oil on spark plugs

[bilko0795]

Hi guys while i was driving home with my first S2 after about 6 hours driving the car started to surge forward and hold back on accelaration. It did this for the last 20 miles to the first hotel stop the petrol gauge showed 1/4 full was wondering iff it was **** in the lines. Having left the car over night i filled up and drove home the time was about 5 hours and no problems all the way home on checking the plugs i noticed that they were covred in oil one coil pack is new the other four are not and have the rubber ends missing there was no oil on the electrodes but they were a bit sooty they are also new was wondering iff the rocker gasket is leaking oil into the plug ports as there is oil leaking from the one corner of the rocker oh there were two plugs that were really loose any info would be useful.

cheers.

Ray.

[UrS4boy]

Oh boy. A Noob with all the classic issues just starting. (Sorry - we were all there once upon a time )

There is a known issue with the sparkplugs working themselves loose. They need to be checked periodically (tighten only, 22 ft lb, 30 Nm) (never back off and retorque, just torque).

The cam cover gasket gets old and brittle and will leak oil into the spark plug wells. That said, oil does not conduct electricity and I have seen the spark plug wells *completely* filled with engine oil and the car was running fine. Nevertheless, best if you replace it. You need item 17 in this diagram. Beware of the item 19 bolts that need to be removed as well to get the cam cover off the head. Good luck.

[bilko0795]

Thanks for that part is on order.