Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: nordic on 20 August 2010, 18:23:43

Title: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 20 August 2010, 18:23:43
Hello,

Have a misfire under acceleration so began to check the plugs to discover there is oil in each of the plug wells.

Not huge amounts but enough!

What is the cause and the cure? :-/

Cheers,

Andy
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 20 August 2010, 18:26:06
Only one cure! ;) ;)

Replace your cam cover gaskets, and clean out the breathers, as oil is currently being forced through the gaskets by increased oil pressure due to the breathers being clogged up ;) ;)
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 20 August 2010, 18:28:06
Thanks - is there a guide on here to do that?

Cheers,

Andy :y
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 20 August 2010, 18:35:20
Yes Andy, here you go:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152564281

 ;) ;)
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: Auto Addict on 20 August 2010, 18:35:37
Quote
Thanks - is there a guide on here to do that?

Cheers,

Andy :y

Yes.
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: PhilRich on 20 August 2010, 20:35:53
Hi Andy :y
Don't be tempted to tighten the cam covers by more than the recommended torque mate (8Nm IIRC), I know it doesn't 'feel' like it's enough but it is! Any more, & you risk warping the cam covers & you are back to square 1. :y
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 20 August 2010, 21:01:51
Thanks for that good advice.

As you are from the North East - do you know anyone capable of doing the job?

I am without a garage to work in and it seems like a big job!

The Guide above is good but I feel I would need to be 'spoon fed' with regards photos of each and every stage -no mater how small - to ensure I did it right!

These tips and suggestions are much appreciated.

Cheers,

Andy :)

Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: CaptainZok on 20 August 2010, 21:09:37
Quote
Thanks for that good advice.

As you are from the North East - do you know anyone capable of doing the job?

I am without a garage to work in and it seems like a big job!

The Guide above is good but I feel I would need to be 'spoon fed' with regards photos of each and every stage -no mater how small - to ensure I did it right!

These tips and suggestions are much appreciated.

Cheers,

Andy :)

It's not a big deal really mate.
First time I did mine I printed the guide off and had it at the side whilst I did the job.
It gets easier the more often you do it.
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: Andy B on 20 August 2010, 21:18:57
Quote
......
It's not a big deal really mate. .......

I thought the same when I took the covers off mine before we went to France. I had some oil down a couple of plug wells, and the passenger side had had a leak since before I bought the car. Quite straight forward really.  ;)

So far Loctite gasket is holding up .....

did I say that out loud?  ::) ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: CaptainZok on 20 August 2010, 21:22:21
Quote
Quote
......
It's not a big deal really mate. .......

I thought the same when I took the covers off mine before we went to France. I had some oil down a couple of plug wells, and the passenger side had had a leak since before I bought the car. Quite straight forward really.  ;)

So far Loctite gasket is holding up .....

did I say that out loud?  ::) ::) ::) ::)
Shhh you'll have the engineering police in here. ;D
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 20 August 2010, 22:14:08
I am going to have to clean the Breather System to prevent having to replace gaskets all the time.

In the 'How To' section there's a guide explaining how to clean out the 'Crankcase Breather System'. I can follow it all the way until it gets to an item variously called a "Vent Housing" and a "Crankcase Breather Box". The guide includes a photo of this item but, as it is taken from the rear of an engine that is out of the car it is difficult to relate this to it's position in-situ plus, more importantly, it's removal procedure!

What does this look like on the car in-situ? What has to come off to get to it and clean it correctly?

Cheers,

Andy :-?
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: Gaffers on 20 August 2010, 22:19:52
Quote
I am going to have to clean the Breather System to prevent having to replace gaskets all the time.

In the 'How To' section there's a guide explaining how to clean out the 'Crankcase Breather System'. I can follow it all the way until it gets to an item variously called a "Vent Housing" and a "Crankcase Breather Box". The guide includes a photo of this item but, as it is taken from the rear of an engine that is out of the car it is difficult to relate this to it's position in-situ plus, more importantly, it's removal procedure!

What does this look like on the car in-situ? What has to come off to get to it and clean it correctly?

Cheers,

Andy :-?

Look at the back of the plenum under the scuttle to the left in the breather box and there are 2 pipe extrusions coming out of it, there are what you are looking for :y
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 21 August 2010, 09:25:03
Sorry - still can't see it!


Has anyone got photos of the Breather Box in-situ?

Cheers

Andy
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: charlie on 21 August 2010, 09:31:07
what part of sunderland you from andy???? :y
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 21 August 2010, 12:31:29
Found It! :y

It is flat to the back of the engine with the larger hole towards the centre of the engine with the smaller one towards the driver's side.

Having checked both holes they are spottless!

How long do cam cover gaskets last?

My car has only done 70k - with the above pleasing result - is it likely that the breather system is causing oil past the gasket? Or - is it just the age of the gasket?

The gaskets have never been changed before.

Cheers,

Andy
Title: Re: Misfire - Oil in Plug Wells
Post by: nordic on 27 August 2010, 17:37:42
Having bought the gaskets for both cam-covers I am wondering :-

How - if the plugs are in to the correct tightness - can any oil penetrate to impact upon the spark to cause a misfire?

My plugs have oil around their base but there is not enough to reach the plug lead.

Should I not be looking for the misfire elsewhere???

Cheers,

Andy :-/