water in spark plug recess
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: New Jersey
water in spark plug recess
1997 f-150, 4.6, 147K miles. Have posted many times and always got the right answer. This one should be easy but I have to know for sure. This morning I started the truck and the engine light was on. Felt a miss in the engine. Drove 1 mile and back then checked the wires. Found one not firing. Traced it back to the plug. When I pulled the plug boot off I noticed water in the recess, surrounding the plug. Once I blow out the water, I'll checjk the plug but I would like to know if this is a natural occurrence. I thought the boot would prevent water from filling the recess and sitting there. Or does the water just evaporate when the engine gets hot? Thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2006
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Which cylinder is it?
Very often the #3 and 4 will get water from a leaking heater hose above it.
Sometimes the cowl seal lets water in from the outside.
And no the well boot is not water tight on a reliable basis.
Once water gets in the closed well has a hard time letting the steam all out in any reasonable time frame.
Until then it's beating the H*ll out of the cats on that bank with raw gas passing through and burning in the first cat.
Good luck.
Very often the #3 and 4 will get water from a leaking heater hose above it.
Sometimes the cowl seal lets water in from the outside.
And no the well boot is not water tight on a reliable basis.
Once water gets in the closed well has a hard time letting the steam all out in any reasonable time frame.
Until then it's beating the H*ll out of the cats on that bank with raw gas passing through and burning in the first cat.
Good luck.
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: New Jersey
Thanks to all. Steve, It's just water, I'm thinking rain water from a heavy storm. Blew it out, removed the plug and found the gap was open too far. Re-gaped it and disonnected the battery to reset the light. No more miss so far. I'm planning to replace wires (about 8 years old) and plugs ( about 1 year, don't know what happened to it).
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Minnesota
As mentioned it can take a loooong time to dry it out with the wire on the plug. Even with the heat of the motor it still stays wet in that hole. When mine acts up, when I park it i will pull the wire and let it sit so it can evaporate. Mine was always clear water and it drove me nuts trying to figure out where it would come from when it would happen after no rain. I don't use the air much here in Minnesota, but it seemed to happen after hard use on a really humid day.What was happening was the condensation from some of the lines would get into that valley between the valve cover and the intake. Then the water would roll back and forth and drop into whatever boot was the easiest.#4 and 3 are the most common, but last time it was in #2. Also don't overlook the squirter on the hood. That can leak rainwater and drip right down into that area.
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Water in spark plug holes.
How do you stop rain water from getting into the engine compartment so that it can get into the spark plug holes. I can't drive my 2000 Ford F250 V-10 pickup in the rain and can't wash it in a car wash. It didn't do this when I bought it 10 years ago. Whats going on??
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Do you see rust lines? Or you may have insulation break down from old age of the ignition compontents that raise their lovely heads when humidity is very high. Like driving behind a Semi at 65 MPH during a cloud burst. Also see if you have a weather guard out of place in front by the radiator or below.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Minnesota
Next time it acts up after getting wet, slowly crack open the hood and look inside...it should be obvious where the water is coming in. It doesn't take much water to get into a spark plug hole to make it run awful.
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Water in spark plug holes.
Thank you for your suggestion.
The water is ususally in numbers 3, 4, 5, 7 and sometimes others in the same areas.
I placed some strips of typing paper (appx 1" wide) between the hood and the cowl and closed the hood. When I pulled the strips of paper out there was measurable resistance so I am pretty sure the rubber seal is ok. It looks fine. The water does affect the numbers I have listed above the most.
How do I check to see if it is coming in around the left side windshield washer nozzle?
The water is ususally in numbers 3, 4, 5, 7 and sometimes others in the same areas.
I placed some strips of typing paper (appx 1" wide) between the hood and the cowl and closed the hood. When I pulled the strips of paper out there was measurable resistance so I am pretty sure the rubber seal is ok. It looks fine. The water does affect the numbers I have listed above the most.
How do I check to see if it is coming in around the left side windshield washer nozzle?
New User
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Water in the spark plug holes.
It has not rained enough to check out your suggestion but I am still waiting.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,098
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From: Minnesota
After "thinking" mine was a lot of different things, it finally turned out to be the passenger side washer nozzle. After a rain all night i started it up and chnka' chunka'. Slowly open the hood and right below the nozzle was a puddle of water sitting on that plastic shroud that has all that electrical stuff behind it. A little stream was coming off that DIRECTLY down into the valley that all the plugs were in. I pulled all the wires for 1-4 and 3-4 were about full.....unreal...Blew them out with air till dry. Was able to get under the nozzle and pop it out (you can leave the hose on it), little dab of silicon under it and snapped it back in. End of story....
New User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Water in spark plug holes.
After "thinking" mine was a lot of different things, it finally turned out to be the passenger side washer nozzle. After a rain all night i started it up and chnka' chunka'. Slowly open the hood and right below the nozzle was a puddle of water sitting on that plastic shroud that has all that electrical stuff behind it. A little stream was coming off that DIRECTLY down into the valley that all the plugs were in. I pulled all the wires for 1-4 and 3-4 were about full.....unreal...Blew them out with air till dry. Was able to get under the nozzle and pop it out (you can leave the hose on it), little dab of silicon under it and snapped it back in. End of story....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Winnipeg
How do you stop rain water from getting into the engine compartment so that it can get into the spark plug holes. I can't drive my 2000 Ford F250 V-10 pickup in the rain and can't wash it in a car wash. It didn't do this when I bought it 10 years ago. Whats going on??