Wet spark plug

Tiny
IMAGING
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  • 2006 SAAB 9-3
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
Took out the spark plugs and noticed the last spark plug was extremely wet as you see in the picture. Is this a reason to worry and can I replace and install the new spark plugs?
Also, what is the torque setting for the spark plugs and the bolts that hold down the coils?
Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 10:25 AM

14 Replies

Tiny
AL514
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Hello, yes, a plug that wet is a cylinder that has a problem. Has the check engine light been on at all? Does the plug smell like gas or oil? If it smells like gas and is that wet, I'd say that the coil for that cylinder is probably not firing, other possibilities are a fuel injector leaking, low cylinder compression, or a wiring issue causing one of these issues. Was the car run before you took that plug out, or had it been sitting over night? It almost looks more like oil after a better look, since it's on the top part of the spark plug that doesn't go into the cylinder. Since this is a coil over system (coil per cylinder) that just might be oil leaking in from the valve cover gasket O-rings that seal where the plugs go in. I will look up the specs for torque on these and post them shortly.

I added a picture of the valve cover, in each hole for the spark plugs there is an O-ring in there to seal the valve cover and prevent oil from leaking out. When you buy a new valve cover gasket, it should come with four additional O-rings for these holes. that looks like what's happening here.

The torque for the plugs is 28mn (21lb-ft)
Spark plug gap is 0.9-1.0mm (0.035-0.039in)

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-is-leaking-oil
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 10:55 AM
Tiny
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Yes, the check engine light is on. I was driving the vehicle before uninstalling the spark plugs. It was riding fine but there was a smell of oil or something inside the vehicle. At last, the car started shaking when turned on and when in drive. But it passed and the last few days before uninstalling the spark plugs, the shaking wasn't present anymore. What should I check or do first? I haven't installed the new NKG iridium spark plugs. I left the car without any spark plugs. It's just sitting there. Don't know what the next step should be.
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 12:10 PM
Tiny
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Well, what might be happening is all that oil going down on top of that spark plug is also soaking the bottom of the ignition coil and causing the spark to jump out to the side of the cylinder head instead of going down into the cylinder and sparking at the end of the spark plug. The oil will definitely cause an issue like this. Causing a full cylinder misfire which will come and go depending on when the spark jumps outside the cylinder or makes it down into the cylinder. Electricity always takes the shortest path to ground is can. I would recommend getting the valve cover gasket set with the 4 O-rings and replacing all of them. You are going to want to inspect the bottom of the ignition coil for that cylinder. Look for any burn marks on the bottom of the coil, its actually called tracking, because the spark will leave a small hole in coils rubber boot and a whitish track mark from the electricity jumping to the cylinder down in the hole. You may need to replace that coil if after replacing the valve cover gasket and O-rings you still have a misfire happening. That was what the rough shaking was, a misfiring cylinder. If you have the car scanned, you will probably find a cylinder misfire code.
After doing the work, bring your car to your local parts store (AutoZone, Advanced Auto etc.) and they can tell you what the code is and write that down, and have them erase the codes and clear the memory. You want to do that anyway after replacing the spark plugs because the vehicle needs to relearn its fuel strategy with the new plugs. I think once you fix that oil leak and replace the plugs, you should be fine. Let us know what the code stored in the engine computer is, we love a follow up. Thank you.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 12:28 PM
Tiny
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The codes are a P1312 and a P0300.
So, replace the valve cover gasket, four O-rings and replace that last coil.
Now, how do I remove the coil?
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
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What do you mean by remove the coil? You just said you placed the coil.
The P0300 is random cylinder misfire and P1312 is a code having to do with the ignition coil as well, both codes make sense considering the situation, But I don't understand your question.

This car has the coolest ignition system I've ever seen, besides some really new 2020-2021 technology. The way it operates is really amazing.
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 3:29 PM
Tiny
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No, I removed the four spark plugs only. When I saw the fourth. Spark plug more wet than the other three, I didn't do anything else but leave the car as is without spark plugs.
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 4:03 PM
Tiny
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You had to unbolt the coil and pull it up off the spark plug, correct? Send me a picture. If you did the valve cover gasket and O-rings already you can put the spark plugs in.
I added some torque specs for the coil and cover
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
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I unbolted the 4 bolts holding down the coils to get to the spark plugs, that's it. I didn't replace anything not even the spark plugs. I just took the spark plugs out.
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
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Oh, I'm sorry, my misunderstanding, I thought you had done that work already.
okay, that wet plug looks like its soaked in oil to me from the picture. So yes, you'll have to replace the valve cover gasket and the 4 O-rings. Then install the new spark plugs. You can either send a picture of the bottom of the coil that had the oil-soaked spark plug. or purchase another coil.
If the coil looks like the other coils, no noticeable differences, you can try it and see if the car still misfires. If it does, then replace that coil too. The valve cover gaskets are very easy to do. The O-rings are replaced from the inside of the valve cover when you get it off. Saab actually calls it a Camshaft cover, but it's the same thing.
After reinstalling the valve cover, the install the spark plugs and torque them in. It's a good practice to check the gap on the spark plugs before installing them. The gap spec is with the torque spec for the spark plugs. The first six diagrams are for the valve cover (camshaft cover).

Next install the coils (seventh diagram) push them down on top of the spark plugs, plug the coil harness plug into the coils and install the hold-down bolt and torque to 15Lb ft.
Then reinstall the ignition coil cover.
Next have the codes cleared from the vehicle, you can drive the car to wherever needed to have the codes cleared. It should run fine.
If you are worried about the coil that had the oil on top of the spark plug, you can replace that.
There is a guide below on replacing the spark plugs. I always check the gaps on new spark plugs just because you never know if they have been dropped by anyone at the parts store. You can ask them for a spark plug gap measuring tool, I think they cost $3.00. Codes cleared; you should be all set. If you have any issues or any new codes set afterwards, record them and let us know. Just take your time doing the valve cover gasket, don't rush and you'll be fine.
Any further questions along the way, we are always here and happy to help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-valve-cover-gasket
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Thursday, December 9th, 2021 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
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Here are some pics of the coils to see if they need replacing. The individual pic of the coil is the coil attached to the spark plug that was wet.
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Saturday, December 11th, 2021 AT 10:40 PM
Tiny
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Those look okay, I wouldn't change it unless you have a misfire.
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Sunday, December 12th, 2021 AT 11:21 AM
Tiny
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Okay. Thank you so much.
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Sunday, December 12th, 2021 AT 9:06 PM
Tiny
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No problem, let us know how the repair goes, we would like a follow-up. Thanks
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Monday, December 13th, 2021 AT 11:28 AM
Tiny
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Will do.
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Monday, December 13th, 2021 AT 2:40 PM

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