huey_33

Guys, need some help. I have a 1998 GT and for the last couple days it has been running like crap. It stutters and shakes constantly when I press the gas pedal and it will not stop shaking until I take my foot off the gas pedal. So I decided to do a little investigating and took off all plug wire to see if any were deformed. As you will see in the pics I attached, one of the spark plug boots is deformed at the bottom of it where it goes onto the spark plug. And the spark plug, also attached, it really burnt and was covered in oil. I know I have a spark issue, but what could be causing this? Bad wire, bad plug, bad coil? I have no idea and want to start with the cheapest possible solution. Thanks.

DillonInCO

Unfortunately that doesn't sound like a cheap problem to fix at all...you probably have a mechanical problem. Engine oil isn't electrically conductive, so if your plug was "covered in oil", there's the source of your spark problem. Oil on a plug can mean a variety of things...usually it's worn piston rings, valve stem seals, or head gasket. Or worse, a crack / hole in the combustion chamber, which if it just started running like crap all of a sudden, and if it's truly only on one cylinder, seems possible. Bent valve is also possible. I would do both a compression and leakdown test before replacing anything electrical.