oil on spark plugs [Merged 11-7] oily wire wires cover valley well wells

[JusMX141]

The valve cover gasket is bad- particularly the plug grommets. Change the gasket and the grommets, do not overtighten the valve cover mounting bolts, and your problem will be solved.

 

[mindset]

The valve cover gasket is bad- particularly the plug grommets. Change the gasket and the grommets, do not overtighten the valve cover mounting bolts, and your problem will be solved.

Doing so would crack your valve cover if you were wondering why. Then you would end up with a bigger problem.

 

[My1GLaser]

Also check your oil cap gasket, since it is right next to #1 plug well. I have 2 gaskets because it leaked a under high boost with just one gasket.

 

[AWD_Hybrid]

I suspect the bolt se of #1 plug has been overtightened & cracked the vc.
Run the car with no plug leed cover for a few mins to see the leak.
A bit of goop will fix it. Don't overtighten the inner bolts.
Cheers !

 

[srpjosh]

I replaced my vc gasket about 3 months ago. Why, if I overtightened the bolts and cracked my vc, would it just now start leaking? Also, my oil cap is also brand new.

 

[ryan11]

+1 on new gaskets.

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

Also check your oil cap gasket, since it is right next to #1 plug well. I have 2 gaskets because it leaked a under high boost with just one gasket.

This is the solution. Your oil cap gasket leaks after spending 20 years getting heat cycled, directly into your spark plug well area. Dsmgraveyard has entirely new caps or you can buy just the gasket and replace it on your old one.

 

[natertater]

yes, it could be bad gasket on either cap, but more than likely down in the plug cylinder. i know it looks fine, but its not. my buddies 91 saturn did this. he didnt want to spend 50 some odd dollars on a gasket, so i told him to go get some hi temp rtv and make his own. brought some sockets and ratchet, and showed him how to do it on the first couple plug holes on valve cover, then he finished the rest...only cost him 9 bucks for huge tube of rtv, and lasted him till he sold the car. so if you want, get gaskets and rtv..or just use rtv...but yes, your gaskets are bad somewhere...im 95% sure its in the plug bore part...

 

[AWD_Hybrid]

I replaced my vc gasket about 3 months ago. Why, if I overtightened the bolts and cracked my vc, would it just now start leaking? Also, my oil cap is also brand new.

I have had a flooding inner spark plug well with oil filling around the plugs.
No oil leaks around the outside. With the plug cover on, I couldn't see why.
I had overtightened the inner bolts to ensure a seal at the plug round seals.
I ran it for several mins with the plug cover off & noticed where the oil was
entering the well. A small crack in the inner well near #1 plug hole.
A bit of goop across the crack & no oil comes up through it.
Gaskets were fine, the heavy handed owner caused the crack.
Cheers !

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

yes, it could be bad gasket on either cap, but more than likely down in the plug cylinder. i know it looks fine, but its not. my buddies 91 saturn did this. he didnt want to spend 50 some odd dollars on a gasket, so i told him to go get some hi temp rtv and make his own. brought some sockets and ratchet, and showed him how to do it on the first couple plug holes on valve cover, then he finished the rest...only cost him 9 bucks for huge tube of rtv, and lasted him till he sold the car. so if you want, get gaskets and rtv..or just use rtv...but yes, your gaskets are bad somewhere...im 95% sure its in the plug bore part...

That is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard in all my years of modding cars.

 

[natertater]

That is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard in all my years of modding cars.

really, how so? it worked for two cars, my old one long ago (after my brother in law busted my vc and i had to use his...wrong vac ports and tubing setup...no boost and major crap) and my buddy's saturn. he had no more complaints...nor oil pooling in his spark plug bores in the head...

 

[Mr PopUps]

That is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard in all my years of modding cars.

really, how so? it worked for two cars, my old one long ago (after my brother in law busted my vc and i had to use his...wrong vac ports and tubing setup...no boost and major crap) and my buddy's saturn. he had no more complaints...nor oil pooling in his spark plug bores in the head...

Not so sure about the VC since you may want to take it off, but the oil pan came from the factory with nothing but RTV, so you gonna call the japanese stupid?

 

[natertater]

Also check your oil cap gasket, since it is right next to #1 plug well. I have 2 gaskets because it leaked a under high boost with just one gasket.

does this happen a lot? bad seal? it looks like a good gasket on my car, never put over normal boost and bought it, puddle of oil sitting in the whole tray around spark plugs. maybe this kid over tightened it like he blew up the turbo...

 

[bnr32_coupe]

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</object></center>The valve cover gasket is bad- particularly the plug grommets. Change the gasket and the grommets, do not overtighten the valve cover mounting bolts, and your problem will be solved.

^ +1 for plug cylinder gap seal. Don't over tighten!!

 

[My1GLaser]

does this happen a lot? bad seal?

The oil cap isn't really tight enough with one gasket IMO. If you flip over the cap, those little metal pieces that hold it to the VC are really thin and like to bend easily. I bent mine tighter and used 2 gaskets.

The real problem could be too much boost getting into the cranckase...probably thru the PCV valve if it is OEM. That POS barely holds back 10 psi, and you can actually blow thru it with your mouth! Look into putting a check valve inline. Check Valves - US Plastic Corporation Leave the PCV valve in place also. It has a piece that extends into the baffle so you don't suck up oil.

You might have a cracked VC or bad plug seal, but what I mentioned is a good thing to do regardless.

 

[dsmfa9nutter]

Using nothing but RTV for the spark plug well gaskets is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Just thinking about one of them breaking apart and falling into and clogging up an oil return hole would make me eh oh el so hard.


Is it really worth the extra hassle of buying all that rtv and then custom making the gasket out of rtv and THEN having to worry about it not falling apart, rather than just spend the $27.99 and buy a real gasket? I think not. Stop being lazy.

 

[nyTalonTsi]

I was changing my plugs yesterday, i noticed oil on all 4 spark plugs. Valve cover gasket is coming in the mail, but i thought it was weird the oil was on the thread part of the plugs. Car doesn't smoke, for me to think its seals or rings.

I just bought the car, but i may do a leak down shortly.