Broken spark plug :(

Fr0dders · 3 Oct 2010 at 19:53

can you get at the sump cover easily to check and see if its in there ?

Running a magnet in it should bring it up i think ?

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2010 at 19:54

How would it end up in the sump?

Janesy B · 3 Oct 2010 at 19:56

Firestar_3x said:
How would it end up in the sump?

Magic.

Princey · 3 Oct 2010 at 19:56

jon.bda said:
If those pics are in order, it looks like they forgot to tighten up #2 and spilled water into #3???

Quote possible as 2 and 3 where finger tight. I've email Throney anyway so I'll see what they say. How would it get into the sump though? I'd thought the only way for it to go is out the exhaust valves.

EDIT: beaten

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2010 at 19:58

Janesy B said:
Magic.

Or engine gnomes its hard to call.

The OP might want to check the coolant expansion tank whilst he's at it could be in that...

Janesy B · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:13

Firestar_3x said:
Or engine gnomes its hard to call.

The OP might want to check the coolant expansion tank whilst he's at it could be in that...

Best check the fuel tank, might affect the fuel feed when the tank gets low and picks up the rubbish from the bottom

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:15

Good thinking i hate the rusted metal and gravel that gathers at the bottom of my plastic fuel tank.

Princey · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:16

It's ok Bryan I found it in my shoe.

iaind · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:18

If it was going to cause any damage rather than be spat out, it would have done it already. Should be ok

Princey · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:19

iaind said:
If it was going to cause any damage rather than be spat out, it would have done it already. Should be ok

Well I don't know what damage there is if anyway as the engine was shut off within 10 seconds of the EML light coming on.

Lashout_UK · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:21

By which point the piston in the cylinder has already pounded the tip of the sparkplug into the valves, top of the head and piston crown a meaningful (and very approximate) 125 times, then spat the rememants (if any) through the turbocharger

Princey · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:22

So I can expect a hefty bill then if TMS say no?

Firestar_3x · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:22

Depends it could have done several nasty things whist moving around in the bore, i'd be in several minds as to what i want to do in this situation, half of me would want to remove the head and check for damage, the other half would stick some new plugs in and see what happened.

1) Could have marked the bore, leading to potential compression / oil burning / usage issue.

2) Could have damaged a valve / valve seat.

3) Could have damaged the turbo exhaust side compressor when it got spat out.

4) Could be lodged in the bottom of an exhaust silencer.

5) longshot could block your oil pickup in the sump.......

Moeks · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:25

Princey said:
You all know the situation so I'll create a new thread when it's all sorted.

I don't, but then it's also probably none of my business. Then again we all post our business on the internet, so I guess it doesn't matter

Wicksta · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:26

Firestar_3x said:
1) Could have marked the bore, leading to potential compression / oil burning / usage issue.

That's ok, I think he has a fuel card he can buy oil with.

hillbilly2 · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:27

You could get someone to have a look down the plug hole with a borescope.TMS may have one.

Princey · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:28

hillbilly2 said:
You could get someone to have a look down the plug hole with a borescope.TMS may have one.

It's getting it there though. I don't want to drive it and TMS is 170 miles way.

Dandle · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:38

Out of interest are they NGK Iridium IX's? The last plug looks like it may have been running lean which would increase combustion temps(maybe melting the plug tip). Might be worth firing of an email to the plug manufacturer.

AmDaMan · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:45

The tip has probably already left the chamber through the exhaust valve..

That bottom pic doesn't look right though, looks like the plug has overheated as Dandle says. I'd get the timing double checked.

Maz · 3 Oct 2010 at 20:46

Just to give you an idea, my Scoob spat half of a Valve head out without damaging any pistons, head or turbo.

And the the head of the valve was the size of a 10p piece.

I think the fact the car continued to run after this happened would lead me to think if any damage was to be done it's prob been done - so I'd stick a new set of plugs in and see if it misfires and if the turbo boosts.