misfire code P0302 (cylinder 2)

[lifespeed]

Just got a check engine light and misfire code, apparently cylinder number 2 (code P0302).

I changed my spark plugs about two months ago, XP104 iridiums if my memory is correct. Used a small amount of anti-seize, the new plugs cured a slight roughness at idle. I set the gap at 0.052".

When I changed the plugs I saw no indication of internal ills such as oil on the plugs. The engine does, however, burn a quart of oil every 4K miles at 70K on the clock. It has done this since I got it at 30K miles.

Any ideas on what I should look for? I suppose the definitive answer is to swap plug, coil and injector from one cylinder to another one part after the other.

[RF Overlord]

...the definitive answer is to swap plug, coil and injector from one cylinder to another one part after the other.

[musclemerc]

I'm lost. If the plugs came out clean where is the oil going to? Do you have a leak?
Check to see if it's getting blown by the pcv valve.

As RF stated swap the coil and plug on cyl#2 to another cylinder.

[lifespeed]

There may be a bit of a leak around the crankshaft in front. The timing cover looks dirtier than it should. I didn't think that amount of oil consumption was that bad, but at the same time I bet there are some Marauders that consume no oil in an oil change interval.

I'll check and see if the PCV hose is wet inside.

[tbone]

Mine doesn't use oil at that rate. Blue smoke on cold start once in a great while.
115K.

[lifespeed]

OK, moved coil 2 to cylinder 1. Misfire got better, but started to return less severely. It will likely get bad enough to trigger the CE light again (I cleared it). My gut instinct is the coil. High voltage can be fairly intermittent. Next guess, injector. Last choice, spark plug.

Any recommends on a true code reader that can reade *all* the codes? I understand many of them are cheapies that only get the codes beginning with "P", not necessarily the long-term codes.

[lifespeed]

It doesn't seem to be triggering the CE light now, but there is still a slight misfire. Based on moving the coil and having it get slightly better, I am highly suspicious of that part.

Is the computer smart enough to record misfires that are infrequent enough not to trigger a CE light and tell me if I buy a scan tool? Or should I just take a (small) risk and drop $60+ on a new coil and just replace it.

I hate buying a new part and being wrong.

Edit: anybody tried this scanner (http://www.alobdscanner.com/)? Plugs into the OBD II port and bluetooth's to your Android phone.

[lifespeed]

The #2 spark plug was bad. Pretty impressive for super-trick $7 apiece iridium plugs . . . :cool:

[EMAS]

Glad to hear you got it fixed and that is was the cheapest thing is a plus.

To answer your question about scan tools they do vary a lot in what they will do and of course their price. The ELM based stuff is also available in a standard wired version to work with a laptop. What it will do all depends on the software. The best software will give you full access to all codes, run a cylinder power balance test, allow you to program keys, read live data and in the case of finding intermittent misses access to mode $06 where you can watch misfires counts live and find those misses that aren't frequent enough to set a code.

The one I use at work is from http://www.autoenginuity.com/ and it will set you back $400 for the Total Ford bundle but that will give all the capabilities of the factory scan tool.

[lifespeed]

Yes, all 'scan tools' are not created equal. Thanks for listing the extra features to look for. The intermittent miss tool could be invaluable, as would the other tests you mention. Good to know the capability is there within ELM based hardware, but as you said, software is key.