oil in spark plug well

[sce Thor]

I have a '02 Ranger 2.3 DOHC that has been running rough. The engine has been loping.

Engine code is P0171 Lean Bank one

Also has a code P0310 (think) misfire on cylinder one

I have checked the MAF -good, TPS - good, IAC - good, plug wires - good. Also replaced Ho2s - upstream sensor. Nothing working.

Replaced the Fuel regulator hose as well

Getting a rich burn and smell from the exhaust.

In the process of checking the wires and plugs the #3 plug was coated with oil. I mean dripping once out of the well. I looked down into the cylinder and saw nothing but oil. There was oil around the base of the plug prior to pulling the plug as well.

Thinking that this may be a bad valve seal leaking oil, and oil getting blown up past the spark plug.

Any ideas? I would have run out of patience awhile ago but this little truck has been very good to me. With 131k and this is the worst that has happened. I consider myself pretty lucky.

 

[modelageek]

I have a '02 Ranger 2.3 DOHC that has been running rough. The engine has been loping.

Engine code is P0171 Lean Bank one

Also has a code P0310 (think) misfire on cylinder one

I have checked the MAF -good, TPS - good, IAC - good, plug wires - good. Also replaced Ho2s - upstream sensor. Nothing working.

Replaced the Fuel regulator hose as well

Getting a rich burn and smell from the exhaust.

In the process of checking the wires and plugs the #3 plug was coated with oil. I mean dripping once out of the well. I looked down into the cylinder and saw nothing but oil. There was oil around the base of the plug prior to pulling the plug as well.

Thinking that this may be a bad valve seal leaking oil, and oil getting blown up past the spark plug.

Any ideas? I would have run out of patience awhile ago but this little truck has been very good to me. With 131k and this is the worst that has happened. I consider myself pretty lucky.

Get the code. There is no p0310.

I suspect the pcv valve or the plug on the intake manifold.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[sce Thor]

Sorry,

P0301

Cylinder one missfire

 

[adsm08]

If you have oil in the plug wells then you need valve cover gaskets. There are two small rings around the end plugs, and a larger rectangular unit around the middle two. They usually start to leak before the outer gasket.

The misfire is probably from oil in the plug well.


Pull the valve cover off, stuff some rags down the wells to soak up as much oil as possible, clean everything out really well, and blow the wells out with compressed air before removing the plugs (if you are going to replace them). Then replace the complete valve cover set, and any coil boots that have been severely contaminated.

Also, don't let the parts guys lie to you. You can get just the coil boots by themselves, for $10 or $20 a piece. You don't need to buy a whole coil.

 

[sce Thor]

Thank you, Going to give that a try this wekend as well as change the Plugs and wires.

Will post a reply on sunday night.