Why Is There Coolant in My Spark Plugs? (Read This First!)

The mixture of glycol & water makes a strong antifreeze fluid for the engine. It helps in harsh weather and helps to start the engine within a while. But you should never mess up between coolant and starting fluid; they are different from every angle.

The glycol helps you not get the frost coolant in winter or burned fluid in high heat. So, using the best coolant would be much appreciated, although it may create some issues with the spark plugs.

Why is there coolant in my spark plugs?

There is coolant in your spark plugs because of three reasons. The lousy plug and the leaking inside would be two significant reasons you get coolant in your spark plugs. There is no relation between the spark plugs and the coolant, but the leaking intake plays the role here.

Mainly the coolant plays the role of antifreeze; it means the fluid won’t frost under cold and won’t get sticky. Once the fluid turns into a gel, it will not let the engine start quickly. It’s a very crucial ingredient for your vehicle.

Leaking Intake:

You get coolant on your spark plugs because of the leaking intake. Sometimes, the fluid lines or the pumps get damaged, and eventually, they get some small holes.

Getting the coolant over the spark plugs is obvious if the gasoline pipe gets leakages.

So, whenever you find coolant on your spark plugs, you must check the pipelines or the entire fuel system. It’s a dangerous sign to get the coolant over your plugs. It will cause misfires in the engine and will cause you great difficulties.

Damaged Plugs:

The damaged spark plugs can often cause the coolant to come up and flood the plugs.

It will also damage the gasoline pipes and attract the coolant on the surface. The damaged plug may leak the coolant storage and damage the entire system within a while.

If you don’t find any leaks over the gasoline pipes, you must check the spark plugs and change or replace them within a while. Maybe you can clean the plugs and repair them quickly.

Faulty Fuel System:

Another great reason you get the coolant over the spark plugs might get the coolant over it.

However, the faulty fuel system includes leaks, damaged parts, and improper installation of the coolant. They will cause severe damage to the spark plugs and the entire fuel system.

So, the faulty fuel system is another reason you get the coolant over the spark plugs.

What does antifreeze on spark plugs mean?

Antifreeze on spark plugs is a type of coolant issue. When coolant leaks into the spark plugs, it can create severe issues and damage, which can eventually cause the engine to fail and require replacement.

For example, if coolant leaks from the engine, it can reach the head gasket outside the engine. Indeed, it can reach both the combustion chambers and the piston cylinder. You will see it oozing between the engine block and the engine head.

Such leaks expose your engine to a wide range of threats to its overall health. Because of this, once it reaches the spark plugs, you’ll want to treat the situation quickly, or else it will damage the spark plugs themselves.

Depending on the cause, the issue could be with the intake manifold or head gasket, and the fouled plug could be restricted to one or two nearby cylinders.

The charred coolant deposits on the electrodes and insulator, resulting in hot patches that could cause pre-ignition and the setting of a misfire code.

Can coolant in spark plug holes damage spark plugs?

Internal coolant in spark plug holes can damage the spark plug to become fouled, resulting in a misfire. Spark plugs that fail might cause the engine to misfire, harming the vehicle’s performance.

If the single spark plug fail to ignite the fuel-air mixture, it might result in the engine coming to a complete stop while operating.

If left unchecked, it can cause incomplete combustion and damage the car’s catalytic converter.

Consequently, if the internal coolant leaks and reaches the spark plug, it can cause considerable damage that is sufficient to cause an engine to misfire.

As a result, if the coolant burns, it will leave deposits or particles on the insulators and electrodes of the spark plug. These particles have the potential to generate heat that can cause a code to misfire.

Can spark plugs affect coolant?

Spark plugs cannot affect coolant; it occurs in the opposite direction. Because a coolant in a spark plug can create misfires, continuing to operate your vehicle despite the indications of misfires might do more damage to your engine.

Numerous issues might arise when coolant is in the combustion region and around the spark plug. For example, it can impair the performance of your engine and foul your spark plugs.

A spark plug with a lot of white to brown deposits on it could be a sign that there is a coolant leak. If the leak is not repaired, this situation will only worsen and may lead to even worse problems in the future.

Why would my spark plugs be wet?

Your spark plugs would be wet due to some common reasons. Either it gets coolant over the plugs or gets frost in winter. Whatever the reasons are, you must clean the spark plugs immediately.

Coolant Over the Spark Plugs:

You get wet spark plugs due to the damage to spark plugs or the leaks over the coolant system.

It’s not the regular case that you experience the wet spark plugs. If it gets wet, it will not work correctly. Significantly, the engine won’t start soon.

Cold:

Both the snowfall and the high heat will cause the spark plugs to get wet and damaged frequently. Let’s talk about how the frost or winter season leaves water on the spark plugs.

When you leave the vehicle for about a week or a few days in winter or under snowfall, the entire vehicle will get snowfall around it.

As a result, the spark plugs get the winter’s vibe and receive some snow. At least, the spark plugs will be too cold and will become frosty.

Overheat in Summer:

Sometimes, the heat goes up and will cause the spark plugs to get wet. Although it’s not the everyday case to get the wet plugs every day, it will occur if the engine is too hot and cause it to sweat.

How to get coolant out of spark plug hole?

You can get coolant out of spark plug holes following some tips. They are very effective and will give you an instant solution.

Unplug the Sparks Plugs:

You must detach the spark plugs and see if there are any leaks on the skin.

You cannot observe it while it is plugged in. After unplugging the sparks, you must check them thoroughly. Although it will take time, it is worth it, so spend some time and find the reason.

Repair the Spark Plugs:

If there are any leaks on the sparking park, or if it gets damaged, you have to repair it.

In other words, you must check the spark plugs’ health and close the holes if there are any. But improving might have some issues regarding installation and covering the leaks.

It would be better if you could replace the spark plug if it gets damaged entirely. Sometimes, the damaged spark plugs might cause the coolant or create starting issues. So, it’s better to replace it soon.

Wipe with Paper Towel or soft Fabric:

Most drivers or users find wet spark plugs because of the extra coolant.

In that case, you have to wipe the spark plugs with a soft fabric or paper towel. It will remove the coolant from the sparks and give you an instant solution.

You can dry the spark plugs without detaching or unplugging them. But you must remain the engine cool and turn it off. Once you are done wiping, you need to wait for a few minutes and check if you get the coolant again.

Check the Coolant and Repair it:

After doing all of the above things, if you still find the coolant over your spark plugs, you must check the coolant system and its reasons.

Maybe the pipelines of the inside parts are damaged and expose the coolant over the spark plugs.

If so, you need to repair the coolant pipes or the entire system. It will be better to replace the pipe if it is damaged or gets too many leaks.

Final Thoughts

There is coolant in your spark plugs because of the faulty coolant system or damaged spark plugs. In addition, the weather can also play a crucial role to give your spark plugs some coolant. It’s not always possible to know why you get coolant over the spark plugs.