Think I may have a problem - Any thoughts?

Newbie Joined: Sep 22, 2011 Posts: 13

Okay, I'm not the most technically minded and having recently picked up my '98 2.8 V6, it's developed a bit of a misfire under acceleration and having removed the engine cover and found that the crak case breather is shot, started to do a bit more investigation, you know - the kind of stuff you really should do before you buy!

Took the cover off the o/s bank of cylinders to check the plugs and no.1 is completely clean, no.2 is soaked in oil (as in the chamber appears to be full of it) and no.3 is somewhere between the two.

Haven't checked the n/s bank yet.

This can't normal surely? What would this point to?

Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 11:51 pm

cam cover gasket - the inner gasket protects the plugs

Newbie Joined: Sep 22, 2011 Posts: 13

Thanks, I'd arrived at this conclusion myself after further research.

How driveable is the car in this condition? or more accurately how much risk is there to the car by driving it in this condition?

Would you say it was an easy fix and am I likely to find further leaks afterwards? (assuming I replace the PCV and the gaskets)

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:35 pm

not sure how competent you are but on a scale of 1-5, I'd say it's about 3-3.5 with 5 being the most difficult. Probably about 3 hrs max if you take your time.

That side is probably more challenging than the nearside as there's more to move out of the way.

clean everything up and fit new plugs. Torque on the cover is critical or it will leak again.

you can drive it as it is but it really needs fixed quite quickly

Newbie Joined: Sep 22, 2011 Posts: 13

Thanks Mike, I'm not the most mechanically experienced, but I'm quite technically minded. I've got an ex-mechanic that works for me though, so I might well drag him over to my place to do it for me.