SeaCoupe

So, today I went to change my spark plugs. When I removed the cover to access the plugs, I was greeted with pools of oil in the spark plug area. All the plugs holes were FILLED with oil, and a bit was left pooled in the recess tray.

NEVER had this before. I checked the torque on the plugs, and all seemed fine. Not one plug was loose.

I'm nervous that I may have a cross threaded plug, that is allowing all that oil up, but if they are all covered, that means all of them are crossed..??

I'm definetly a shade tree mechanic, but I'm way better than cross threading four plugs!

I'm using Iridium Plugs, On the off hand, I'm wondering if the oil isn't getting pushed up through the threads, how in the world is it getting up there!

Any thoughts?

I'm going to look further into this tomorrow when I have more time.

E

mleskovar

What did the plugs look like? Any gunk/residue from oil fouling? You're thinking it's coming up from the threads but maybe not.

SeaCoupe

Thanks for looking into this.

I didn't pull the plugs, because I stepped back and thought, if I pull the plug, and the threads are toast, I'm not going to get another plug in there.

In addtion, I can use a brake bleeder with a tube to evacuate the chambers, so that I can read the plug.

Reason I was going to change the plugs, is I'm getting some minor cold start issues in the a.m. I figured I would change the plugs and have the injectors cleaned.

E

splinter

E,
Whoa, I hope it's nothing major. It might be the spark plug shaft seals...

SeaCoupe

Ahhh, now this is making sense!!!!!

I had no idea I had Spark Plug seals. I have a high mileage engine. Makes sense that those guys would be toast.

I didn't see a P/N for them.

(Ok, I'm going to be a bit dramatic here...) I knew in my heart of hearts, there was no way I cross threaded four plugs. Hey, maybe one, because I tend to gin it up around tools. Plus, I was able to apply torque to all four. So I was stepping back and saying, WTF!

Funny thing is, I was actually going to call you, to ask your opine. I just felt bad about disrupting the Sunday night.

No worries, my trusty steed, Spiagga shall take me to my damsel this eve. I'm just shocked I'm getting a spark in to the plug through that pool of oil.

E

splinter

MBW is part of my pre-dinner routine, kinda like a refreshing beverage. Puts me in the right frame of mind.

The seals are 111 016 07 21. Cover gasket has been superceded three times; 111 016 12 21 is the most recent version. Good luck bro.

johnand

E, my Sentra had the same issue at one point, and I freaked out when I saw it too. It has a very simular design to your M111 (As far as valve cover and spark plug seals). Just take the valve cover off, pry out the seals, tap in new ones, replace valve cover gasket, reinstall cover, and you are set

C230 Sport Coup

Another fun repair to look forward to!
E, you're always carving new territory!

splinter

Drove past your place the other day on the way home from a jobsite, only to see your SeaCoupe looking somewhat forlorn. Have you forsaken us for the Spiagga and those scantily clad women about town these days?

Dang, 80+ weather brings ‘em out, eh?!

Buellwinkle

You may want to check out the SLK (R170) forum over at benzworld since that's a very active forum and SLK230 has been using that motor since 1998. Only one person has done this, it appears to be highly uncommon.


http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170...ark+plug+seals

Mercury

I have 2005 C230, 60,000 miles on it.
I found a little bit engine oil on my one of the spark plugs, the one close to the front, right next to the engine oil cap.
Engine oil was on the whole spark plug (tip and body) and coil tube.
I am not sure if i have broken spark plug seal or i pour engine oil on it when i was changing my engine oil.
I changed new spark plug anyways, and will check it next week to see if there will be engine oil on it.

capt_paul

I had the same issue and I resolved it by replacing the sp[ark plug seals and valve cover seal. I no longer have oil leakage into spark plug recesses.

Mercury

Thanks for the reply capt paul, can you provide more detail about the repair?
What parts do i need and how do i do it?
Thanks in advance.

SeaCoupe

Okay, so I was removing some spark plug seals off the valve cover of my 2002 C230 Coupe.

In process of removing an old spark plug seal, I cracked the circle that holds the spark plug seal in place. It is not necessarily a load holding wall. But I have a crack that runs along circle.

So, can I JB weld and hope for the best? The inside of the valve cover sees synthetic oil and typical engine temps.

Any thoughts. I'm going to try for pics, but don't have a decent camera handy.

Update



So, I can either pull it up, and risk cracking into the valve cover. Or possible just put JB weld only on the crack. I don't forsee attempting to build up the circle again.

Yes, I'll be getting a new valve cover, but I'm in my warehouse near Compton, its getting late, and this is not the place to hang out.

My concern is that leaving it in place without anything would make the cracked piece eventually fall into the camshaft area. The car has a twin cam similar to the Fiats cup and tappet system.

Well, I did find that the way to get the spark plug seals out easilly was to simply heat them up....

Ed

SeaCoupe

Broke it clean off. Snapped off with a minimum, and I mean minimum of effort.

The valve cover seals to a rising tube for each spark plug. So, this could possible be a non issue. Well see.

Geez I feel silly. Now I can wrap this up and get outta dodge!

Ed

grundysrevenge

Last weekend I was changing the fuel filter in my 05 C230 and went to release the fuel pressure and noticed I had oil up past the tip of my spark plugs in the chambers. A few months back I had oil all over the place near the top of the engine and played with the oil cap and it seemed faulty and loose so I replaced it and haven't seen anything since until this. Could that have been the cause or do I have bigger problems on hand?

It seems even if the oil filter cap been faulty it would not produce this much oil but being a shade tree mechanic and new to the Benz, I have no idea... Help!

grundysrevenge

Last weekend I was changing the fuel filter in my 05 C230 and went to release the fuel pressure and noticed I had oil up past the tip of my spark plugs in the chambers. A few months back I had oil all over the place near the top of the engine and played with the oil cap and it seemed faulty and loose so I replaced it and haven't seen anything since until this. Could that have been the cause or do I have bigger problems on hand?

It seems even if the oil filter cap been faulty it would not produce this much oil but being a shade tree mechanic and new to the Benz, I have no idea... Help!

LILBENZ230

You searched and posted this in the original "oil in the spark plug chambers" thread. There was no sense in making a duplicate thread.

It is not uncommon to see this on M271s and it could be from the oil spill you mentioned.

Glyn M Ruck

It's likely the cambox cover gasket & plug rubber seals that are leaking. You can buy the gasket & 4 round seals as a kit & fit - simple DIY.

BCartage

Problem: Misfiring on 2005 C230 Kompressor 4 CYL
ODB Check - Cylinder 1 code - assumed coil
Removed coil and seen this picture
Cleaned it
Checked 2, same issue
Removed both plugs and checked plugs (normal wear)
Cleaned both Coil Packs and removed all oil/water
Replaced
No error code ( was grounding out via the oil/water
will watch to see how fast and far they fill for a while
next step to replace cover gaskets
Oh fun.....

Rondloper

I had the very same problem today !!! Tappit cover gasket and port seals replaced - end of troubles. Hope you also win

SeaCoupe

How funny, something that happened 7 years ago is on the front page. Seals were my issue. Sad frowny face here.... You can easily go to a Euro pick and pull and find parts for the M111 motors now.

Sychomikey

Hey guys, I have an 04 C240 and found oil in all of the spark plug wells for cylinders 1-3. Any ideas?

Paul C200K

A similar thing has just happened to me. Car started misfiring (although fixed itself after switching off and on most times) so took it in to my local MB dealership to reset the engine management light. They told me it was cylinder number 1 that was misfiring. I had a look and my coil looked exactly as yours does in your picture, except mine was full of water, no oil. It's actually incredible that for most of the time my car still worked. This is the limit of my mechanical skills so I dried it out and stopped here. Is it a head gasket with a leaking seal that's allowed this? Will this need a new head gasket?