Technical Question

[Jonj1]

Hi,

Due to exhausting most diagnosis and needing to think outside the box, I have what we think is a microcrack in the spark plug well wall that is causing oil over time to slowly fill the spark plug well. It is not the gasket.

Are there any mechanics or people that know there stuff aware of anything like a chalk maybe that will stick to the wall of a spark plug well? My goal is to put a ring around the spark plug well of chalk or whatever about half way down and then can see if it is disturbed by oil running down from higher up.

Now normal chalk will just fall off so looking for something that would work, doesn't have to be chalk can be anything, just something that you could see whether oil had run over it. And when I say oil I am talking about the smallest amount that in normal use you wouldn't see. Because the well is so small I can't get anything else in there and doing this from home don't have the money to pay penetration or magnetic powders etc so this is my next best option.

Any help appreciated

[Scrump]

A tube made from rolled paper?

[Richard-D]

There is a product for exactly this purpose. You need the 'developer' can from this kit.

https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/lubricants-and-chemica...

[Jonj1]

Thanks for the replies.

Didn't realise the penetrant kit was that cheap to be honest.

[Richard-D]

Me neither. It's something I've used at work but never at home. At that price it's worth just buying a kit. Sounds like it's something you have used too from your response.

[stevieturbo]

even talcum powder

[Richard-D]

That's effectively what the developer part of the linked kit is. The main difference is the aerosol allows it to be easily applied to a surface.

[Jonj1]

Yep its the smooth surface thats the issue and it being vertical you need something that will stick to it as talcum powder or chalk just falls off

[stevieturbo]

Use isopon dust, it sticks to fking everything !

[E-bmw]

Rather than a crack it is at least as likely to be the gasket round the plug into the rocker cover.

[Jonj1]

No its not that mate, I don't have a gasket, the top of my engine the cam cover is the cam carrier, its been sealed twice now with brand new spark plug seals and anaerobic sealant at the garage. The oil is getting in but the sealant which you can see on the inside has not been disturbed

[spyder dryver]

Batiste Dry shampoo is basically talc in an aerosol.

[E-bmw]

What car/engine is it?

[Jonj1]

Mk2 Focus ST