I have a 94 Saturn that keeps getting oil in the spark plugs.?

Question

I had the head gasket replaced a few months ago at the advice of my mechanic but it didn't help. Any ideas? I love this car but with my job I need something really dependable.

Answer 1

Sounds like the spark plug tube o-rings were not replaced inside the valve cover. Some valve cover and head gasket kits don't come with these o-rings or seals and mechanics sometimes put the valve cover back on without them resulting in the oil around the plugs. Take it back to the mechanic and tell him he should have at least cleaned the old ones and put silicon sealant on them. Sounds like a sloppy mechanic, I hope he knows how to torque cylinder head bolts properly or that will leak next!

Answer 2

If oil is leaking down onto the tops of the spark plugs, then the valve cover gasket needs to be replaced. A head gasket won't cause this and cracked heads are not an issue on the twin cam motor.

Replace the valve cover gasket and seal it with the proper GM "gray" engine sealer. The aftermarket RTV's won't hold up.

Make sure to clean the oil out of the plug holes and replace the wires if they are contaminated. Otherwise, you'll eventually get a missfire due to a carbon tracked plug and wire.

Answer 3

I would not have suspected the head gasket first myself unless it was only one plug, but since that didn't do the job, then I suspect that the problem is worn valve guides. The valve mechanism is oiled underneath the valve cover. A worn valve guide or valve seal will allow oil to run down onto the top of the valve, then when it opens to allow in the fuel/air mixture, the oil goes in as well. The exhaust valve gets worn also, but when it opens the hot gases are flowing out of the engine, not sucking into it.
Of course, worn rings can do the same thing, but you would expect to see a lot of blue smoke in that case.
It is a shame that the valve guides weren't checked while the head was off since the expense of labor is in removing and reinstalling the head.

Answer 4

Your mechanic should have found the problem when he replaced your head gasket. If the oil is leaking on the plugs, then it's your valve cover gasket...

Answer 5

my son is a mechanic and i asked him to look this up,was youre machanic a trainee or not qualified i read in his manuels the answer to this for you you need to again replace the head gasket,may need to have head skimmed but you most of all need to replace the piston rings because the oil is leaking from the chamber below,a bit of good advice i freely give is replace the cam chain and mechanic

Answer 6

if it was doing this before there's a good chance it may have been run hot before and it might have damage to the rings in the engine and that maybe making it pump oil up the plugs.if its burning oil and smoking then you have problems,if its leaking and getting on them there's a possibility that it could be repaired,it would be best to get a hands on opinion on though from a repair shop,they can better tell you what its doing,good luck on it.

Answer 7

when my headgakset went out oil came thru the spark plugs. sounds like you have the same problem again. Is the parts or labor under warranty? if so take it back and have it done right, if not i would still take it back and talk to them.

Answer 8

there is a thing made to solve this problem it screws into the spark plug hole and then you screw the spark plug into that. i believe they are called anti fouler s and i know that auto zone does carry them

Answer 9

It sounds like a cracked engine block to me. If the oil is foamy on the stick, this means it's mixing with the antifreeze and is a sign that your engine is dying.

Answer 10

Tighten all of the loose parts in the engine really good, that should do it. Make sure to use a wrench and crank it really hard.