Moys1.9 0 Posted March 12, 2006 Can anyone tell me what it could mean when newish plugs get blacker as you get closer to the dizzy? They're also covered in fuel. Car is a non starter after head gasket done (may be a botched job ). tried brand new plugs but still won't go. Another problem is oil is firing out of the sump gasket (also just been changed). Someone has adviced me to look for anohther engine. We'd got it going a couple of weeks ago for about ten mins by bumping it. However since then discovered timing was a couple of teeth out. Timings been corrected but still nothing. Whole ignition system is new except actual dizzy and ignition amp. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony 1,003 Posted March 13, 2006 Are the plugs black with soot or with oil? Have you done a compression check? Have you checked for a spark? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moys1.9 0 Posted March 14, 2006 The plugs are soot covered. doing a spark check tomorrow and I haven't got a compression tester. I read in another topic that they're about 15 quid but thought I'd try the other things first. Does the soot on the plugs suggest anything? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moys1.9 0 Posted March 14, 2006 Just spoke to someone who said that maybe my crank case breather could be blocked. What's a crank case breather and could this explain the oil from the sump? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonah 1 Posted March 14, 2006 TBH it sounds like the engine has been totally botched together, from this and your other posts. Plug colour doesn't mean much at all when the car hasn't even been running! You need to start with the basics - do you have compression, is there a reliable spark, is the ignition and cam timing at least roughly right. The crank case breather is the system of pipes going to the oil filler cap and the gauzes inside it, which let gases escape from the engine block. If they're blocked with gunk then the crank case will pressurise and encourage oil to leak from any seals it can find. But if it's literally "firing" out from a new sump gasket, then there must be a huge leak - so someone has buggered up the fitting of that too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moys1.9 0 Posted March 14, 2006 I would agree with jonah that its starting to look like botch. I'm trying all the cheap fix routes but I think I might be grasping at straws. I'm learning alot form all the things I've tinkered with but I think the problem is a little out of my range of ability. I actually drove the car to the garage to get the head gasket done, and it was running ok apart from leaving oil so really it should have at least been running! Got cash flow probs at the moment what with getting a new house so I hate to admit it but the cars going to have to go on the back burner for a while . I have a good mate whose dad is gonna put the car in his garage and give it some time and attention (not to mention dryness) and have a really good look at it. Borrowing a Nissan 100nx for the time being. I know he's got a compression tester aswell. There are other problems like burnt wires here and there, things which haven't even been zip tied and oil everywhere. Nightmare Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
