4A-GE MK1 Engine Fix for spark plug wells filling with water?

como · 07-25-2009, 07:54 PM

We've all read posts, and we've probably all done it once (I just did it a second time, knowing full-well what would happen); washed my engine.

Sure enough, the stupid spark plug wells filled up with water again, and the engine wouldn't fire on a few of the cylinders.

I guess what I'd like to know, is does anybody make a rubber boot that fits tightly into the block so that this sort of thing doesnt happen...? It seems like a pretty silly problem to have; especially how if I hose off the underside of the hood it all drains directly onto the sparkplug wires, and then proceeds to pour directly into the wells...

328FTW · 07-25-2009, 08:07 PM

The fix is don't stick a garden hose in the valley. The rubber boots are dust covers not all out water seals. If your really concerned put some plastic over the top of the engine while washing and use elbow grease, degreaser and a brush to clean the valley when you need to. I have to polish mine every other week with the polished alloy cam covers (they are a bitch to keep clean) and have only filled the valley once.

Jackstand Queen · 07-26-2009, 12:22 AM

Clear coat your Valve (cam) Covers!

328FTW · 07-26-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackstand Queen

Clear coat your Valve (cam) Covers!

Been meaning to haven't got around to it yet. Today I spent all day swearing at my battery and painting things that you don't notice. Looked purdy enough for a spirited drive so I took it for one and nothing broke so felt mildly better. If it blows up I'm going to probably cry or something.

Jackstand Queen · 07-26-2009, 11:21 AM

Crying . . . . . I am way beyond that. I have two 10 gauge 6 inch long needles poised in front of my eyes. Just waiting for the next screw up . . . to push me over the edge.

I'm doing a rebuild with as little machine shop assistance as possible. New oversized OEM pistons, cometic headgasket, valve springs, valve guides & seals, bearings, seals, freeze plugs, and porting from TB to combustion chamber. The only good luck I've had so far in the build is that amazingly the Crankshaft journals had like new specifications. I'll post the pictures on photobucket soon.

I've had the car towed home 3 times this year.

I don't have high expectations with the rebuild.

q-authority · 07-31-2009, 06:08 PM

Like others have said, just keep the hose away from the top of the head, but if you do get some water in there, pull off the plug leads (dry them out),and use somehting like a turkey baster (big eye dropper) to suck out as much water as possible, and then use some rolled up paper towels down around the plugs to get most of the rest of it. What little is left after that will dry up soon after the car warms up up and won't bother anything. Better yet, use a shop vac with a small attachment that will fit through the plug hole in the valley cover.

tjmr2 · 08-09-2009, 02:19 AM

Take the valley cover off before you wash the engine, wrap your distributor in plastic bags and your spark plug wire ends in bags, wash engine, then wipe, vacuum or blow everything out of the valley.

Think before you act or pay the consequences. Experience can be a mean bitch of a teacher especially when you have to admit that your own lack of prior proper planning led to piss poor performance.

07-25-2009, 07:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 652 Thanks: 13 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Fix for spark plug wells filling with water? We've all read posts, and we've probably all done it once (I just did it a second time, knowing full-well what would happen); washed my engine. Sure enough, the stupid spark plug wells filled up with water again, and the engine wouldn't fire on a few of the cylinders. I guess what I'd like to know, is does anybody make a rubber boot that fits tightly into the block so that this sort of thing doesnt happen...? It seems like a pretty silly problem to have; especially how if I hose off the underside of the hood it all drains directly onto the sparkplug wires, and then proceeds to pour directly into the wells...

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07-25-2009, 08:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	The fix is don't stick a garden hose in the valley. The rubber boots are dust covers not all out water seals. If your really concerned put some plastic over the top of the engine while washing and use elbow grease, degreaser and a brush to clean the valley when you need to. I have to polish mine every other week with the polished alloy cam covers (they are a bitch to keep clean) and have only filled the valley once.

07-26-2009, 12:22 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Clear coat your Valve (cam) Covers!

07-26-2009, 11:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Crying . . . . . I am way beyond that. I have two 10 gauge 6 inch long needles poised in front of my eyes. Just waiting for the next screw up . . . to push me over the edge. I'm doing a rebuild with as little machine shop assistance as possible. New oversized OEM pistons, cometic headgasket, valve springs, valve guides & seals, bearings, seals, freeze plugs, and porting from TB to combustion chamber. The only good luck I've had so far in the build is that amazingly the Crankshaft journals had like new specifications. I'll post the pictures on photobucket soon. I've had the car towed home 3 times this year. I don't have high expectations with the rebuild.

07-31-2009, 06:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
q-authority Professional Multislacker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 506 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Like others have said, just keep the hose away from the top of the head, but if you do get some water in there, pull off the plug leads (dry them out),and use somehting like a turkey baster (big eye dropper) to suck out as much water as possible, and then use some rolled up paper towels down around the plugs to get most of the rest of it. What little is left after that will dry up soon after the car warms up up and won't bother anything. Better yet, use a shop vac with a small attachment that will fit through the plug hole in the valley cover.

08-09-2009, 02:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
tjmr2 Cage Fighter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 410 Thanks: 0 Thanked 62 Times in 59 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Take the valley cover off before you wash the engine, wrap your distributor in plastic bags and your spark plug wire ends in bags, wash engine, then wipe, vacuum or blow everything out of the valley. Think before you act or pay the consequences. Experience can be a mean bitch of a teacher especially when you have to admit that your own lack of prior proper planning led to piss poor performance.