1999 Kia Sportage

Hi,

I have a 1999 Kia sportage that has been maintained well and has given us little problem. I was driving home the other day and noticed the engine started to knock like it was low on oil, mostly at idle. I turned it off and tried to start it the next day without luck. I noticed that I had significant oil around my #3 spark plug, lots of oil around the plug area. The oil and water levels were normal. Never overheated?? I am kinda stuck on where to begin. Is it possible the oil around the plugs is giving me problems??? Any help much appreciated.

Brehmster

ABsolutely right. THis is a classic. This should have fired the Check ENgine Light , but sometimes not. This is a very sensitive area and valve cover gasket failure and oil intrusion around the rear coil pack is a well known problem. You will have to go through
THAT (www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=653021)
procedure. Now is that condition the one that causes the present no start problem? Possibly, but possibly not, but it has to be corrected anyway. Next question is what mileage do you have, and if over 70,000 miles, has the timing belt been replaced yet? If not, you have to consider the possibility of slipped timing belt....and even if it has not slipped, replacing the timing belt anyway after 70,000 miles to avoid being stranded in the middle of nowhere.