I broke my engine fixing it.
October 5, 2010 11:39 AM Subscribe
I messed up my truck engine, but hopefully I can fix it with your help!
My truck has some issue where the spark plugs get fouled with oil. This happens pretty regularly and its the same couple of valves that cause me issue. This morning I went to change one of them and the spark plug broke off, oops. I cut myself a little but managed to get it out pretty much intact, or so I thought. I couldn't get the plug to seat in there right, it would turn as far as it would go, but when I put the boot on, there was still some spark plug showing which I have never noticed before. Then when I went to drive, its definitely "skipping". I looked at the spark plug itself and a tiny (long shard) piece of the glass tubing seems to be missing. I guess it could be on there. Should I vacuum it up? If I had put the wrong boot on the wrong valve (unlikely) would it cause this issue as well? Any other thoughts?
My truck has some issue where the spark plugs get fouled with oil. This happens pretty regularly and its the same couple of valves that cause me issue. This morning I went to change one of them and the spark plug broke off, oops. I cut myself a little but managed to get it out pretty much intact, or so I thought. I couldn't get the plug to seat in there right, it would turn as far as it would go, but when I put the boot on, there was still some spark plug showing which I have never noticed before. Then when I went to drive, its definitely "skipping". I looked at the spark plug itself and a tiny (long shard) piece of the glass tubing seems to be missing. I guess it could be on there. Should I vacuum it up? If I had put the wrong boot on the wrong valve (unlikely) would it cause this issue as well? Any other thoughts?
The oil foiling of the plug means either you have a leak at the valve seal to the head or the head gasket is leaking (probably, would be helpful to know vehicle and engine).
Did you get out all of the threaded portion of the old spark plug? Are the threads okay?
As long as the metal clip in the boot is clamped on to the end of the plug you are probably okay as far as the spark plug showing bit is concerned. It's possible (but not likely) that the overall length of the new plug and old plugs are different and that could be causing it. The boot serves to keep the insulated part of the plug protected and not allow the clip/node on the end to arc to the block when sparking.
If there is a shard missing and you already started it up, any potential damage is probably done. That shard needs to get removed somehow, and I can't imagine a vacuum would work.
Lastly the wrong boot on the wrong plug would definitely cause it to run wierd. You need to make sure you have the firing order correct.
posted by Big_B at 12:13 PM on October 5, 2010
Did you get out all of the threaded portion of the old spark plug? Are the threads okay?
As long as the metal clip in the boot is clamped on to the end of the plug you are probably okay as far as the spark plug showing bit is concerned. It's possible (but not likely) that the overall length of the new plug and old plugs are different and that could be causing it. The boot serves to keep the insulated part of the plug protected and not allow the clip/node on the end to arc to the block when sparking.
If there is a shard missing and you already started it up, any potential damage is probably done. That shard needs to get removed somehow, and I can't imagine a vacuum would work.
Lastly the wrong boot on the wrong plug would definitely cause it to run wierd. You need to make sure you have the firing order correct.
posted by Big_B at 12:13 PM on October 5, 2010
So, you broke the ceramic, right? but the metal was still screwed in? And then you unscrewed the metal part the rest of the way?
I'd take that plug back out, run a tap in the hole, and put in a fresh plug. Also, you might just not have put the boot on all the way - maybe got a little gun-shy. Maybe just back the plug out, make sure the threads are clean, and put it back in.
posted by notsnot at 12:16 PM on October 5, 2010
I'd take that plug back out, run a tap in the hole, and put in a fresh plug. Also, you might just not have put the boot on all the way - maybe got a little gun-shy. Maybe just back the plug out, make sure the threads are clean, and put it back in.
posted by notsnot at 12:16 PM on October 5, 2010
Response by poster: Ok, I think we are thinking on the same track. Do I need to unhook the battery or something else I am not thinking of to get down in there good and make sure the threads are clear?
posted by stormygrey at 12:17 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by stormygrey at 12:17 PM on October 5, 2010
You shouldn't need to unhook the battery or anything - there's no capacitor with a bunch of juice to getcha. But I'd take it to a shop - run without a plug in there, it'll sound like hell, and might be expensive. Better'n a new motor, though.
posted by notsnot at 5:33 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by notsnot at 5:33 PM on October 5, 2010
Something else I thought of - I don't have a lot of experience chasing threads, but I would think there would be a good chance you'd push some metal shavings into the cylinder which isn't going to help. Maybe someone has a method to avoid this. Just wanted to throw that out there.
posted by Big_B at 8:53 AM on October 6, 2010
posted by Big_B at 8:53 AM on October 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Rhomboid at 12:11 PM on October 5, 2010