» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 06-01-2024 03:04 PM 7 Replies, 409,841 Views | | My 318ti build 05-21-2024 04:48 PM 05-28-2024 06:42 PM 1 Replies, 3,632 Views | | OMG!OMG! 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 05-28-2024 08:53 AM 0 Replies, 1,446 Views | | | | | 03-04-2009, 10:56 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 737 | Oil on spark plugs So when I got my car almost a year ago, I knew the valve cover gasket was leaking a little bit and would need replacing. Went to change my plugs today as the car has had a rough idle for a minute or so after starting up and the CEL has been coming on and going off intermitently the last month or so. Numbering the cylinders 1-4 starting at the front, plug 1 had some oil on the threads but none on the insulator or electrode, plug 2 had oil on the insulator, threads and electrode, plugs 3 & 4 were totally clean. Was going to pick up the parts for the valve cover gasket job, but was reading today that if there's oil on the electrode (and/or threads) it's probably something else. The car hasn't looked or smelled like it was burning oil (until the first minute or so it ran after putting in the new plugs, then it cleared up). Should I wait a month or so, pull the plugs and see how they look? Thoughts on what else it could be? Justin P.S. Today is my 1 year anniversary here. Love you guys (and gals). :-) | | | 03-05-2009, 12:16 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | Justin happy anniversary!!! go have some great scotch tonight! the oil is probably leaking from the gasket rings around the spark plugs. the oil on the threads was most likely from the ring when you pulled it... make sure you replace the rings when you replace the gasket... __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 03-05-2009, 12:23 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 | a little oil on the plugs are totally normal.... when your chamber starts filling up with oil, time to change the gaskets... in the meantime, don't panic. __________________ 11/97 Base 328Ti | | | 03-05-2009, 02:27 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 737 | Somebody remembered I'm a scotch drinker. Great scotch will be had at the end of the month ( Whiskey Fest Chicago). I was thinking/hoping that maybe the oil had just worked it's way past the gasket, and somehow worked its way down onto the threads, and electrode for plug 2. The fact that the car doesn't seem to burn oil hopefully confirms this. I'll pull the plugs at the end of the month and check them. And the valve cover gasket won't be done until we consistently have some nice weather around here, especially on my days off. That probably won't be for another month or two. Too many ups and downs with the temperature and possibility for snow right now to do it. Justin | | | 06-07-2010, 12:43 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 1,906 | Searching is awesome!! I too had oil in the spark plugs. Cylinders 2 and 3 are the worst. I couldn't even see the plugs after removing the insulator. The car was not burning any oil prior to me changing the plugs, but after I started the car after changing them it burned all the oil that dumped into the cylinder. The car has a hell of alot better throtle responce now. What do I need to change to fix this problem? Vavle cover gasket and what other seals? Does anyone know of a DIY on the gaskets? I have never taken a valve cover off but I deffinately want to do this myself!! Edit: I bought some E3 spark plugs with diamondfire technology instead of bosch or nkg.....Anyone tried the E3's yet?? __________________ Last edited by Platanos; 06-07-2010 at 12:47 AM. | | | 06-07-2010, 12:50 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 | Justin I really wouldn't worry about it being something else. I too had the same thing back when I had the Ti. All you need to do is change the valve cover and the O rings. I believe there is a write up with everything you will need to change. | | | 06-07-2010, 12:53 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 1,906 | Thanks!! I have an M42, it shouldn't be too different right? __________________ | | | 06-07-2010, 12:57 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 3,212 | I don't think so. The only thing would prolly be the part numbers. | | | 06-07-2010, 01:00 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Auburn, Alabama Posts: 206 | I had that same problem too. I put a new valve cover gasket and spark plug ring gaskets in and it fixed it. Oh, btw, DO NOT overtighten those bolts on the valve cover. I spun 3 bolts and had to put helicoils in all of them. Wasn't too happy. It's $11 per bolt and a PITA to put in those helicoils. | | | 06-07-2010, 02:16 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: MD/PA/DC Posts: 1,629 | I just did this myself. It's not hard to do, I spent about an hour and a half swapping it. Pretty expensive valve cover replacement though. Think it was about 65 bucks for the gasket set- lots of parts. __________________ No more ti. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |