Oil on all plugs in left bank and electrodes are covered with oil

Tiny
SUNWESTJIM
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 JAGUAR XK8
  • 4.0L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 34,500 MILES
The car was purchased used and driven a few hundred miles. Never hot and ran well until it began stalling and refused to run until it set for 15 to 30 minutes. This occurred 5 times and now will not run though fires and kicks and. On occasions it will idle with a severe miss and throw off as many as 14 codes.
At first I was told it was a throttle body which I replaced with a used part. No luck.
Then I discovered a inoperative coil on bank 1, which I replaced all 4 on bank 1. No luck.
I was in process of replacing bank 2 when I opted for spark plug inspection. All four on bank 2 have oil saturated electrodes and are black in oil.
The car shows 34,000 miles and looks actual.
Could it be the crank case breather, oil seepage from the well outside the plug into the cylinders, previous overheat cause a head gasket or cracked head as well. No water appears in the crank case filler cap.
I have not done a leak down test or compression test.
How do I save this fine 1997 XK8 with 34,000 mile?
The plugs are in order of removal bank 2, plug 4, 3, 2, 1.#4 is the last at the fire wall / engine rear.
I'm concerned 4 is corroded with a block seal material.
How do I down load pictures to site? Format not accepted?

Wednesday, September 15th, 2021 AT 5:04 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
SQM
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,383 POSTS
Hello,

The oil leak can be from the crank case breather, but it could also be from the valve cover gasket leaking. Leaking valve cover gasket will get oil into the plugs.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-valve-cover-gasket

You might have to take off all the upper engine components to make sure everything is functional as designed. Since it had a blown head gasket with cracked head before, you want to make sure there are no other leaks.

It will be a good idea to do a compression check. As you could have oil leak from the piston.
This help you narrow down the leaking issue. Since it is such a low mileage car, as you know many times cars will have certain issues due to being not drive often.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-low-compression
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/the-reasons-for-low-compression

Are you getting any trouble codes?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

You can upload any pictures from your phone or any PNC files to this thread.

Let me know of any questions, I will be happy to walk you through.
Thank you.
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Thursday, September 16th, 2021 AT 7:42 AM

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