Hello guys,

My wife's 08 mini cooper base had a rough idling this morning, it has never happened before. The ESL blinks on the main dashboard with warning chime. After 10+ miles driving to work, the problem is still there. Stumbling and shaking especially at 1500~2000 RPM.

Well, here comes the real puzzle: I tried to swap the ignition coil, and I found engine oil in the #2 spark plug socket.

Can someone shed me light on what's going on? Any suggestion and comment is highly appreciated.

Vincent

 

Sounds like oil is leaking past your valve cover gasket. I'd replace it, along w/ the spark plugs.

 

After delving into the issue a bit. I suspect the misfire is not due to the carbon collection, bad gas, faulty coil or faulty spark plug. It's because the engine oil leakage that short circuit the spark plug so that the affected spark plug doesn't work in right order.

So the problem should be solved by fixing the leaking: replace the valve cover gasket?