What happens if spark plugs get wet

As the engine's moving parts interact, they can generate huge amounts of energy that could be very harmful to the engine and the surrounding components. Oil is stored in a certain pan, and whenever the engine starts, it pulls a certain amount of oil to lubricate it, and once the engine is turned off, this oil goes back to the pan and so on. Both systems are not supposed to interact with each other, and they have their tubes and path lines to go through with out messing up with each other.

However, overtime of use, there are situations where oil makes its way out of the designated tubes and reaches the spark plugs. As a rule of thumb, dealing with situations where the spark plugs are soaked with oil should be taken care of immediately.

The problem is beyond serious, and it can introduce significant damages to several internal components. Based on what we indicated before, oil should not typically go anywhere close to the spark plugs. However, there are some reasons behind why your spark plugs are wet with oil, including :. If you look on top of your engine, you'll notice a metal valve responsible for sealing the engine and never allowing the oil from reaching any internal components.

The valve is not directly placed on top of the engine because there is what's referred to as the gasket, responsible for completely sealing the engine and preventing any oil from getting inside. Over time of use, these gaskets can become very brittle and get damaged due to the extreme temperature coming from the engine.

Thus, it is not surprising to deal with oil leaks into the engine because of a bad head gasket. It is very important to know that a leaking head gasket is replaced immediately to prevent major damages to the engine. When the O-ring goes bad in a similar fashion, oil can make its way to the spark plug. This O-ring is usually located at the bottom of the spark plug, which means that oil can get to the spark plugs from the O-ring through the engine.

As we indicated before regarding the gasket valve come about O-ring is a serious problem. It should be treated immediately to avoid complications that might cost you thousands of dollars down the road. There are some rings responsible for scraping any excess oil from the cylinder on the top and the bottom of the Pistons of your engine and preventing it from reaching the combustion chambers.

These rings are expected to fail over time, and once they fail, you might deal with oil soaking the spark plugs and affecting their performance. Interestingly, when these compression rings go bad, you will notice additional clear symptoms that can provide you a confirmation regarding the root problem. In older vehicle engines, worn piston rings or excessive cylinder wear often lead to wet fouling, states Mopar Magazine.

This could result in the release of excess oil or gasoline into the engine compartment, which could prevent a spark from forming during an ignition attempt. Wet-fouled spark plugs can be cleaned and re-installed to work effectively.

Worn Piston Rings. Created with Sketch. We recommend STP Professional Petrol Injector Cleaner is added to the fuel tank before taken for a 10 minute drive to work its way through the fuel system. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search.

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Worn and eroded electrodes are symptoms of a spark plug that is past its prime. The plug has been in the engine too long and needs to be replaced. If the electrodes are broken off or flattened, it is likely that the wrong spark plugs are installed. A spark plug that is too long can cause extensive damage to your engine while a short spark plug can cause poor gas mileage and spark plug fouling. If you have determined that you can reinstall the spark plug or are installing a new one, follow these instructions.

You can then continue to examine your spark plugs, one at a time. If your spark plugs need replacing, you can tackle it yourself or if you feel you need further assistance, contact your trusted mechanic. Learn more about quality ignition parts , find your car part , or find where to buy your auto part today. The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of seeking professional advice from a certified technician or mechanic.

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