Hello I'm not an expert mechanic..... I was doing a minor tune-up on my 1991 Toyota Camry (88,000 miles) and I found a spark plug with oil at the base where it threads. I'm wondering what this means and how it can affect the overall life of the engine and how much will I need to spend on parts and labor.? I appreciate your responses....thank you.
2006-12-12 11:34:23 · 10 answers · asked by DXL 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It's the valve cover gasket, no big deal. Oil puddles in spark plug recess. When you remove the plug, oil gets on the threads. A few dollars for a new gasket and an hour of work and the problem is solved.
2006-12-12 13:20:43 · answer #1 · answered by maxinebootie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So much gloom and doom for no reason!
That last answer is correct. On a DOHC engine like the Toyota 2.2L the spark plugs are located between the cams. There are tubes in the valve cover where the spark plugs go. Therefore the Valve Cover will have not just a gasket going around the edge but also individual gaskets for each spark plug hole. If these gaskets start to leak the space the spark plug sits in will fill with oil which will eventually cause a misfire as it fouls the plug and ignition wire or coil pack tube.
Installing a replacement gasket set which includes these seals will cure the problem. It's about an hours labor and the gasket sets are pretty cheap.
2006-12-12 14:02:16 · answer #2 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
can not tell for confident with no desire a glance at it and operating some tests. even though it appears like the earrings are undesirable, to ensure this a compression examine of the cylinders must be performed and the compression in each and each and every cylinder suggested and then guide transmissions grease must be placed in each and each and every cylinder with the help of the spark plug holes. A 2d compression try must be performed and the compression figures suggested. If the compression will strengthen after the area of the grease then you truly comprehend that the earrings are undesirable. The oil on the sparkplugs must be hence undesirable cylinder earrings. What must be happening is that too much oil from the crankcase is blowing with techniques from the earrings and entering into the cylinders. a good established vehicle mechanics textual content e book will clarify this properly. otherwise, take the vehicle to a relied on mechanic. How is the vehicle operating and are you dropping oil? Do you get blue-white smoke popping out to the exhaust somewhat at initiate? What i am going to't decide from listen is the degree of the issue. At 80,000 miles a compression examine will be lower priced coverage. also it will be oil coming down the valve stems, this can be led to with techniques from a foul valve seal. on the different hand slightly oil interior the cylinder gained't be the properly of the international. i have positioned yet another 40,000 miles on an engine that had a number of those issues. to procure an previous engine so it has were given to be babied. do not skimp on the upkeep, oil adjustments etc. As to the leaky valve cover concept: Which way is the oil on the spark plug coming from the interior or the exterior. If its coming from the exterior then it will be a leaky valve cover seal. undesirable air toxins administration such issues because the crankcase ventilation valve(PCV) may reason the valve cover to strengthen leaks. Are the plugs fouling? In an vehicle mechanics textbook it ought to have pictures of diverse damaged sparkplugs and which style of harm skill what style of engine situation. good luck!
2016-11-30 12:19:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil around the thread area usually means you have a small oil leak that probably is running down into the spark plug cavity. This is usually a valve cover gasket. If there is not a noticable oil usage between oil and filter changes, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
2006-12-12 11:45:39 · answer #4 · answered by rexallen 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid to tell you, but this is BAD NEWS, buddy. My husband
is an ASE certified master mechanic. I restore older cars, as a hobby and do all my own auto repair.
Oil on spark plug threads (especially in a car that old with over 50K miles) usually means one of two things. A bad piston ring or
a bad valve involving the cylinder relating to the plug in question.
A bad piston ring requires new rings on all cylinders and a bad valve requires a valve job.
Both are very expensive. 8- 12 hours of labor plus parts. Easily over a thousand dollars for each repair.
Your engine may seem to run ok, now. But, it won't for long. I'd say it's on it's last legs. Look into getting a good rebuilt motor
and having it installed in the car, if the body is still in decent shape.
The engine job will run around $1500 probably, but it will be worth it, in the end.
2006-12-12 11:59:17 · answer #5 · answered by txharleygirl1 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's really no big deal, especially if your plugs are not oil fouled. I have seen the oil on the threads on numerous engines that are running fine. No worries.
2006-12-12 11:42:48 · answer #6 · answered by Stu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as long as the plug itself looked clean and no oil where it fires you are alright, did the plug seem looser when you were taking it out than the others? if so oil could have gotten into the threads that way.
2006-12-12 11:41:28 · answer #7 · answered by mister ss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry about it too much .... oil on the end of the plug wear you set the gap could be bad , it should be a light brown in color .
2006-12-12 11:40:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it no big deal.its probably a small leak around the valve pan gasket,running down around the plug.the tip is where you need to worry about.if the tip is clean,then dont worry about it.
2006-12-12 14:10:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
valve cover gasket is leaking
2006-12-12 11:57:38 · answer #10 · answered by bobweb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋