What am I looking at - spark plug hole #1

[911monty]

Looks to me to be an "oil fouled spark plug saver" type of device. The intent was to have a central port (the hole you see) for the spark plug to fire through, but prevent oil scraped from the cylinder walls from reaching the plug.

[elgyqc]

Originally Posted by NewArt

If you gently feel around with a brochette skewer or something , can you feel the piece?

Yes I did that, I used a metal rod to more than gently explore the surface and the hole... it is solid.

Originally Posted by 911monty

Looks to me to be an "oil fouled spark plug saver" type of device. The intent was to have a central port (the hole you see) for the spark plug to fire through, but prevent oil scraped from the cylinder walls from reaching the plug.

That sounds like an explanation... I was thinking something like that, but more in terms of controlling the spark. If it is what you suggest is this common on Boxsters or Porsches and why only 1 cylinder?

[Doug427]

Originally Posted by 911monty

Looks to me to be an "oil fouled spark plug saver" type of device. The intent was to have a central port (the hole you see) for the spark plug to fire through, but prevent oil scraped from the cylinder walls from reaching the plug.

No, they screw in from the outside just like a spark plug. You'd see the hex shaped area where the wrench fits to it just like a spark plug. What he's got there is bizarre looking. It almost looks like a previous plug broke when taking it out and some piece of it was left in there? Damn, I've never seen anything like that.