oil on #6 spark plug

[pwagon717]

I am about to buy this 1991 325is from a friend. He says that the #6 spark plug is fouling out due to oil on the part that gets spark. I did a search on both here and bimmerforums. Only thing came up with was a valve cover gasket leak. I want to be sure, before buying this and having to do a valve job or a full rebuild. The car had a full rebuild 2-3 years ago. Any help or comments would be great.

[ubernasty]

what shape is the rest of the car in.. if its nice and already has tasteful mods then buy it and just get a used motor or rebuilt head.

[pwagon717]

The car is perfect. He bought the car $7,500 2 years back. Wants $4k in the condition it is in now, which is still flawless.

[Atreus]

could be the VC gasket. have you even checked it out yet? bring a spark plug.. just one good one, lol. see how it runs...

[nando]

how exactly do you guys think a VC leak is going to get into the combustion chamber and foul a spark plug?

[pwagon717]

^^lol. You had me laughing Nando. What you think it is, Mr. Moderator?

[slo325i]

Sounds like worn piston ring. Check the compression of that motor before you spend the money. For $4k you should/could get a pretty nice E30. Decent body shape is all well and good but replacing the motor for a fully rebuilt one could cost good money/headaches.

[nando]

I don't know, but 3 seconds of neurons firing in my little brain tells me it's impossible for a VC gasket leak to foul a spark plug. ;)

try asking jlevie

[QUKBMER]

It is piston rings or valve stem seal/valve guide.Pull one of the other spark plugs and if they look pretty new and the #6 is crap,consider valve job or motor rebuild my friend.:???:

[pwagon717]

I don't know, but 3 seconds of neurons firing in my little brain tells me it's impossible for a VC gasket leak to foul a spark plug. ;)

try asking jlevie

Yea he replied to me on bimmerforums.

[LannieDuncan3]

i can tell you right now its not the vc gasket. if it was that it would be leaking on to the ground not into the dam combustion chamber. it very unlikely only one ring is going to were out so thats not even a question. its eather the valve seal or the oil pick up tube o ring is busted. mine is doing the same thing in the #5 cylinder. i just havent taken the time to fix it

[gearheadE30]

fwiw check the oil level too. I made the mistake of filling my car on a hill and didn't realize it after installing the turbo, and apparently I was on an equivalent hill when I checked again after 10 minutes of driving. Eventually fouled #1, and I mistook the blue smoke and running on 3 cyliners for a blown HG. Turned out to have a bout a quarter quart over full. Hasn't done it since draining out some oil.

[payney8]

Yeah, listen to nando and gearhead. Check oil level as he could be over filling it or not inserting the dipstick all the way. Simple mistake that can cause excessive crank splash. Otherwise id be looking at getting a compression test and checking the valve stem seals.

[Adrian_Visser]

Valve guide or valve stem seal. A leakdown/ compression test may or may not show any indication of this, oil burning on the spark plug is kind of a dead giveaway I would say. A head rebuild isn't that expensive and is a good bargaining tool when buying the car, talk him down a bit on it if the rest of the car is in good shape.

[pilotskillse30]

would valve stem seal or guide cause excessive oil burn cause I just got home from Afghanistan and my car is burning like a quart a week, under acceleration I put out smoke. I just started having a hesitation in acceleration above 4000rpms, so I pulled the spark plug in piston #1 and my spark plug looked like it was growing alligator skin from all the oil burn up, two looked similar haven't removed the others to see, will get back to work on it...just wanted to see if you guys have an answer...OH PWAGAON i'm back in town maybe you can help me out, mail me your number cause I have a new phone and I don't have it.