spark plugs dripping with oil

[sophat34]

well last night, after letting my car sit all summer due to the smoke screen that was comming out of my exhaust, I pulled the plugs. the spark plugs were driping with oil. I checked the intake track and there was a very thin film of oil , not enough to show any coloring on the manifold insides, but the pistons are covered. this motor only has about 250 miles on it the head has about 2500 since it was built. the motor is a 2.4 7bolt ross pistons at 9:1. does any one have any sugestions as to what i should do next? there is a longs story involving the machien shop and bent valves that amounted to them re-using the head gasket. my hope is that it just let go and thats where the oil is coming from.

 

[diablos991]

Your first step should be a compression test.
Post those results, and we can help you diagnose this problem.

Also, check your turbo for shaftplay. There should be NO in-and-out play, and a little side-to-side play is acceptable.

 

[sophat34]

did the compression test 1,2,3,4 respectively are as follows 180, 180, 178, 182 9:1 2.4l I think that eleminates the rings which is a plus, that leaves the head and valve seals. the head was built up in canada less than 2500 miles ago, but after having 2 sets of mains go threw the motor could the seals go that quick?

 

[diablos991]

It would help to know when it smokes. (Idle, after idle, driving, decelerating, sfter shifting under boost, etc. )

 

[andymoraitis]

I addition to the sound advice you received above, I'd recommend a leakdown test to pinpoint where the problem is. I do have to agree though that more information on when the motor smokes would be helpful.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[DSMunknown]

And a guide to performing a leak-down test can be found in the same vicinity as the guide to the compression test.





http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/leakdown.htm

 

[sophat34]

if the motor was running it was smoking, it did smoke less under boost. but, Due to the smoke and lack of break in the motor didnt see much boost 4 lbs max, waste gate was wired open. the turbo doesnt have any play in or out checked it today. i havent gotten to taking off the manifold yet. what should the compression have been? aside from the smoke the engine was running well. but the amount of smoke that was trailing me was enough to make it difficult to see to the teller at the drive threw. I will get ahold of a leakdown gauge on monday. thanks for the sugestion.

 

[diablos991]

When did you last perform the compression test?

 

[sophat34]

did the compression test on friday the 20th. not too long ago. i was digging threw my parts and came across my old valve springs which reminded me, the shop changed out my valve springs because 2 of the outside ones were broken. i dont have any record of them chaging the valve seals though. all of this was done about 200 miles ago. I dont like doing work inside the motor but i think its time that i learn.

 

[black91awdturbo]

did you reuse the valve cover gasket and did you change the spark plug tube seals? I have seen those things leak and let the cylinder fill full of oil I would start there. Always start small and easy then work your way out from there.

 

[topstreet]

Compression checks will not show you if you have poorly installed oil rings. Just valves, compression rings, and the head gasket. If you had a melted piston..... Then compression will help you. The numbers on your gauge are not showing if the oil rings are doing their job.

As far as the Valve cover spark plug tube gaskets... This was the same thought that I had right off the bat. But... Reading the first post will rule out that idea because the spark plugs will keep the oil from entering the combustion chamber.

This leaves the head gasket, oil rings, and valve guide seals. (if the intake stream was, for the most part, dry.) What type of a head gasket was it. I am going to say that even if this causes problems for you down the line... It is not the current issue. I say that because there are only small areas that will allow oil to pass, that could be damaged in the gasket. I might just be assuming here... But this is on ALL of the plugs correct?

Personally, the kind of oil burning you are discribing is going to be the OIL rings. Something as simple as a wrist pin clip that wasent installed, a small grinding burr (if file fit), a missaligned ring pack (ex. ross uses a lower locating oil ring that is much stiffer and will hold the others in place) or a poor gap, could all be reasons to fail.

I dont know all the details but, if the engine place some how was able to snap two of your valves... I wouldnt put it past them to have screwed one of these things up.

I hope this has been of some help to you, and good luck!

Jake

 

[sophat34]

I had been hoping that it wasnt the rings. i know at this point its just guessing but what are the chances of the rings going on all 4 pistons? i was just trying to think about what was done that affected all of the cylinders and had the potential to leak oil in. from the other shops i have spoken to valve seals seem to be the place to start. what makes me wonder is that the car went the first 150ish miles on the new springs and mains with out any smoke. then it sits for a while and the last 50 miles or so smoking bad. it doenst make much sence to me. i havent had been able to track down the local tool guy, any ideas where else i could find a leak down gauge?

 

[sophat34]

just thought i would let every one know, it was the valve seals. when the springs were changed the seals were not. the new springs took a smaller seal. the new seals fixed the problem. thanks for all the info and all your help
Ryan

 

[andymoraitis]

We're glad you're all fixed up and back to running order. Thanks for following up and posting what the cure was.

Andy