Running On 3

[System~G]

Engine wise, my GTi has been running well since I bought it 3 or 4 months ago. Last month I gave it a full service and since it has been running even better.

Sunday we had it out for a three hour coutry and dual carriage way ride. All was fine. This afternoon, I go to pick up a parcel 15 miles away and the car starts stuttering and misfiring in 2nd and 3rd gears <_<

I get it home, check all ignition parts and find a well of clean oil around the rubber plug things that go over spark plugs 1 & 2.

Remove #1 clean and replace.

Remove #2 to find the spark plug is completely drenched in the clean oil :o Remove, clean plug, hole and replace.

Check #3 & #4 - they're fine.

Car is now running even worse :ffs:

1] Do I need to replace the plugs?

or

2] Will any remains of oil burn burn off #2 and running return to normal?

I am not loosing water or oil anywhere.

I think the oil is there due to a spill during the service I did as it's still very clean. But is there another way the oil could have got there?

Any help/advice appreciated

[blueapple]

I didn't know that a bit of oil can affect it so much.

I remember I spilled almost half a quart of oil in one of the spark plug whole, all it did was blow some blue smoke out. clean the connection between the plug and the wire. check distributor cap, see if there's any oil in there.

if still not working, change the plugs, if still not working, change the wire.

[System~G]

The plug in #2 was drenched in oil. It was dripping :o

I have done a bit more reading up on it and if it's not oil from the spill, then it look like it might be a piston ring :(

I will re-check dizzy and all other components, the run engine for a couple of minutes to see if oil reappears...

[Unity Jon]

swap the plug with one of the other ones and run it briefly and re-check, if its covered in oil then its your rings as you suspected, changing the rings isnt a hard job if you have some general mechanical knowledge.

If you're uncertain get it booked in to good 4age mechanic....

[TheNissanMan]

souns as if the seal between the plug and the block, need to get new seals for it by the sounds of things, same prob on my 200sx, have flooded the engine twice due to the prob, needed the rac to come out once, all he did was get a blow torch out to dry off ther plugs and say noty a lot can be done apart from get the seals sorted.

[Unity Jon]

i've found with other cars with wet plugs, 5mins at 200'c in the oven is the best way to dry em up quickly so you can keep testing

[System~G]

I don't think it's the piston rings or any gaskets. The car has been running for nearly 30 minutes without any oil reappearing. The oil that was there was new oil (yellow-ish) in colour so could not have come up from the block.

Whilst running the car, I tried running it with each of the leads removed from the plugs (one at a time) to see if the plugs/leads were indeed at fault. With each plug out of the loop it ran worse. (It sounded more like a scoob than a rolla :D :P )

With all 4 sparks & leads in place it idles fine but under duress (driving in gear) it still misfires and stutters very badly...

I re-removed the dizzy cap and inspected the rotor and other components as well. there was a bit of corrosion that cleaned away easily, but the problem still persists.

I am going to take it to my Toyota specialist who can look at it.

[System~G]

Back from my mechanic.

On the way there only one misfire/stutter! Typical! (but good).

He gave it the once over and had a good listen. He reckons it should be fine and to run it as is for a couple of days and see what developes. He doubts very much it's piston rings or seals.

Stopped in at Sainsbury's on the way back - no probs getting there. But leaving Sainsbury's - It stuttered pretty much all the way home :ffs:

I am now thinking dizzy and leads, but my mechanic said they were fine...

Perhaps fuel supply?

buggered if I know. Will keep running it gently for a few days.

[dave5282]

The old Term of 'a bit of bad Petrol' perhaps?

[System~G]

The old Term of 'a bit of bad Petrol' perhaps?

Now that you mention it, it was filled up at a Sainsbury's garage on Sunday... I have heard about the Tesco fuel being a bit crap, but I thought Sainsbury's was fine. Nicola has been using the same garage and fuel pretty much all the time since she's had her MR2 and has never had a problem.

I also though it might be the spark plugs themselves, but they're NGK's - not champion and were replaced when I serviced the car.

[Unity Jon]

could be the sign of a failing condensor although, i thought they either worked or didnt, no in between. They're a known fault on aircooled flat fours and you often get misfire's before it dies altogether, dunno if its the same for 4age ? i'm pretty much clutching at straws and old experience's

it could also be the leads (or one of) breaking down and arc-ing against something metal, check all the leads are well clear of all metal components, or when it starts to misfire pop the bonnet and check where the leads are lying...

[System~G]

I had a very good poke about today.

I replaced the fuel filter too (just incase the one that was replaced a month or two ago was bunged up).

If it's now not the distributor cap or leads, I don't know... The leads look pretty new (ish) - I have seen worse. They are all held in place with their little clippy racky things...

I can't spend more money on this car.

[dave5282]

Have you checked its breathing properly?

Crazy story, but a goodfriend of mine's pug managed to swallow a leaf, which then wedged itself well down the works, and casued very similar symtoms to yours, although his also started to cut out at low revs in the end, but was showing signs of tired piston rings.

[System~G]

I got ****** off today and took a file to the contacts inside the dizzy cap. The car now runs OK. It's still a little hesitant, but much improved. New dizzy cap on it's way next week...

[Firebreather]

Glad your finally getting somewhere