Hey guys,

I've searched and searched for help, but there are only 2 topics when I search "oil on spark plugs" and I'm not positive if my problem is the same. My car has been burning oil and I smell it thru the vents when I'm sitting. My compression tested out very good (170psi give or take 5psi on all 4 cylinders...did the test 3x for each cylinder!) Could it be my valve stem seals? I'm not famaliar with Honda motors at all so I dont know what else it could be...I've heard of a rocker arm seal, does that cause it too? Do I have to remove the Timing belt/cam/ etc to fix this? Or can I just take off the rockers/etc (leaving the timingbelt and all that stuff together), pressurize the cylinder so the valve doenst fall in, and replace the valve stem seals? Also, what is the interval for timing belt changes on a 92 DX?

Thanks!
Mike

 

Might be your valve cover gromets ( they go on it under the cover and around the holes for the spark plug tubes) If that is it consider replacing the valve cover gasket also.

 

You have described 2 different problems. Oil on the sprak plugs is caused from worn out spark plug tube seals. These are located on the bottom side of the valve cover and seal against the spark plug tubes. The second problem is more then likely being caused by worn out valve seals. These are located at the base of each valve just above the spring seat. The keep oil from entering the cumbustion chamber from the valves. You will want to replace these.

 

Oil in the plug tubes comes from either the tube seals at the top of the tube under the valve cover which are fairly easy to replace. Or the cam tower o-rings at the base of the plug tubes. To replace these you must remove the rocker assembly which is a pain that our shop charges 3.9 hrs for including readjusting the valves.
The valve cover grommets have nothing to do with oil in the plug tubes.

Edit: The valve cover grommets are the seals for the studs that hold the valve cover on. If you call and ask a parts department for these you will get the wrong part. Although it wouldn't hurt to replace those as well as the actual valve cover gasket if you remove the VC. Reusing the VC gasket usually just leads to more oil leaks.

When you say you're burning oil do you just mean off the motor or blue smoke out the exhaust? If you are smoking out the exhaust, unless you've really abused the motor or its really high mileage it would more likely be carbon build up on the piston rings than bad valve stem seals. If you're just burning it off the motor it shouldn't have anything to do with the internals of the head.

The belt interval for normal driving is 90k or six years. If you drive the **** out of it like I do mine do it more frequently.

Modified by hondasean at 6:44 PM 3/16/2005


Modified by hondasean at 6:47 PM 3/16/2005