Corrosion in spark plug well

[jivenene]

Sup yall,

Was checking out the plugs on my 2008 Mazda5 which i just got a month ago, and noticed this is the left most plug well. I have never seen this before, and i've done all the work to all my cars for 20 years. Anyone venture a guess as to what it could be? Doesn't look like dried coolant, or anti seize grease. don't think anyone put it there, so how did it just magically appear? Don't think the plugs are stock, it has 54k mi on the car, and the plug are Autolite double platinum. The gaps are 0.049", or 1.245mm, which seems too high, so maybe they are stock and were in there for a long time, hence the large gap. Gotta look up the specs, don't have the manual, not on hood sticker. thanks.

 

[flcruising]

What does it feel like? If it were me, I'd take a wire bristled long something or another and clean and vacuum it out before removing the spark plug. Iridiums are stock, so those have definitely been changed.

 

[Donewood]

I would get under it and some interior panels off it to see if there is any evidence of it being a "Flood Car". It looks like aluminum reaction to salt water to me.

Any weird electrical issues? Brake calipers look changed or freshed up? Have a look under the carpet. Any musty Smells?

I hope I'm out too lunch and I'm just overly suspicious.... Best of luck. And hope you can love the car as much as I love mine.

 

[mazdadude]

This is my "GUT" feeling...For the early 5's, there was a TSB for replacing the upper hood/windshield cowl gasket to prevent the water from running onto the valve cover and puddling into the spark plug hole and causing a misfire. This misfire condition caused the previous owner to think that the spark plugs were bad, so they were replaced with the autolites...

 

[jivenene]

This is my "GUT" feeling...For the early 5's, there was a TSB for replacing the upper hood/windshield cowl gasket to prevent the water from running onto the valve cover and puddling into the spark plug hole and causing a misfire. This misfire condition caused the previous owner to think that the spark plugs were bad, so they were replaced with the autolites...

ahh yes, very plausible... I thought it looked like corrosion due to water, but i have not dug around in there yet, maybe tomorrow. After posting the original message, I thought that it must be water. Also, looking closer at the pics, it looks like the dirt is in there due to water, and you can see a line where the water level reached and sat. Of the 4 plugs, that one must have not had a good seal, and hence filled with water. Hm... gotta get that TSB taken care of.

 

[mazdadude]

Also, I am curious if you still have the plastic engine cover that snaps on top of the motor, or is your valve cover exposed?

From the description of the TSB:

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2006-2007 Mazda5 vehicles with VINs lower than JM1 CR**** ** 133752

Some vehicles may experience idle fluctuation or engine vibration after the engine starts from a misfire caused by water settling around the No.1 plug after it rains or a car wash. The water enters the engine compartment because of poor sealing between the cowl grill and the hood. To prevent water from entering the engine compartment and settling around the No. 1 plug, a pad will be added on the cowl grill and the shape of the rubber seal for the ignition coil will be modified.Here is a link to the PDF of the Technical Service Bulletin

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/mazda5/bulletin/01-023-07-1774.pdf

 

[jivenene]

Also, I am curious if you still have the plastic engine cover that snaps on top of the motor, or is your valve cover exposed?

From the description of the TSB:

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2006-2007 Mazda5 vehicles with VINs lower than JM1 CR**** ** 133752

Some vehicles may experience idle fluctuation or engine vibration after the engine starts from a misfire caused by water settling around the No.1 plug after it rains or a car wash. The water enters the engine compartment because of poor sealing between the cowl grill and the hood. To prevent water from entering the engine compartment and settling around the No. 1 plug, a pad will be added on the cowl grill and the shape of the rubber seal for the ignition coil will be modified.Here is a link to the PDF of the Technical Service Bulletin

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pdf/mazda5/bulletin/01-023-07-1774.pdf

Thanks for the info. The weird thing is that mine is a 2008 with VIN # 302670, so it SHOULDN'T have that problem. Also the plastic engine cover is there, and i would figure if would help to protect that area. It's doesn't fit 100% though, the clips in front haev nothing to clip onto, i think the extending bolts are missing. Anyway, then i'll clean it out before removing the plug, and life goes on.

Jive

 

[Donewood]

jivenene I just clued into where you live. It was probably just windblowen sea wate

Thanks for the info. The weird thing is that mine is a 2008 with VIN # 302670, so it SHOULDN'T have that problem. Also the plastic engine cover is there, and i would figure if would help to protect that area. It's doesn't fit 100% though, the clips in front haev nothing to clip onto, i think the extending bolts are missing. Anyway, then i'll clean it out before removing the plug, and life goes on.

Jive

 

[Donewood]

Wind blown seawater and a bad weather seals, as the TSB suggests.