98 Contour sparkplugs buried in oil

TERION

MEMBER
1998 FORD CONTOUR

My 98 Ford Contour won't start. I had been having some problems with poor engine performance which I had assumed was just a dirty fuel system. I got some fuel system cleaner and added it to gas, but before that tank ran out the car stopped starting. I replaced the fuel filter but no luck. I recently had the plugs replaced so I checked them and they were literally buried in oil. Only about a half inch of the plug showed above the oil. What would cause this?

3 Replies

RYAN20021982

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I had the exact same problem and ford said the intake gasket

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Sunday, March 19th, 2006 AT 11:51 AM

PEPPERMRJ

MECHANIC
1,158 POSTS

I think Ryan has his terms confused.I bet he means the valve cover/cam cover gasket. I do that with my daughters names all the time. :Oops:

Most double overhead cam engines have the plugs in the middle of the valve cover. The valve cover leaks and oil fills up the plug wells. This causes misfires and the plug wires to deteriorate.

Replace the gasket pay particular attention to the round sections around the plug wells. You might consider replacing the plug wires. At the very least clean them using waterless hand cleaner, Goop, GoJo, etc.

Good luck and let us know. :)

Good luck and let us know.