Honda Accord: Why is There Oil in My Spark Plug Wells?
Striking this oil well will take more money out of your wallet than put money in. As annoying as that sounds, we'll show you how to detect whether or not the cost is large or small. Hopefully, it's the latter.
This article applies to the Honda Accord (1990-2002).
Finding oil in your spark plug wells is not a good thing. However, the good news is that this issue might be resolved through a simple procedure. Actually, a couple procedures to diagnose or fix don't take long, nor do they require advanced mechanic skills. For example, replacing the valve cover gasket is a relatively simple task to do yourself. If this isn't the case, then the issue might unfortunately be much bigger than you were expecting (as in a piston ring problem). Read on to find out more; this article covers three likely problems and some of the possible solutions.
Step 1 – Inspect the lower and upper O-rings
A potential cause of oil in your spark plug wells is the lower and upper spark plug O-rings. Eventually, these O-rings will get old, wear, and crack, causing oil to leak into the spark plug wells. If you have never replaced these on your Accord, it would be worth your time to inspect them first and determine whether or not they will need to be replaced. Accessing and replacing the lower O-rings require that you remove the rocker arm assembly in order to replace them. The upper O-rings are a little easier and less time-consuming to replace because only the valve cover must be removed. However, you might want to be sure that the upper O-rings are the source of the problem before installing new ones.
A full set of O-rings costs around $10, so if you have the car knowledge and tools, this DIY task would be an inexpensive option.
Pro Tip
After replacing the O-rings, make sure to torque everything back to proper specs.
If the O-rings are not the source of the leak, move on to Step 2.
Step 2 – Inspect the valve cover gasket
Another common cause of oil leaking into your spark plug wells can be a bad valve cover gasket. A worn or broken gasket would no longer seal properly and would thus cause oil to leak into places it should not. Inspect the areas around the valve cover gasket and search for a leak. If found, replacing the valve cover gasket should fix your problem. Also, if you've recently had the job done, it was most likely installed incorrectly. It takes some experience to correctly install a valve cover gasket and leave no leaks behind.
If this is the source of your problem, then replacing the valve cover gasket can easily be paired with an O-ring replacement. This is to ensure that you touch all possible causes of a leak and prevent any from occurring in the future. The cost for a new valve cover gasket (with O-rings included) is anywhere between $15 to $30. If you have the tools and skills to do so, then replacing these pieces yourself would be a very inexpensive task.
Pro Tip
Apply RTV grey silicone onto the flat corners of the gasket to ensure a better seal.
If the O-rings or valve cover gasket are not the source of the leak, move on to Step 3.
Step 3 – Inspect the piston rings
If you see oil in the "important" area of the spark plug well, meaning the area the spark plugs are threaded into, this is an indication of worn or broken piston rings. If you see no oil in this area, then worn or broken piston rings may not be the cause. Another way to diagnose this as the problem is to observe the smoke coming out of your exhaust. If blue/gray or black smoke is coming out, the likely cause of your oil leak is the piston rings.
Replacing the piston rings yourself is a time and labor-intensive job. So, if you have the knowledge, experience, and patience to do it yourself, a new set of piston rings costs between $40 and $90. If you take it to an auto shop or a dealership, expect to pay upwards of $1,000.
Featured Video: Spark Plug Well Oil Leak Fix on Honda Accord
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