Changed my coilpack and found rust??!!??

**Dyldo** · 20-04-2011, 10:50 PM

Went to change a dead coilpack tonight that i found via the "Loon Illimination" method, and found the damn thing to be rusted like its been on the poopdeck of the Titanic.

I feared that maybe I've lost a head gasket, or worse, but then good ol' Father-in-Law comes out and reckons it absolutely fine and that water would get in no worries but the unit is sealed and would stay carry a charge.

I don't really want to pull the others as I haven't the right tool (am only using a pair of pliers), but need my ride for tomorrow and need to get her fueled up so was just looking for the collective opinion if she is fine?

**DNA Tuning** · 20-04-2011, 11:11 PM

Doesn't exactly seem like rust; looks more like oil leaking from your rocker cover gasket onto and around the coilpack boot. Maybe abit of moisture in there as well. It's not your head gasket.

**Dyldo** · 20-04-2011, 11:14 PM

when i pulled it out (quickly i might add) i got a few drops of water on the top of the engine (intake runner?) and the coilpack just smelled like it was rusty. I can't imagine the rocker cover gasket, but would imagine if oil can seap out then maybe water can get in?

Either way, feel this is fine to drive with? or is it symptomatic of something that warrants attention?

**Dyldo** · 21-04-2011, 02:44 PM

Well, nothing has gone pop, fizzle or bang in the engine bay. yet

Driven probably 100kms so far today with varying rev ranges and everything is sweet.

**Big_M** · 21-04-2011, 05:05 PM

Mate if you haven't had it from new Or have had it detailed and they power washed your engine bay wouldnt put it past that as an explanation.

**WhO** · 21-04-2011, 05:31 PM

Yeh dont worry about it, one of mine is like that. I figure its just from washing the bay.

What do you mean by the right tool to remove them? I've always just pulled them out by hand?

**Dyldo** · 17-05-2011, 09:06 PM

.... and then i found sludge. wtf?

Check the pic below. Basically the plugs were pulled in that order, so the driver side plug is #1 and so on. I kept one or two of the coilpacks as they looked relatively good (No real indicator i know) but the other plugs and coilpacks looked feral. Is this normal?

Car does run nicely now though

**Dyldo** · 17-05-2011, 10:13 PM

hahaha, check plugs 4 and 6!! thats not normal.

**WhO** · 17-05-2011, 11:51 PM

Certainly right that plugs 4 and 6 look pretty shabby! The only one that worries me out of all of them is 6 because the rust clearly has penetrated past the seal and rusted down the threads! This just likely means that that plug wasn't fastened properly but its not a good thing as you would likely have been blowing compression (and thus fuel and air mixture) past that one thus not only dropping power but also altering the fuel mixture in that cylinder.

Oh well i'm sure all should be well! Makes me wonder what mine look like... although that said, i accidentally spilt a heap (read filled the spark plug holes) of oil down 5 and 6 when i had the coil packs out the other day so i dare say they wont rust! Hard as i could try there's still oil traces down there... oops!

Anyway back to yours, might feel a bit better now that all is fresh!