Oil On Spark Plug

[Dean P]

My wife's 2010 Mini Cooper S is running like crap. Sounds and feels like it's only running on 3 cylinders. Replaced both O2 sensors, wires and plugs with no difference. Did notice oil on a plug when replaced. It's got 116k miles. Any suggestions into what I can do to check or fix would be appreciated. Hate to bring it in as I know it'll be costly. These mini/BMW always are.

Thanks in advance.

 

[jmargo]

Oil on top of the plug with the coil pack or on the combustion side ?

 

[Dean P]

Oil on top of the plug with the coil pack or on the combustion side ?

Sorry, should have mentioned that. It's on combustion side. The other 3 were dry.

 

[jmargo]

Sorry, should have mentioned that. It's on combustion side. The other 3 were dry.

It is either slipping past the rings or coming in past the valve seals. If you have access to a leak down or compression tester you can check the rings. You can check the valves by pulling the intake and/or the exhaust and looking for oil on the valves. If you have access to a borescope that can keep you from tearing too far into it.

 

[Scottintexas]

[HASH=5598]#waltsgarage[/HASH]

 

[Dean P]

It is either slipping past the rings or coming in past the valve seals. If you have access to a leak down or compression tester you can check the rings. You can check the valves by pulling the intake and/or the exhaust and looking for oil on the valves. If you have access to a borescope that can keep you from tearing too far into it.

Thanks, but I have neither. The compression test sounds like the one to start with. I'll check with my neighbors. Maybe they'll have one.

[HASH=5598]#waltsgarage[/HASH]

Walt's Garage is in Punta Gorda (about 95 miles away). Doubt the car would make it.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Pull the valve cover and make sure the return holes that drain the oil are not plugged up and holding oil on top of the head

 

[Ronnie]

Could the coil have gone bad?

 

[Dean P]

Could the coil have gone bad?

I already replaced them. Thx!

 

[zipper]

Is there any oil on top of the motor, down in the plug well/bucket? There is an O ring seal there on the valve cover that is a common issue on the interweb. Just wondering if it leaked down the threads when you removed the plug. Other than that, as mentioned above, it can only come from the valve stem guides/seals, bad oil ring or headgasket. Do a compression and leak down test.

Mini Cooper Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection Costs

Mini Cooper Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection costs starting from $95. The parts and labor required for this service are ...

www.yourmechanic.com

 

[Dean P]

Is there any oil on top of the motor, down in the plug well/bucket? There is an O ring seal there on the valve cover that is a common issue on the interweb. Just wondering if it leaked down the threads when you removed the plug. Other than that, as mentioned above, it can only come from the valve stem guides/seals, bad oil ring or headgasket. Do a compression and leak down test.

Mini Cooper Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection Costs

Mini Cooper Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection costs starting from $95. The parts and labor required for this service are ...

www.yourmechanic.com

I agree with you. No oil is visible in the well. I replaced the plugs back in February and again last week with no improvement. This car does not get used much and may have put on 500 miles since March. My wife puts in the cheap gas (87 octane) which I think may have contributed; but not sure. Car should have higher octane.

Didn't think this would happen with the mini but I was wrong. Also not a good time of year with the holidays here.

 

[jmargo]

I would suggest putting some 91 octane in the tank and giving it the good ol Italian tune up but that may just make things worst.
I assume when you start it there is a puff of blue smoke from the exhaust ? What year BTW ? Turbo ?

 

[donc]

check PVC valve.

 

[rkluck]

Did you smell gas on the Plug? If so it isn't firing. if not you may simply not be getting gas. I don't know if you got to check the compression but that is pretty easy to check and I would check the others as well so you can compare. If the compression is good then it has to be either fuel, air or ignition.