Mid-repair now - HELP

Freemorfeem · 10-22-2021, 07:21 PM

Hi y’all,

I’m a noob doing my first valve cover gasket and plugs & coils.

I spotted an oil leak around plug 4 last week (had lost QT of oil in a month).

As I loosened the first three torx bolts on the VC plug 4 got totally submerged in oil.

I’m unsure of what to do next. VC is off. I’ll do the gasket now. But what’s the best path forward with this plug?

PHOTO ATTACHED.

Huge thanks y’all!!!

whyzee125 · 10-22-2021, 07:46 PM

Plan A) Get a little syringe and try to empty it out as much as you can or you could even try to sop it up with a few little pieces of a shop towel.

Plan B) use a wet dry shop vac to suck it up

Plan C) disconnect the fuel pump fuse and crank it over a few times with the plug removed and it’ll shoot the majority of it out

IllSic_Design · 10-22-2021, 07:52 PM

I was going to say to do pretty much all three of what you said before you posted haha

E93Dude · 10-22-2021, 08:53 PM

That's an epic amount of oil in your spark plug well, and it is really clear. Did you do an oil change shortly before the VCG job? Oil turns amber or darker pretty soon after being introduced to the engine.

Freemorfeem · 10-22-2021, 08:58 PM

Ok Plan A worked!

Would it be bad if Injad removed the plug and had let the oil drain down? Just curious.

Freemorfeem · 10-22-2021, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E93Dude

That's an epic amount of oil in your spark plug well, and it is really clear. Did you do an oil change shortly before the VCG job? Oil turns amber or darker pretty soon after being introduced to the engine.

Strange right! Two weeks ago I topped off exactly one quart. I used the green liquimolly. I comes with a black light so you can find leaks more easily.

But I’ve not done a full oil change as that was done a couple months ago when I bought it.

The rest of the oil on the valves is dark. So odd!

Freemorfeem · 10-22-2021, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyzee125

Plan A) Get a little syringe and try to empty it out as much as you can or you could even try to sop it up with a few little pieces of a shop towel.

Plan B) use a wet dry shop vac to suck it up

Plan C) disconnect the fuel pump fuse and crank it over a few times with the plug removed and it’ll shoot the majority of it out

Even though Plan A worked I am changing plugs now too. So if there’s oil on the other side too then I’ll try Plan C.

IllSic_Design · 10-22-2021, 09:03 PM

a little bit of oil falling into the plug hole wouldn't hurt anything. don't want a bunch though

charlie_m · 10-23-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freemorfeem

Ok Plan A worked!

Would it be bad if Injad removed the plug and had let the oil drain down? Just curious.

Danger would be hydrolocking and probably engine damage, if you just drained it into the cylidner and put the plug back in. Best not to do that.

Freemorfeem · 10-23-2021, 10:58 PM

Everything was a huge success. Even got some nice torque gains with the new NGK plugs and Delphi coils. We’ll see how the VCG holds up over time. She’s running damn smooth right now.

Thanks for the help y’all.

owdi · 10-24-2021, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freemorfeem

Ok Plan A worked!

Would it be bad if Injad removed the plug and had let the oil drain down? Just curious.

This could be bad.

Spark plugs torque spec is for clean threads. If you think to the same spec on oiled threads you will over-torque and risk stripping the threads, which would really suck.

Over time, the oil in the spark plug threads will burn off leaving carbon, which could cause the plug to seize.

You also foul the cat. As soon as you turn over your engine, that oil gets sucked into the exhaust and soaks your cold catalytic converter. It then burns off once the cat heats up, and should be ok since it's not that much oil, but still not great.

Just suck it out with a syringe and hose or soak it up with shop towels.

10-22-2021, 07:21 PM	#1
Freemorfeem 2010 e90 335i 6MT, RWD, Msport 24 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2010 335i RWD, 6MT, Msport Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Mid-repair now - HELP - spark plug submerged. Hi y’all, I’m a noob doing my first valve cover gasket and plugs & coils. I spotted an oil leak around plug 4 last week (had lost QT of oil in a month). As I loosened the first three torx bolts on the VC plug 4 got totally submerged in oil. I’m unsure of what to do next. VC is off. I’ll do the gasket now. But what’s the best path forward with this plug? PHOTO ATTACHED. Huge thanks y’all!!! Attached Images __________________ 2010 e90 335i 6MT, RWD, Msport + Synapse Chargepipe w/BOV + AFE DC Intake + Catless DP's + ST XTA Coilovers + M3 front control arms + Index 12’s + VRSF FMIC + RB PCV + Phx Racing OCC + MHD tune Stg 1+ v.10.
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10-22-2021, 07:46 PM	#2
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1679 Rep 3,644 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	Plan A) Get a little syringe and try to empty it out as much as you can or you could even try to sop it up with a few little pieces of a shop towel. Plan B) use a wet dry shop vac to suck it up Plan C) disconnect the fuel pump fuse and crank it over a few times with the plug removed and it’ll shoot the majority of it out
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10-22-2021, 07:52 PM	#3
IllSic_Design Colonel 2124 Rep 2,758 Posts Drives: 09 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	I was going to say to do pretty much all three of what you said before you posted haha
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10-22-2021, 08:53 PM	#4
E93Dude Lieutenant 369 Rep 423 Posts Drives: 2007 E93 MT6 Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: The Old Dominion iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E93 [0.00]	That's an epic amount of oil in your spark plug well, and it is really clear. Did you do an oil change shortly before the VCG job? Oil turns amber or darker pretty soon after being introduced to the engine. __________________ BMW: Doing Amazing(ly cheap) Things With Plastic (crap) Since the E90...
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10-22-2021, 08:58 PM	#5
Freemorfeem 2010 e90 335i 6MT, RWD, Msport 24 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2010 335i RWD, 6MT, Msport Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Ok Plan A worked! Would it be bad if Injad removed the plug and had let the oil drain down? Just curious.
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10-22-2021, 09:03 PM	#8
IllSic_Design Colonel 2124 Rep 2,758 Posts Drives: 09 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	a little bit of oil falling into the plug hole wouldn't hurt anything. don't want a bunch though
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10-23-2021, 10:58 PM	#10
Freemorfeem 2010 e90 335i 6MT, RWD, Msport 24 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2010 335i RWD, 6MT, Msport Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Everything was a huge success. Even got some nice torque gains with the new NGK plugs and Delphi coils. We’ll see how the VCG holds up over time. She’s running damn smooth right now. Thanks for the help y’all.
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