Seepage of oil into K series spark plug bore

[TomB]

Please dont scare me a week before the Novices day at Silverstone!

 

My car is a 1996 1.4K SS that I believe was built for track. The engine has been to Minister at some point & has engine seals from Minister on it.

The car is running fine as far as I can tell.

Mav & I discovered oil in No. 4 spark plug (1.4K SS) bore a few weeks ago. Worried a bit, mopped it up & deduced it was spilt oil tricking down the bore & decided to keep an eye on it.

 

Since then no oil has been spilt down the bore & the car has been driven on the road. Tonight, oil is back, although not as much as when 1st discovered. Removed plug & mopped it up.

 

The bore looks oil free down its length, so I deduce it must be coming from lower down the bore. Is a problem with the cylinder head gasket the most likely cause? How much should I worry, escpecially with novices day at silverstone next week.

 

I was going to take it to BSS Parts (Lotus restorers & Europa specialist near Preston) after Silverstone for a 12k service.

 

Please advise a nervous engine & track virgin.

 

PS - The car has not overheated while in my posession, oil consumption is not excessive, the coolant is clean & there is no gunge in the oil catch tank, symptoms I believe that are typical of a failed head gasket.

 

Edited by - TomB on 20 Feb 2003 21:42:15

 

Edited by - TomB on 20 Feb 2003 21:52:28

[mav]

Tom,

 

May be worth trying a new cam cover gasket 🤔

[TomB]

If the cam cover gasket was at fault, wouldnt there be evidence of oil tricking down the spark plug bore?

[CHRIS CLARK]

I'd go with Mav's suggestion. Not expensive to buy. Easy to fit. We seem to think that they are infinitely re-usable which they are not. If that is the original then suggest you get a new one. I have a couple here in Canterbury but not much use to you unless you're close!

 

A slight weep of hot (very thin) oil will hardly show trickling/misting down the side of the spark plug well, but will accumulate to give this effect. I don't think you have too much to worry about.

1400 SS is a bullet proof engine (as 'k's go!)

[TomB]

Is it a standard Rover bit, or does an uprated one exist somewhere?

 

I know you can get better cylinder head gaskets that the standard one from somewhere (was it Tweekies??).

 

What is the part number?

[oilyhands]

It cant be the head gasket.

 

It may be the cam cover gasket, or it could be the join between the cam ladder and the top of the head, these are prone to leakage, about 1cm away from the sparkplug bore is 60PSI of hot oil sealed by a fine layer of cam ladder gloop, one little mistake in its application and you will have a leak.

 

Go for the cam cover gasket, if that doesnt seal it then it *must* be the cam/ladder head interface, about 3 hours to put it right.

 

The stock cam cover gasket is good and can normally be re-used several times although I do an alternative, I also stock a better head gasket (which you dont need). its not a stonewall problem and unless is starts to gush (unlikely) then its just annoying rather than harmful.

 

Oily

 

Edited by - oilyhands on 20 Feb 2003 22:56:52

[TomB]

Cheers Oily, I had hoped you would reply positively.

 

I will get a new cam cover gasket. If I cant get one before Silverstone, I trust a slight seepage of oil from the top gasket wont grenade the engine.