Oil on Plugs and wires 1997 Marquis 4.6L

[geilow]

I have my 1997 Mercury Marquis in the shop because of it running rough with the engine light on solid or flashing. I took it there a week ago and they said I had a bad plug which they replaced. It ran OK for a day or so then gradually started getting the rough idle back. I decided to replace all the spark plugs figuring that maybe more were bad. As I removed the plugs they were all heavily coated with oil. I put all the plugs in and it did not fix the problem. I took the car back to the shop and they just called me to say that the oil on the plugs and wires is not normal, they had cleaned the one area where they replaced the first plug but now other plugs are failing with the oil coating. Any idea whats going on here?

[danielsatur]

QUESTIONS:

1) How many miles are on the car?
2) The oil on spark plugs + wires are probably from valve cover gaskets.
3) How much oil do you use between oil changes?

(a) How many more miles do you have befor oil change?
(b) Check the oil to see how low?

ACTION:

1. GET the oil changed + Replace PCV valve.
2. Power wash motor with low spray.
3. Inspect,clean,gap,and replace bad plugs.
4. REPLACE ALL SPARK PLUG WIRES.
5. Replace fuel filter and Air filter.

How does she run now?
Do you see any oil leaks?
How does the exhaust smoke look?

This motor wants to run on all 8-cylinders.

CAUTION - Make sure you check oil after service.
Technicans can use the wrong viscosity oil + Too much oil !
This can create too much oil pressure, thus causes oil leaks.

ALSO - Spark plug wires do go bad,because they are made of silicon.

* BUY your own parts from one of those discount Auto parts store.


MCGIVER

[Will Help]

The only 6 ways I can see you getting oil on the plugs ( internally ) are:
1. Bad valve guide seals ( shouldn't affect all plugs at once ).
2. Bad rings ( shouldn't affect all plugs at once ).
3. Bad PCV valve sucking oil into the intake manifold.
4. Good PCV valve sucking blow by vapors. ( engine would have bad rings )
5. Bad intake gasket allowing allowing oil to be sucked out of the valley into the intake manifold.
6. Cracked intake manifold sucking oil out of the valley.?
Does the exhaust smoke when you start the engine and then go away?
Does the engine blow blue smoke all the time it is running.

[danielsatur]

I didn't want to go there yet,but these cars do have a problem with
valve seals going bad.

If the valve covers are leaking,I would replaced the valve cover gaskets and valve stem
seals in the car.

I wasn't worried about CHK ENG LIGHT at the begining,because I didn't want to chase codes.

There was some routine Maintenance that was needed tobe performed 1st.

Is the CHK ENG LIGHT still on ?

Lets Go Team!

MCGIVER

[geilow]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

I didn't want to go there yet,but these cars do have a problem with
valve seals going bad.

If the valve covers are leaking,I would replaced the valve cover gaskets and valve stem
seals in the car.

I wasn't worried about CHK ENG LIGHT at the begining,because I didn't want to chase codes.

There was some routine Maintenance that was needed tobe performed 1st.

Is the CHK ENG LIGHT still on ?

Lets Go Team!

MCGIVER

Bad plug wires took care of the CHK ENGINE LIGHT, the car is running great now. The car has 100,000 on it but there is no blue smoke and it does not burn or lose oil? The oil is on both sides too, I can't imaging having the same exact gasket problem on both sides?

[danielsatur]

Cool -
Lets get the motor cleaned + New filters for Oil,Air,PCV,and FUEL.
lets just keep our eyes + ears open.
Maybe a Tech missed + dumped a quart of oil over your Eng.

How much did your Spark plug wires cost?

MCGIVER - Everything a Hussle these days.

[geilow]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

Cool -
Lets get the motor cleaned + New filters for Oil,Air,PCV,and FUEL.
lets just keep our eyes + ears open.
Maybe a Tech missed + dumped a quart of oil over your Eng.

How much did your Spark plug wires cost?

MCGIVER - Everything a Hussle these days.

Like I said it seems to be fine? Can a PCV valve really cause that much oil to get on the plugs and wires?

I paid $90.00 for the plug wires, they had cheaper ones but I bought the more expensive MotorCraft ones.

[Will Help]

The PCV ( Positive Crankcase Ventilation ) valve was developed around 1963 to replace the old vent pipe systems. The problem with the PCV system is that the valve, hose and/or inlet can become plugged which stops the relief of crankcase pressures in the engine. If the engine has alot of miles on it, these pressures can be great due to bypass in the rings and valve guides. gaskets (This pressure will relieve itself by blowing open the weakest link which include but are not limited to the valve cover gaskets, intake manifold front and rear seals) the oil pan gaskets and sometimes the front and/or rear main seals.

If the lower portion of the valve cover gasket leaks, the oil that is being pumped to the rockers flows down the lower side of the cover and is a direct pipe line to the plugs and wires. I have seen enough oil come out to the point that the hot exhaust mainfolds catches the oil on fire.

[danielsatur]

Hey! Plugs + Wires ia a $500 @ The LS shop.

I think you paid a little high for the wires,but you did save alot of money.

Again - Keep eyes,ears,and Nose open.

If it's leaking somewhere,you should see it and it will smell.

I had Techs spill oil on exhaust manifold ,and said it was leaking oil.

I have taken a battery to two of those discount Auto parts and they
tested it as being bad.

The third one CHG + Tested ''Passed''

I'am still using my battery + store.

There's alot of Hussels out there,that why I work on my own stuff.

KEEP IT REAL ON AF.

THANKS ''Will Help''

MCGIVER