Oil in spark plug holes?

LegendC · 08-05-03, 03:13 PM

Yesterday I went to have my Zex nitrous kit installed. I also had the shop replace my plugs with the Zex plugs. When they were removing the old plugs some of the hole had some oil in them. It ranged from just a drop or two to a pretty noticable amount in cyl #6. They refused to hook up the switch for the nitrous until I have this looked out. Sounds like a bad valve cover gasket to me...

I have 155K on the motor, run Amsoil 5w30, and have already been through the headgasket ordeal. I'm thinking the thinner synthetic oil is just very gradually seeping past the seals and is pooling up in these holes. The motor IS NOT burning oil though. Is this something I really have to worry about? The amount was very small and had built up over about 1.5 years since the HG work was done. Do I tell them to just finish hooking up the Zex?

Thanks!

Lankan · 08-05-03, 05:21 PM

It's not the valve cover gasket itself. There are these 6 round rubber gaskets that go between the hole in the valve cover, and the hole in the head (where the spark plug is). Those seals are probably bad. It's not an easy job to replace them though... as you have to take the valve cover off. One of my buddies civics had the same problem... those seals were bad, and almost all of his spark holes were submerged in oil.Hope this helped.
Asanga

LegendC · 08-05-03, 06:27 PM

Thanks, thats exactly what I was thinking, those O rings in the valve covers. With as slow as this leak as been I am tempted to do noting about it, but check on it every 6 months or so. Thanks!

samtaher · 08-05-03, 10:40 PM

I had the same problem with one of the spark plugs. I was replacing the spark plugs and found that no 1 plug was submereged in oil ... well that freaked me out. I tried to remove as much oil as I could. Well then I replaced the plugs, used fuel injector cleaner and then BG 44K. Its been 6 months now and I just checked my sparkplugs last week and they are all dry.
I think having too much oil in the engine may contribute to that problem.

DrEemAr gUy · 08-05-03, 11:23 PM

If this were to be my case, i would go ahead and get the plugs seals change out before hooking up to nitrous. The reason is the oil going to get on the top of them plugs and might cause a misfire to acour. I believe that when injecting nitrous, a misfire might lead to some major issue.

Steveman09 · 08-06-03, 03:23 AM

If the Electrode of the Spark plug has oil on it then your Piston Rings are bad.

If the top of the plugs (where the wire connects) has oil then replace the O-Rings he talked about.

Dont run Nitrous with Oily plug electrodes as this is called a "Fouled Spark Plug" This will lead the misfires and under Nitrous will lead to Detonation and Engine Damage/Failure.

Not to mention if your Piston Rings are leaking oil it will get MUCH worse after you spray some ZEX a few times.

cbr900bikes · 08-06-03, 11:41 AM

right on point steveman09

414Toyz · 11-28-05, 05:55 PM

Has anyone changed the O rings? How difficult is it? Is there any special tools needed?

mondonalds · 11-28-05, 06:00 PM

I have done it on both sides. Its not too difficult, just takes some time. As for tools, if i remember right, you will need 8mm, 10mm, 12mm sockets with a ratcheting wrench. I have them for both 1/4 and 3/8" drive ratchets and found in some places it was easier with one of the two sizes. Also, make sure to get some silicone gasket sealer. The hardest part is just getting all the various things out of the way of the valve cover so you can pull it off. Just post here if you have more questions and I will try and answer.

92drls · 11-28-05, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 414Toyz

Has anyone changed the O rings? How difficult is it? Is there any special tools needed?

Just take an hour or two depending on experience. Couple different size wrenches and random common tools and you should be set.

414Toyz · 11-28-05, 06:05 PM

Thanks ill keep yall posted

So whats the worst that could happen if there not changed? Besides loosing oil.

mondonalds · 11-28-05, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 414Toyz

Thanks ill keep yall posted

So whats the worst that could happen if there not changed? Besides loosing oil.

To my knowledge, your spark plugs will get "oil-fouled"

When you do this, replace all spark plug orings AND your valve cover gasket. I did mine not too long ago. I dont think it has been done on my car, so the gaskets and orings were probably from 93. They were brittle.

This is a relatively cheap and easy fix.

08-05-03, 03:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
LegendC Symply Legendary Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Fife, WA Posts: 600 Car 1: 1994 LS Coupe (Modded) iTrader: (0)	Oil in spark plug holes? Yesterday I went to have my Zex nitrous kit installed. I also had the shop replace my plugs with the Zex plugs. When they were removing the old plugs some of the hole had some oil in them. It ranged from just a drop or two to a pretty noticable amount in cyl #6. They refused to hook up the switch for the nitrous until I have this looked out. Sounds like a bad valve cover gasket to me... I have 155K on the motor, run Amsoil 5w30, and have already been through the headgasket ordeal. I'm thinking the thinner synthetic oil is just very gradually seeping past the seals and is pooling up in these holes. The motor IS NOT burning oil though. Is this something I really have to worry about? The amount was very small and had built up over about 1.5 years since the HG work was done. Do I tell them to just finish hooking up the Zex? Thanks! __________________ - Remus Exhaust - DV8 Y-Pipe and Cat - WR CAB and Ram Intake - Bayou II Chip - Ported and Polished Heads - Zex Dry Nitrous Kit "60" Shot - Grounding Kit (Smoked) - Eibachs & Rear Konis - MLS Strut Tower Bar - Brembo Cross Drilled \ Slotted & EBC Greenstuff - 18" RacingHart GT5 - 225\40\18 Yokohama Parada Spec II - Two-Tone Leather (Black on Tan) - Kenwood MP3 - Phoenix Gold 2500 & 4600 & X-Over - .5 Ferad Cap - MB Quart & Infinity Interiors - Custom Tweeters In Domelight - 2 JL 12W6's in Custom Box

08-05-03, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lankan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 128 Car 1: 1994 GS Sedan iTrader: (0)	It's not the valve cover gasket itself. There are these 6 round rubber gaskets that go between the hole in the valve cover, and the hole in the head (where the spark plug is). Those seals are probably bad. It's not an easy job to replace them though... as you have to take the valve cover off. One of my buddies civics had the same problem... those seals were bad, and almost all of his spark holes were submerged in oil.Hope this helped. Asanga __________________ 94 Legend GS... 6-Spd Bayou Stage II chip Custom "hot" air intake 2.25" Mandrel bent downpipes 2.5" Cat-back exhaust H&R/Koni Suspension MLS Strut Bar

08-05-03, 06:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
LegendC Symply Legendary Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Fife, WA Posts: 600 Car 1: 1994 LS Coupe (Modded) iTrader: (0)	Thanks, thats exactly what I was thinking, those O rings in the valve covers. With as slow as this leak as been I am tempted to do noting about it, but check on it every 6 months or so. Thanks! __________________ - Remus Exhaust - DV8 Y-Pipe and Cat - WR CAB and Ram Intake - Bayou II Chip - Ported and Polished Heads - Zex Dry Nitrous Kit "60" Shot - Grounding Kit (Smoked) - Eibachs & Rear Konis - MLS Strut Tower Bar - Brembo Cross Drilled \ Slotted & EBC Greenstuff - 18" RacingHart GT5 - 225\40\18 Yokohama Parada Spec II - Two-Tone Leather (Black on Tan) - Kenwood MP3 - Phoenix Gold 2500 & 4600 & X-Over - .5 Ferad Cap - MB Quart & Infinity Interiors - Custom Tweeters In Domelight - 2 JL 12W6's in Custom Box

08-06-03, 03:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
Steveman09 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sandy, OR Posts: 1,680 Car 1: 94 Legend LS Coupe Type-II Car 2: 87 Subaru GL10 Turbo Car 3: 91 Eagle Talon TSI iTrader: (0)	If the Electrode of the Spark plug has oil on it then your Piston Rings are bad. If the top of the plugs (where the wire connects) has oil then replace the O-Rings he talked about. Dont run Nitrous with Oily plug electrodes as this is called a "Fouled Spark Plug" This will lead the misfires and under Nitrous will lead to Detonation and Engine Damage/Failure. Not to mention if your Piston Rings are leaking oil it will get MUCH worse after you spray some ZEX a few times. __________________ 94 Legend LS Coupe Type-II Last edited by Steveman09 : 08-06-03 at 11:15 PM.

11-28-05, 05:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
414Toyz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: milwaukee,wi Posts: 334 Car 1: 91 Legend iTrader: (0)	Has anyone changed the O rings? How difficult is it? Is there any special tools needed? __________________ 414TOYZ http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=at...b6e225afb4b51e

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08-05-03, 10:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
samtaher Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 62 Car 1: 1991 Legend LS Coupe iTrader: (0)	I had the same problem with one of the spark plugs. I was replacing the spark plugs and found that no 1 plug was submereged in oil ... well that freaked me out. I tried to remove as much oil as I could. Well then I replaced the plugs, used fuel injector cleaner and then BG 44K. Its been 6 months now and I just checked my sparkplugs last week and they are all dry. I think having too much oil in the engine may contribute to that problem.

08-05-03, 11:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
DrEemAr gUy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Biloxi, Mississippi Posts: 118 Car 1: '92 LS sedan iTrader: (0)	If this were to be my case, i would go ahead and get the plugs seals change out before hooking up to nitrous. The reason is the oil going to get on the top of them plugs and might cause a misfire to acour. I believe that when injecting nitrous, a misfire might lead to some major issue.

08-06-03, 11:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
cbr900bikes Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Brooklyn,NY Posts: 848 Car 1: 93 acura legend 6spd blk on blk coupe iTrader: (0)	right on point steveman09

11-28-05, 06:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
mondonalds Looking for Blk/Bk GS6MT Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,400 Car 1: 1999 TL - Blk/Blk iTrader: (0)	I have done it on both sides. Its not too difficult, just takes some time. As for tools, if i remember right, you will need 8mm, 10mm, 12mm sockets with a ratcheting wrench. I have them for both 1/4 and 3/8" drive ratchets and found in some places it was easier with one of the two sizes. Also, make sure to get some silicone gasket sealer. The hardest part is just getting all the various things out of the way of the valve cover so you can pull it off. Just post here if you have more questions and I will try and answer. __________________ 1999 3.2TL - Black w/ Type A (01-07 - ____) 1996 Toyota 4Runner Limited (05-06 - _____) 1993 LS Sedan - Geneva Green Pearl w/ Type F (11/04 - 07/06)

11-28-05, 06:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
414Toyz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: milwaukee,wi Posts: 334 Car 1: 91 Legend iTrader: (0)	Thanks ill keep yall posted So whats the worst that could happen if there not changed? Besides loosing oil. __________________ 414TOYZ http://mail.google.com/mail/?view=at...b6e225afb4b51e

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