really scared......spark plug missing parts

[sadgreyghost]

OK My 98 X PUSHROD V6 was ideling rough when cold but running fine when up to operating temp. Then my CEL came on . Code said misfire cylinder 3......So I pull #3 plug and oh crap. Plug is oily and missing the diode and all of the guts that are usually inside the threaded area. The little hook diode that you normally use to set the gap is fine. WHAT THE H@#$ CAN i DO. Has this punched a hole in the piston? I am leary of running a compression test because I don't want to get it up to operating temp. HELP HELP HELP.

 

[james t]

you can do one of 2 things-

1- pull the head and hope that the parts didnt do enough damage to negate a rebuild

2- fill cylinder up with water and turn the engine over without a sparkplug in it. this will push out some/most of the crap. change oil and put a plug back in it and run it until it scatters. this may be one day, one week, or one year who knows.

if it were me, i would go with option #1 if i cared about the motor. #2 if i was feeling spry. FYI we did #2 on father's old Farmall gas tractor when i was a kid, and it still runs (which isnt really saying alot).

 

[rocco123]

With the plug removed, boroscope the engine and check for any foreign parts. Beats taking the head off.

 

[james t]

Originally posted by rocco123
With the plug removed, boroscope the engine and check for any foreign parts. Beats taking the head off.

ah, didnt even think of that. however, i bet there still something in there.

just out of curiosity, how old were the plugs and what brand were they?

 

[sadgreyghost]

The plugs were bosch platinum.......about 4 months old
The part that is missing is composed of ceramic there is absolutly no metal......I changed the plug and all symptoms went away. Unfortunatly at this point I can't afford any of the options . I did take a long bulb syringe and tried to get stuff out ....couldn't find anything.....

 

[sadgreyghost]

thanks to everyone who replied I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I will be flushing the cylinder shortly.......

 

[ffjustinlee220]

bosch plugs

Im sorry to say it but your problem in the first place was the bosch plugs. I can define bosch in one word "****". Suggest you run something else from now on after the flush. Just run cheap ass autolites or if you got the money run some ngk-r's. Know its a japenese plug but just the damn best one around. P.S. the only good thing bosch makes is bluapant steros.

 

[james t]

nah, they make decent O2 sensors also.

really, ive heard alot of horror stories about Bosch plugs over the years. dont take it the wrong way because i used to run them... but after hearing and reading so much crap i stopped years ago.

 

[ffjustinlee220]

bosch plugs

their not too bad if you have a german made vehicle under 20,000 miles on it. The electrode on them is so tiny that the smallest amount of carbon build up fowls them out. My buddy put them in his camaro after i advised him against it, he has 90,000mi on his maro, and they lasted about 7,000 miles. Have you ever tried NGK-R's???

 

[agallant]

I have alwas put the Bosch Platinum 4's in my cars, (2 porsches, 1 bmw, 1 saab, and my exp) and never had any problems with them. they were in my BMW for over 70K and still no problems. They are not that bad or at least not for me.

 

[DeRocha]

I too have run Bosch platinum plugs in my X for 100K with Zero problems. I would use them again.

 

[sadgreyghost]

I have used them in everything from my Late Model dirt track car to a 1973 nova with 200k on it. I think that there was some internal cracking in the ceramic and it finally just shattered......But hey I still appreciate the feedback.

 

[agallant]

No problem. I don't know which plug it was but if it is one of the ones twards the front of the engne you might be able to get a magnet down there. But then again if any of the porclian broke of that won't help

 

[bikerboy4lif]

If your lucky all the broken peices might have blown out the exhaust.