A large number of motorists, while operating a vehicle, periodically encounter difficulties starting the power unit. In this case, quite often there are no obvious prerequisites in the form of clearly manifested malfunctions. An unexpected engine failure to start can occur both during a cold start and when trying to start a previously warmed-up internal combustion engine. In such cases, one of the most common reasons why a car engine does not start is that the spark plugs in the engine are filled with gasoline or oil.
We also recommend reading the article about why a hot engine won’t start. From this article you will learn why a warm gasoline engine with an injector and carburetor may not start, and why a diesel engine may not start when hot.
If the spark plugs on an injection engine or carburetor unit are flooded, starting the engine will be very difficult or completely impossible. This indicates the presence of certain problems both with the engine itself and with individual elements and systems. In this article we will talk about why spark plugs flood, how to understand why the spark plugs are flooded, and also what a driver should do if the car does not start, fill the spark plugs with gasoline or motor oil, etc.
Why do the spark plugs flood when starting the engine when cold?
Let's start with the fact that in the warm season the problem of flooding candles is not as pressing as in cold weather. As a result, it becomes more common that the car's spark plugs flood in the cold. The main signs of flooded candles:
- the problem manifests itself in such a way that the crankshaft is cranked by the starter, but the engine does not “catch”;
- there is a smell of gasoline coming from the exhaust pipe, the smell is distinct when the engine is cranked by the starter;
- after unscrewing the spark plugs, the threads and electrodes are in gasoline, and dark carbon deposits are also present at the bottom of the spark plug;
Let us add that fuel filling occurs regardless of what power system is installed on a particular vehicle (engine with injection injection or carburetor version). The only thing, if you compare the injector and the carburetor, fills the spark plugs on the injector in cold weather somewhat less often. Also, some filling features may differ slightly, taking into account the individual characteristics of a particular power system.
So, the spark plugs flood (especially at subzero temperatures) as a result of the fact that fuel enters the combustion chamber from the power system, but the fuel does not ignite. The spark plugs become wet, after which the further normal process of spark formation becomes impossible, that is, the engine will no longer be able to start.
As practice shows, the list of reasons why spark plugs fill on a cold injector or when a similar problem occurs on a carburetor car includes several main points:
- Low battery charge. In this case, the battery is discharged by more than 40-60%. When the outside temperature drops, the battery may not produce the required power sufficient for normal operation of the starter and the functioning of the ignition system. As a result, fuel is supplied by the power supply system to the cylinders, but ignition does not occur and the fuel floods the spark plugs.
- Ignition system malfunctions. Problems can arise both with the spark plugs themselves and with the high-voltage wires. If the spark plugs are old, then they may have incorrect gaps, various defects in the body and electrodes. The spark on such spark plugs may be weak or absent. As for high-voltage wires, they can be damaged, contacts fail, etc. At the same time, you should also check other structural elements of the ignition system, which may cause the lack of a spark on the spark plug.
- Low quality fuel. In winter, the ease of ignition during a cold start greatly depends on the purity and total amount of impurities in the fuel. It should also be taken into account that in winter condensation may accumulate in the fuel tank, which also ends up in gasoline. The combination of such factors leads to the fact that there is a spark on the candles, but the fuel cannot ignite in a timely manner. The result is a non-working engine and wet spark plugs.
We also recommend reading the article on how to properly charge a car battery with a charger if it is maintenance-free. From this article you will learn about the features of charging such batteries, what parameters need to be observed and set on the charger, as well as how to fully charge the battery without harm to the battery.
In practice it looks like this. For example, on injection engines, the ECU takes into account the outside and engine temperature, the amount of oxygen in the air entering the engine, etc. The control unit sends the appropriate command to the injectors to increase the amount of fuel if necessary, that is, it enriches the fuel-air mixture for a confident cold start and further stable operation of the power unit (the so-called warm-up speed XX). In accordance with the signal received from the ECU, the injection nozzles inject more fuel.
Now let's imagine that the engine is no longer new, that is, there is some wear on the CPG. This means that the compression in the cylinders is still within acceptable limits, but is no longer ideal. You can also add to this a slightly weak battery, thickened oil in the engine crankcase and deposits on the spark plugs. It turns out the following:
- injectors actively supply fuel that is not the best quality into the cylinders, which also does not evaporate well at low temperatures;
- the starter slowly turns the crankshaft in thickened lubricant from an undercharged battery;
- in a cold engine, parts do not expand due to heating, gaps are increased, compression is reduced;
- the ignition system generates a weak spark on dirty spark plugs, which is not enough to ignite the fuel-air charge;
Of course, the above example describes a whole range of possible problems. However, taking into account the above, it becomes clear that each “link”, even taken separately, can already lead to difficulties during start-up and certain failures. In other words, problems with the battery or high-voltage wires alone may be enough for the driver to fill the spark plugs in the winter after one or two unsuccessful attempts to start. It turns out that the minimum impulse to ignite the fuel is simply not enough or there was no spark to begin with. Separately, we would like to add that if a spark plug on a cylinder is flooded, and only one turns out to be problematic, then we should not exclude the possibility of low compression or other problems only in this particular engine cylinder.
There is a spark, the starter turns normally, but the spark plugs are flooded
Quite often you can encounter a situation where there is a spark, the spark plugs are flooded, and the starter spins the crankshaft well. In such a case, the spark plugs may require a separate check, since the presence of a spark on them does not mean that the same spark will always be created under pressure. In other words, if there was a spark on the unscrewed spark plug, then after installation on the engine it may disappear. The reason is increased pressure in the combustion chamber, which is created during the operation of the internal combustion engine. To find out, you need to carry out diagnostics on a special stand for checking spark plugs, which simulates the operation of these elements taking into account high pressure (similar to the operation of spark plugs in the combustion chamber).
Also, attention should be paid to the valve timing, since their failure may be the cause of flooded spark plugs. Note that on engines with an injector, problems with the bypass valve in the fuel rail are also possible. To eliminate the possibility of its malfunction, you will need to measure the fuel pressure in the rail. It is important to understand that fuel must be supplied to the cylinders under a certain pressure. Deviations, both upward and downward, can lead to flooding of spark plugs and the inability to start the internal combustion engine.
At the same time, the injectors themselves and ECM sensors may need diagnostics. For example, in the event of a malfunction, the coolant temperature sensor may send incorrect data to the computer. In this case, the control unit enriches the mixture and the injectors overflow fuel. In rare cases, the electronic engine control unit itself fails.
Pro Tips
The following tips from professionals will help, if not completely, then at least in most cases, to prevent difficulties with starting the engine due to spark plugs filled with gasoline.
how to keep a car in good technical condition
Keeping all car components in perfect condition will help reduce the risk of unpleasant situations.
Among the main requirements, the most important ones should be highlighted:
- high-quality battery charging
- starter serviceability
- high quality oil and compliance with its parameters
- temperature outside, outside the car
- use quality spark plugs
- Maintaining high voltage wiring in perfect condition
- carry out timely cleaning and adjustment of the nozzle, and the best option should be considered
- cleaning using special equipment; It is recommended to resort to cleaning by adding special impurities to the tank only in exceptional cases, pouring only high-quality gasoline into the tank
Among the “folk” recipes we can recommend:
- After a day or two, while driving, for 10 seconds, increase the engine load to 4.5 - 5 thousand revolutions, this guarantees self-cleaning of the spark plugs from soot and cleans the chamber of existing deposits.
- In order for the engine to start reliably in cold weather and the spark plugs not to be flooded with gasoline, once a month you will need to “crank the engine”, the distance is from 50 to 100 km, at a speed of at least 100 km per hour. Use only high quality fuel.
These simple steps will help you independently monitor the condition of the car, and you will be able to save on the services of car service specialists.
Fills spark plugs with engine oil
In addition to the fact that the spark plugs can be filled with gasoline, there are common cases when the spark plugs in the engine are filled with oil, a spark plug in one cylinder is filled with oil, etc. This malfunction occurs both on the injector and on engines with a carburetor.
If the candles are filled with oil, then you should more accurately determine how the candles are filled, from above or from below, that is, which part of the candle is contaminated. An accumulation of grease at the top (in the spark plug wells) indicates that, for example, there are problems with the valve cover gasket or other seals. In this case, the ingress of oil leads to the spark starting to break through and the cylinder or several cylinders as a result do not work.
After unscrewing the spark plug, obvious black deposits may be visible or absent on the threads; oil may also fall from the well directly onto the threads while unscrewing the spark plug, etc. In the case when the spark plugs are filled with oil from below, that is, in the cylinder itself, then the compression in the engine should be measured. There is a high probability that the oil scraper rings are badly worn, cracked or stuck. It is also possible for cylinder walls or liners to wear out, oil seals (valve seals) to fail, cracks to appear in the cylinder head, problems with valve guides and other malfunctions that lead to increased lubricant entering the combustion chamber and oiling of the spark plugs.
The spark plugs are flooded: what should the driver do?
Let's say the engine won't start and you are sure that the reason is the gasoline on the spark plugs. In such a situation, it is useful to know what can be done if the spark plugs are flooded, how to start the car in such conditions, etc.
Let's start with the fact that there are several available ways to dry flooded candles. To begin with, the instruction manual for many cars specifically states that if the spark plugs on an injection engine are filled with gasoline, then they need to be unscrewed using a spark plug wrench and dried. Then the engine should be cranked with the starter for about 10 seconds with the spark plugs removed. Next, the spark plugs are screwed back in, after which an attempt is made to start the internal combustion engine in normal mode.
Also, many drivers, if the spark plugs are flooded, start the engine with cylinder purging. In some cases, this method allows you to start the engine without removing the spark plugs. To purge the cylinders on an injection engine, you need to press the gas pedal all the way before starting. Next, the starter cranks the crankshaft for about 10 seconds, then the gas pedal can be released. Such actions help the power unit start. Purge occurs due to the fact that when the throttle valve is open, a large amount of air enters the cylinders, and the spark plugs dry out.
If the engine does not start with purging, then the spark plugs will have to be dried manually and their condition assessed. To do this, they need to be unscrewed, after which the carbon deposits are cleaned. You can use a soft brush (a toothbrush will do) or a brush with metal bristles. In the second case, you need to be careful and clean without effort. Candles are dried with a household or hair dryer, calcined on a gas burner, and placed in the oven. Next, you need to check the gap between the electrodes, after which you can screw the elements back into the engine. As a result, restarting should proceed without difficulty.
Let us add that many experts recommend not implementing the solutions described above if it is possible to immediately purchase new spark plugs. In simple words, cleaning and calcination leads to the fact that the service life of the spark plug after such actions is noticeably reduced, the gaps are lost, and these elements work worse after cleaning. It turns out that it is more profitable to purchase relatively inexpensive new spark plugs than to clean, dry and then reinstall the old ones. It is also noted that it is advisable to change simple spark plugs from the average price range every 15-25 thousand kilometers traveled, regardless of their condition and appearance.
It should also be taken into account that if new or cleaned spark plugs are constantly flooded, then the cause must be looked for separately, and not just solve the problem by cleaning or changing these elements. In this case, the engine needs in-depth diagnostics; the ignition system, injectors, ignition coil, Hall sensor, temperature sensor, etc. are checked.
How to dry spark plugs and start a car yourself, all the mechanics of the process
This problem can be solved quite easily according to the manufacturer’s instructions and it consists of several stages, unless, of course, you have the basic skills of a car mechanic.
- It is necessary to unscrew the spark plugs.
- Dry each part well.
- It is necessary to crank the engine for 10-15 seconds, without screwing in the spark plugs.
- Screw in the dried candles.
- Start the car.
Although this process does not require special preparation, the car owner does not always have free time and the necessary tools for it. Flooding of spark plugs can happen unexpectedly and sometimes you need to deal with the problem in a very short time.
Candles are usually dried with a gas burner, a blowtorch, or on an electric/gas stove. This must be done very carefully so as not to burn yourself and spoil the candles. You need to dry until approximately the moment when the tip of the candle glows and turns red.
If you don’t have time to tinker with wet parts, then there is an alternative: purging the cylinders while the engine is running, this applies to the injector. This process works like this: with the gas pedal pressed all the way, the starter cranks for 10-15 seconds, after which the pedal returns to its original position. This technique allows you to increase the entry of air into the cylinders and, thereby, additional drying of the spark plugs will occur.
If there is no effect, then the only option is to dry the candles in the standard way or buy new ones. If this problem occurs too often, and you have neither the knowledge nor the time to fix the problem yourself, then it is best to turn to professionals for this problem.
