I had oil on cylinder 1/3 spark plugs. The oil pretty much covered from the threads all the way down to the electrode. Does this warrant a new valve cover gasket, or could there be some other issues. Car runs fine btw.



The pic is just for my own clarification, i keep forgetting where the threads are in relation to the electrode.

And does anyone know how much the gasket usually costs from honda?

 

The problem is probably the spark plug tube seals, but to get to them you will need to pull the valve cover & replace the VC gasket anyway. May as well replace the valve stem seals & do a valve adjustment while you are in there.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DJ_SaNdOz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The problem is probably the spark plug tube seals, but to get to them you will need to pull the valve cover & replace the VC gasket anyway.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed.

 

Hrmm, i need to get a hold of a Helms or Chiltons. I lost you once you mentioned the valve stem seals and valve adjustment

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by erikiksaz1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hrmm, i need to get a hold of a Helms or Chiltons. I lost you once you mentioned the valve stem seals and valve adjustment </TD></TR></TABLE>

It may not be necessary, but IMO, why not do it while you are already in there? Valve Stem seals are like $.60 a piece, and a Valve adjustment is free if you have the feeler guage.....

 

a repair book would be best, but i doubt if you never work on car, if you would be able to change the valve guide seal.. it requires breaking down the head to nothing.

any head shop would be able to do that for you, if you brought it in.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Built B16A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a repair book would be best, but i doubt if you never work on car, if you would be able to change the valve guide seal.. it requires breaking down the head to nothing.

any head shop would be able to do that for you, if you brought it in.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I thought it'd be a simple DIY job, but i guess not. Well, thanks for the info guys.

 

it is a diy job but sometimes pictures help, and the manual is good to have for other things down the road

 

you can't do the valve seals unless you take out the valve springs...which ain't exactly easy. yeah, you pretty much have to break down the whole head.

the problem you are talking about isn't due to the valve cover seal. you can take off the valve cover though and see if it is leaking anywhere.

it probably isn't even the sparkplug tube seals on the valve cover. look and see how high the oil is dripping down from.

i am willing to bet that the oil is leaking from what is commonly called rocker arm seals. it's a common problem. you have to take off all the valvetrain to replace these seals. not too difficult...it all comes off in one piece...just don't let it separate.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DJ_SaNdOz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but to get to them you will need to pull the valve cover & replace the VC gasket anyway</TD></TR></TABLE>

totally unnecessary. its not like its a head gasket dude, i must have taken my valve cover off at leasst 20+ times and reused the same gasket with absolutely no leaks. i didnt even use any silicone sealant.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSRCRXsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

totally unnecessary. its not like its a head gasket dude, i must have taken my valve cover off at leasst 20+ times and reused the same gasket with absolutely no leaks. i didnt even use any silicone sealant.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm more cautious than you then. To each their own, I figure it's relatively cheap maintanance.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tom_l &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i am willing to bet that the oil is leaking from what is commonly called rocker arm seals. it's a common problem. you have to take off all the valvetrain to replace these seals. not too difficult...it all comes off in one piece...just don't let it separate.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Rocker arm seals, care to elaborate a little more ?

To the original poster, replace the valve cover gasket and grommets also replace the plugs, check in a couple of days and see if you still have oil dripping on the plugs. I have pulled out many of spark plugs from vehicles before and found the same problem you are having. And sometimes its the valve cover and grommets faults, so before you tear apart your engine to only find out it was something easy like a valve cover gasket, do the simple things first.

 

Thanks for the clarification

 

i had the same exact problem and it ended being the grommets.