just joined up to see if for any reason why there would be CLEAN engine oil on the spark plugs, and quite a bit of it. the oil in the engine is the normal used colour dark brown but when i went to remove a spark plug i found golden colour oil over the plug, also i cant remove the plugs using the most common socket. cant anyone tell me what size the plugs are please?

the car is a 16v 1.2

You can't take spark plugs off with normal sockets, u need one for spark plugs, they're longer.
Also it can be a sign of a worn engine i think.
If not check for oil leaks anywhere. I had oil leaking down into one of my spark plugs. Btw reading that again, is the oil on the top of the spark plug where the HT leads attach? Because that can only be an oil leak from above

bredsticz said:

You can't take spark plugs off with normal sockets, u need one for spark plugs, they're longer.
Also it can be a sign of a worn engine i think.
If not check for oil leaks anywhere. I had oil leaking down into one of my spark plugs. Btw reading that again, is the oil on the top of the spark plug where the HT leads attach? Because that can only be an oil leak from above

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Hi thanks for your reply, yes the oil is on top off the plugs, as soon as the ht lead is removed.

also i may off typed the first question wrong, yes ive been using the normal 12mm spark plug socket.

Ahh right, same sizes in both engines i think, and I'm pretty sure i used a 12mm to get mine off :S

But check the back of the rocker cover gasket for leaks. Most likely dripping down into it and they are a bugger for leaks

socket size wound not no as i get mine done in the garage. and for the clean oil on the plugs well all i can say ther it must be magic oil you have give me some..lol

Just been to see the car. problem after problem with this punto, shes only had it just over the month
broke down at least 4 times, fuel sender reads whatever the hell it wants, clutch has gone, battery is buggered and HT leads are breaking down.

got home and phoned a friend who has known off this car for some time and it was restored in a garage by a DIY man.

its only done 54,000 on a t reg.

oh well joys off owning cars.

Don't blame the car...

Never but Never buy any car with no service history unless...
(1) its been checked over for obvious faults,
(2) its dead cheap
(3) you are capable of fixing pretty much anything on it.

BTW, the oil might have been spilled when the sump was topped up. What's the oil consumption like?

If the oil is clean and on the ceramic part of plug number 1 (and possibly 2), then chances are that you spilled some oil when topping up (or someone who serviced it has). that would explain why it was very clean, since it is new oil. I panicked myself finding plug 1 was oily, only then realising that I had completely missed the oil hole like a pleb a few weeks earlier.

hii, i have oil on my plugs 2day when i checked them, not on the spraking bit tho, just on the thread where it screws in, the tops where it joins onto the ht were clean also...im guessing its engine wear as its an old engine with many miles on it...is there anything i can do to combat this though????

If the socket wont remove the plugs try not inserting the drive into the socket all the way. I found with my 8v that the plugs protrude into the hole for the drive of the ratchet and if you attach the socket onto the wratchet you cant undo the plugs.
Hope this makes sense.

judgedread said:

hii, i have oil on my plugs 2day when i checked them, not on the spraking bit tho, just on the thread where it screws in, the tops where it joins onto the ht were clean also...im guessing its engine wear as its an old engine with many miles on it...is there anything i can do to combat this though????

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Nothing to worry about. Oil on the threads means next to nothing. Oil on the firing end is something to worry about.

I would guess that people having trouble putting the (plug) socket on are either using 1/2" square drive sockets (you though it was a deisel engine, perhaps?) or simply not pushing the socket on all the way (the rubber inside can resist).