 0]

Bad luck fella, Two choices I'm afraid... Strip and rebuild or flog it quick and get a G60! :) every cloud and all that

[adwhitt 0]

It's done just over 140k.

[mrbeige 0]

Aye, must be piston ring wear. Is it a daily? Are you any good with spanners?

[adwhitt 0]

No but I use it a lot at weekends. Still manage about 10k a year. Sadly not great. How much are we talking at a garage?

[mrbeige 0]

No but I use it a lot at weekends. Still manage about 10k a year. Sadly not great. How much are we talking at a garage?

Head off, pistons out, fit new rings, all back together = lots at a garage and I mean lots; I suspect well over £1000, and that is if the cylinders aren't scored and don't need a re-hone. If they do, then it's an engine out job really. :(

[Supercharged 2]

Does it use much oil? you could try a 15W in the summer if you are using 10W-40

 

For now I would just change that plug every 4-6 months (nice and cheap on a VR) and start saving!

 

VEGE exchange engines are roughly £1700

[hodaz 0]

Just keep changing the plugs, its an old car with high miles things like this happen, just think of it as "character" :D

Save the pennies for 24v power.