Best Way To Seal Pinhole Erm Hole In Head?

[Jonj1]

After much searching we found the issue with why my spark plug well was slowing fill up with oil, there is a pinsized hole in the spark plug well wall. So small that you can't see it with the naked eye, well until revving the engine to high rpm and you can just see some oil dribble through it. Its obviously very low pressure

Taking the head off is not going to be possible, mainly because of cost etc and have been told the oil channel is inaccessible from behind anyway.

So does anyone have any real experience with aluminium heads? Can the hole by patched with something? If so what is best to use? Like I said its literally pin hole size. Looking for something strong that will last.

Thank you

[E-bmw]

If it is that small I personally wouldn't bother, a bit of oil in the "plug wells" is the norm for many bmw heads on anything from the 90's on.

If you REALLY feel the need, go on ebay & look for high temperature silicone sealant & clean the whole area with a suitable solvent then get as much over the area as you can, while trying to push it into the hole with finger pressure.

[Jonj1]

The wells slowly fill up with oil to the point of being 3 quarters full, I can't believe thats going to be good for the plug or lead.

Any recommendations or any silicone ?

[GreenV8S]

There is a product called 'Oyltite Stik' which is designed to provide a temporary fix for that sort of leak.

[Chris32345]

Quick steel if you have enough space around the plug and lead area
Obviously no good I'd a plug on cool type

[Jonj1]

GreenV8S said:

There is a product called 'Oyltite Stik' which is designed to provide a temporary fix for that sort of leak.

Thanks will take a look into that!

[Jonj1]

Yes plenty of room around the plug, thankfully

[Evoluzione]

If you can get access then peening it over with a nail punch might work, i'd try that first. As there is oil actually in the hole it's going to be difficult to get anything to stick, but Oyltite could be your best bet.
Rough the area up with emery and degrease it with paint thinners etc no matter what you use, good prep is the key to success.

[RobXjcoupe]

Evoluzione said:

If you can get access then peening it over with a nail punch might work, i'd try that first. As there is oil actually in the hole it's going to be difficult to get anything to stick, but Oyltite could be your best bet.
Rough the area up with emery and degrease it with paint thinners etc no matter what you use, good prep is the key to success.

As above thoroughly prep the area, use a two part epoxy putty to push into the hole and then peen it over before it sets. Should do the trick nicely

[Jonj1]

Many thanks for the reply, hopefully will get this sorted once and for all

[stevieturbo]

without any exact detail of where it is...hard to recommend.

But drilling and tapping for a plug would be solid.

[Jonj1]

Its in the wall about half way down of a spark plug well in a Mk2 Focus ST engine.

[stevieturbo]

So either drill and tap from that side, or the oil side and fit a plug in it.

Either that or some sort of epoxy and hope.

[Jonj1]

I was more thinking hope and prayer, its about what I can afford

[E-bmw]

Jonj1 said:

The wells slowly fill up with oil to the point of being 3 quarters full, I can't believe thats going to be good for the plug or lead.

Any recommendations or any silicone ?

It is not an issue for the plug or lead as oil is an insulator in general.

Just search in ebay for 2high temperature silicone" & choose a brand you have heard of, should only be a few quid for a small tube of grey.

[stevieturbo]

Jonj1 said:

I was more thinking hope and prayer, its about what I can afford

Shove a tampon down the hole them. That should soak up a fair bit, just change every month

[Arnie Cunningham]

My Triumph Daytona disagreed with this, although I take your point that oil is often used in transformers and such like so should be a decent insulator.

Annually, I had to soak up the oil around the plug on no 3 cylinder or else it misfired. Of course, I got round the changing the gasket and curing it properly eventually.

E-bmw said:

It is not an issue for the plug or lead as oil is an insulator in general.

Just search in ebay for 2high temperature silicone" & choose a brand you have heard of, should only be a few quid for a small tube of grey.

[kev b]

If you can get it really clean then superglue and baking soda may work.

I used this method on an old BMW V8 head to timing cover joint and it worked well.

NB I don't usually bodge stuff up but this was a low value car that did not belong to me, the cost of replacing the gasket was more than the car was worth.