WadeLovell
New LVC Member
Our clean and previously well behaved 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII with 190,000 threw a P0307 code. As soon as my wife saw the CEL, she pulled over and had it towed home - she's pretty great that way.
I popped the spark plug cover off and immediately noticed the #7 COP rubber boot had been shredded which was followed by a deep sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach.
Looks like an exhaust valve broke off and shoved the spark plug out, while the valve was being pulverized between the piston and the cylinder head. The question now is, "What next?"
Please pick your favorite option(s) and explain your reasoning.
1) Clean out the debris and drive on 7 cylinders until...
2) Pull the head and clean out the debris before deciding what to do.
3) Swap out the engine
4) Rebuild this engine (right and completely)
5) Call it quits on this Mark VIII
I popped the spark plug cover off and immediately noticed the #7 COP rubber boot had been shredded which was followed by a deep sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach.
Looks like an exhaust valve broke off and shoved the spark plug out, while the valve was being pulverized between the piston and the cylinder head. The question now is, "What next?"
Please pick your favorite option(s) and explain your reasoning.
1) Clean out the debris and drive on 7 cylinders until...
2) Pull the head and clean out the debris before deciding what to do.
3) Swap out the engine
4) Rebuild this engine (right and completely)
5) Call it quits on this Mark VIII