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[terry paget]

2.6 petrol manual, daughter's car based in Enfield. Current mileage 106006
I bought this car May 2015, 95388 miles. Changed cam belt & pulleys, plugs (GM011), replaced aftermarket plug sticks with Bosch to cure slight misfire at low revs on full throttle; changed RH cam cover gasket, LH OK. Car has performd impeccably ever since, is home for MOT, passed no advisories. On Friday wife used this car to collect son who had caught wrong bus, complained of flashing EML light and misfire.
 Yesterday morning I read codes, got PO300, PO306. I removed plugs 1-3-5, found some oil in no. 3 plug hole. Washed the plugs and plug sticks in petrol, put them back, misfire was worse, codes PO300, PO306, PO301, PO304.
This morning at 7am, after opening Christmas stocking (my family are nuts), I removed 2-4-6 plugs. No. 6 is dirty.
I fear by washing oily plug stick rubbers first, then plugs in same petrol in small pot, I may have made plugs 1-3-5 oily, thus making them prone to misfire. No. 6 plug was dirty, don't know why, though I imagine that was the original fault. No chance of buying new plugs today, however I have a plug shot blasting tool.
I wonder what failed first. Was it oil in no. 3 (plug came out looking OK), or dirty no. 6? Might the plug stick have failed on no. 6? The plug stick looks fine, do they ever fail?

I wish all forum members a jolly Christmas day.

[biggriffin]

Remove both packs, remove all plugs, replace all plugs with NEW, clean coil pack sleeves,
Don't use petrol use carb/brake cleaner. If fault re-appears, then coil pack at fault.

[Nick W]

Remove both packs, remove all plugs, replace all plugs with NEW, clean coil pack sleeves,
Don't use petrol use carb/brake cleaner. If fault re-appears, then coil pack at fault.

This.


Plugs don't like being soaked in oil, and at £2 each plus the faffing about changing them are not worth trying to save.
Petrol is not a good degreaser; brake cleaner is about £2 a can at ECP and is a much better bet for small jobs. DIY use means even a small can is good value. For large or really dirty parts, I scrape the worst off, then use cheap cellulose thinners in a washing bowl/old bucket/whatever container and a couple of scrubbing brushes from Poundland.

[minifreek]

Also with the 2.6 use superunleaded petrol, not the cheaper stuff....

[Nick W]

Also with the 2.6 use superunleaded petrol, not the cheaper stuff....

I've some snake oil he could rub on the OSR tyre valve that's guaranteed to cure all misfires and bring about world peace.

[Lazydocker]

Also with the 2.6 use superunleaded petrol, not the cheaper stuff....

I've some snake oil he could rub on the OSR tyre valve that's guaranteed to cure all misfires and bring about world peace.

 

[biggriffin]

The op will take the cheapest of cheap route, so that be a s/h set of plugs, then bake them in the oven. 

[Nick W]

The op will take the cheapest of cheap route, so that be a s/h set of plugs, then bake them in the oven. 

I could use the spark plug cleaner and tester at work on mine, but even though we've a car plug adapter for it, life is too short. £12 on some new NGKs and it's good for another couple of years.

[biggriffin]

The op will take the cheapest of cheap route, so that be a s/h set of plugs, then bake them in the oven. 

I could use the spark plug cleaner and tester at work on mine, but even though we've a car plug adapter for it, life is too short. £12 on some new NGKs and it's good for another couple of years.

would that be the type that grit blasts them, then you clean them off with wire brush.

[terry paget]

Thank you all for good advice gentlemen. My immediate concern is not cheapness but speed, my daughter and boy friend want to go to Devon in this car on Tuesday. I have found 3 brand new GM 011 plugs on a shelf, plus 3 used GM 011s. I might get 3 more new plugs at Halfords tomorrow. Of course I have 6 011s that have only done 9000 miles, but they are now suspect.Will report back tomorrow.

[Nick W]

The op will take the cheapest of cheap route, so that be a s/h set of plugs, then bake them in the oven. 

I could use the spark plug cleaner and tester at work on mine, but even though we've a car plug adapter for it, life is too short. £12 on some new NGKs and it's good for another couple of years.

would that be the type that grit blasts them, then you clean them off with wire brush.

That's the one, you then use it to check the quality of the spark under pressure. The machine is about £1500,  but is a waste of time on car plugs. New ones every time.

[minifreek]

Also with the 2.6 use superunleaded petrol, not the cheaper stuff....

I've some snake oil he could rub on the OSR tyre valve that's guaranteed to cure all misfires and bring about world peace.

Is there really any need for a comment like that....?

Im just going from experience and offering advice, theres no need to be a complete arse about things...

[terry paget]

Remove both packs, remove all plugs, replace all plugs with NEW, clean coil pack sleeves,
Don't use petrol use carb/brake cleaner. If fault re-appears, then coil pack at fault.

This.


Plugs don't like being soaked in oil, and at £2 each plus the faffing about changing them are not worth trying to save.
Petrol is not a good degreaser; brake cleaner is about £2 a can at ECP and is a much better bet for small jobs. DIY use means even a small can is good value. For large or really dirty parts, I scrape the worst off, then use cheap cellulose thinners in a washing bowl/old bucket/whatever container and a couple of scrubbing brushes from Poundland.

My most recent Vx Trade Club catalogue is dated 2010, there plugs are between £2 and £3 each, presumably cost more now. I see them on e-bay at below £2 each, at which price it is clearly worth stocking spare sets. There are some brands I have never heard of there, but Bosch and NGK are there. I shall stock up.

[jb]

gm plugs preferable. my view is focus on the bank with the fault,change plugs and replace the coil pack with new or known good s/h

[terry paget]

Success! Bought 4 NGK plugs at Halfords this morning, popped them in 1-3-5, having earlier installed my 3 GM 011s in 2-4-6, and misfire cured. Now daughter and boy friend can leave tomorrow in their car, the only car I have which he is insured to drive.
Thanks to all for invaluable advice. At 5.30 this morning I ordered 6 NGK plugs on line for £11.28, at 9.05 I bought 4 NGK plugs for £39.99 at Halfords. This weekend I have learned a lot.