What's going on in this spark plug hole?

[cferb]

Pulled out my spark plugs and there was a flaky white film around it, as well as in the spark plug hole



What can you tell me from that pic? Seems odd to me since it's outside of the hole. Doesn't look to pretty inside it either but that might be the flash or something.

Car is an '88 M3 if it makes a difference. The spark plug gaskets are/were leaking, maybe something related? Seems to run okay, but it's a project so it's kind of difficult to judge.

TIA :up:

[dnguyen1963]

My guess is aluminum oxide. A small leak of electrical charge from the spark plug can lead to the oxidation of the aluminum to give you that white flakes. Or just the dust from the heat shield.

[cferb]

Hmm, so what can I do about that? That would make sense, PO didn't have the screw on caps on the spark plugs :?

And how do I go about cleaning that hole out?

[AndrewBird]

Almost looks like the previous owner siliconed the spark plus in. The white is the silicone left behind. Would explain why they were leaking.

[dnguyen1963]

Hmm, so what can I do about that? That would make sense, PO didn't have the screw on caps on the spark plugs :?

And how do I go about cleaning that hole out?

Put the spark plug back in then use compressed air to blow it out.

[cferb]

Sweet I'll try it out, thanks

I don't think the PO was that Bad to the car, i doubt and hope it wasnt siliconed in.

[Aldrich]

HI all,According to me aluminium oxide is spark your plug A small leak of electrical charge from the spark plug can lead to the oxidation of the aluminum to give you that white flakes. Or just the dust from the heat shield.

[motorking]

plug residue

Pulled out my spark plugs and there was a flaky white film around it, as well as in the spark plug hole



What can you tell me from that pic? Seems odd to me since it's outside of the hole. Doesn't look to pretty inside it either but that might be the flash or something.

Car is an '88 M3 if it makes a difference. The spark plug gaskets are/were leaking, maybe something related? Seems to run okay, but it's a project so it's kind of difficult to judge.

TIA :up:

Good morning
I am the technical manager at Autolite Spark plugs. It looks as though the previous owner may have used silicone grease on the threads of the plugs. Use a shop vac and clean all that out as good as you can. Is is VITAL that spark plugs be properly torqued and tight. Outside of firing the fuel mixture, a spark plug must transfer heat from the plug tip to the cylinder head and cooling system. Without this heat transfer, you can have the car go into what is called pre-ignition and it will/could actually destroy the engine. There is a good explanation of this in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U90PMvy3PAY

[cferb]

HI all,According to me aluminium oxide is spark your plug A small leak of electrical charge from the spark plug can lead to the oxidation of the aluminum to give you that white flakes. Or just the dust from the heat shield.

No way man that's just crazy talk

Good morning
I am the technical manager at Autolite Spark plugs. It looks as though the previous owner may have used silicone grease on the threads of the plugs. Use a shop vac and clean all that out as good as you can. Is is VITAL that spark plugs be properly torqued and tight. Outside of firing the fuel mixture, a spark plug must transfer heat from the plug tip to the cylinder head and cooling system. Without this heat transfer, you can have the car go into what is called pre-ignition and it will/could actually destroy the engine. There is a good explanation of this in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U90PMvy3PAY

Not sure if bot...

But the white you're looking at is outside of the threads, the threads are deeper In that smaller circle past all the cracked stuff. Also this is only on one plug, so i doubt if the PO put anything on the threads.