New here with broken car.

[LostKiwi]

Not sure about the ops problem. I recall they had issues with carbon buildup on the valve seat/stem.

It's recently had head off and new valves after valves and pistons had a disagreement....

 

[Diddles]

As the cold compression test was all OK with matching results across all cylinders, that would rule out a valve issue.

Could it be an injector issue or maybe wiring to number 3 cylinder?

 

[LostKiwi]

Easy to check. Swap plugs - does issue follow plug? No, then swap injector with another cylinder. Does issue follow injector? No, check all wiring to coilpack and injector.

 

[Diddles]

Well I swapped out the spark plug with a new one after work in the dark. Started up and ran fine.
Just got home and looked at the old spark plug and I found that half of the ceramic is missing.
It wasn't like this when I took it out but zooming in on the picture I took of them when I did the compression test there's looks to be a slight crack in it. Feel stupid as I should of looked harder at the plugs but was in a rush.

The car didn't make any noises, rattles etc when starting up so am I right in thinking that the piece has been blown out the exhaust?

 

[LostKiwi]

Yep it will have vanished out the exhaust. It's soft enough not to do damage on the way through (it cracks up if hit).

When zoomed right in you can just see the crack.

 

[Diddles]

Yep it will have vanished out the exhaust. It's soft enough not to do damage on the way through (it cracks up if hit).

Thank god for that I thought the ceramic was really tough, just glad it didn't get stuck in a valve.

I wonder what has caused that to crack, pre detonation? It doesn't make a pinking sound. The spark plugs were put in a week before the chain went. Hoping it will be all OK now.

 

[LostKiwi]

Dropped when in transit, a defect, could be anything. Unlikely bto be pre-ignition as the car will detect this and adjust accordingly.

 

[Diddles]

Ok thanks, just glad it's running good again and hopefully no damage was caused. Fingers crossed its going to be running sweet from now on.

 

[sonic]

You did well to find it, not something you expect. I have only had one plug fail in 52 years driving, years ago it was a Champion.

 

[Diddles]

Thanks, should of noticed it when I removed them to do the compression test really but oh well.
Had the same thing before on a mk2 Ford focus where it kept on cracking the ceramic on one spark plug, it was pinking a lot which causes it due to the piston rings failing I think, use to burn oil big time.
That made a horrible noise after I started it up, that's when I realised the ceramic must have been on the piston. Was a 1.8 duratec with only 45,000 on the clock. Apparently worn rings is common on that.

 

[Diddles]

Just gave my car a wash and checked the levels under the bonnet etc. And I noticed this, I don't have any symptoms of a head gasket failure, no white smoke and drives fine but this concerns me. What do you recon, small blow in the head gasket?

 

[alexanderfoti]

What am I looking at? The bubbles in the header tank?

 

[Diddles]

Yeah.

 

[alexanderfoti]

All normal. It's from the bleed valve on the tstat.

Unless it drops rapidly etc, nothing to worry about

 

[Diddles]

Thanks, that's great! The level doesn't drop, maybe a tiny bit in a few thousand miles but never enough to bring on the light.

 

[Diddles]

I just compared my car to a friend's with the same engine. His one doesn't have any bubbles in the coolant resesvoir when idle or when revving. Mine has a steady stream then quite a burst when revving. I was hoping his would of been the same but his was bubble free which is slightly concerning.

 

[LostKiwi]

With the cap on and engine warmed up is the top hose rock hard?

 

[Diddles]

Ill check in a minute and let you know.

 

[Diddles]

Just warmed it up u till the thermostat opened and the top hose isn't rock solid, I can still squeeze it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Ok. If it was rock hard it would mean the cooling system is over pressurised as a result of a leaking head gasket.
Next time you go out for a longish drive check it again.