Oil in spark plug chambers.. help!!

gardenclaw · Post by **gardenclaw** » March 13th, 2006, 2:17 pm

Hello everyone as i am new to these forums after recently buying an mx-3. RIght went to visit some friends recently and on the was home Got a loss of power and a change in the exhust note on the car. It is a 1995 V6 mx-3. After getting home i removed a spark plug to find oil all over it and in the chamber. It has also happened to the spark plug opposite so the problem is with the two plugs on the left hand side of the engine. I haven't been able to source any for of technical manual for the car yet so I hav some questions...
1) does anybody know of a haynes manual or something similar which contains information for the v6 engine in the mx-3?
2) Anybody any suggestions as to what the problem could be ( i'm guessing the gasket seals have gone and are leaking oil into the plugs and thats stopping them from firing, hence the loss of power) .... any help would be greatly appreciated... many thanks.. Dave.

ccreech · Post by **ccreech** » March 13th, 2006, 2:53 pm

You have a leaking valve cover gasket. It is a simple fix for the front valve cover. The rear is a good bit more involved as you have to remove the intake.

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » March 13th, 2006, 2:55 pm

ur valve cover gasket(s) are more than likely shot i suggest replacing them. there isnt a haynes manual for our car but chitons has a manual also on the home page of mx-3.com there is an online shop manual of the actual pages from the chiltons take a look at it. also congratz with ur new purchase!

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » March 13th, 2006, 2:55 pm

ccreech wrote:You have a leaking valve cover gasket. It is a simple fix for the front valve cover. The rear is a good bit more involved as you have to remove the intake.

ah u beat me to it lol

ccreech · Post by **ccreech** » March 13th, 2006, 3:01 pm

I'm quick like a Jack Rabbit

gardenclaw · Post by **gardenclaw** » March 13th, 2006, 4:44 pm

Thanks for the swift responses .... Right seems like it's going to be a nice messy job then as one spark plug is affected from each side.... Also found someone locally who seems to know their stuff has offered to lend a helping hand so thats good. ..
Thanks again.. Dave.

Devlin · Post by **Devlin** » March 13th, 2006, 7:08 pm

as for the manual, on the main MX-3 page there's a link to the Online Shop manual on the left side.

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » March 13th, 2006, 7:26 pm

its your vave cover gasket (hey better late than never right?

)

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » March 13th, 2006, 10:59 pm

edited

Drewation · Post by **Drewation** » March 13th, 2006, 11:35 pm

fieromx3 wrote:
Deimos wrote:as for the manual, on the main MX-3 page there's a link to the Online Shop manual on the left side.

there isnt a haynes manual for our car but chitons has a manual also on the home page of mx-3.com there is an online shop manual of the actual pages from the chiltons take a look at it

oviously he read the title knew that we had an online manual and rushed down and posted without reading it first, im sure he realized his mistake after, also repition doesnt hurt no need to point it out

fieromx3 · Post by **fieromx3** » March 13th, 2006, 11:41 pm

yea i didnt have to srry...

petekav · Post by **petekav** » March 19th, 2006, 6:17 pm

I have a similar problem but, thankfully, it hasn't got to the stage of sapping power!

Some of the plug holes are filled with oil, and there is also some oil coming out around the edges of the rocker cover.
When I got the car serviced a few months ago the mechanic said that he had tightened the bolts, and that may fix it, but if not then the gaskets will need replacing.

My car doesn't use too much oil, and the amount that it does I think is being evaporated off from these gasket leaks! Distinctly characterised by a hot oil smell when waiting at traffic lights.

Am I on the right track?

Pete