I changed the spark plugs in my 93 Accord LX (US mfr.), 2.2 L - 4 cylinder, auto transmission, 76,600 miles. The old plugs in cylinders #1 and #4 were clean but the spark plugs in cylinders #2 and #3 were covered with oil. There is no oil in the spark plug tubes. What's the problem?

The car runs smooth so I don't know what's wrong.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pickfive &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I changed the spark plugs in my 93 Accord LX (US mfr.), 2.2 L - 4 cylinder, auto transmission, 76,600 miles. The old plugs in cylinders #1 and #4 were clean but the spark plugs in cylinders #2 and #3 were covered with oil. There is no oil in the spark plug tubes. What's the problem?

The car runs smooth so I don't know what's wrong.</TD></TR></TABLE>

something i don't understand clearly ...you say # 2 and #3 are covered with oil , but there is no oil in tubes when you pulled the plug wires off??? were the plugs oil fouled when you took them out??..

 

Yes, the old plugs were oil fouled when I took them out. There was a slight trace of oil at the end of the plug wires where they met the old spark plugs but definitely no accumulation of oil in the tubes. I installed the new plugs, drove the car for five miles or so, let it cool down and then pulled out the two new plugs in the #2 and #3 cylinders. The threads on the new spark plugs had some oil on them while the spark end of the plugs were clean. Perhaps this oil was residue from the oil on the old plugs? Is there some type of seal or o-ring where the threads on the spark plug seat to the engine?

I'm hoping this isn't a big problem. To repeat, the car runs well with no apparent problems. Should I start with a compression check or ???

 

No harm in a compression check...but if the car runs well and no issues, all the better.

 

you could have worn valve seals in which case a compression test will not tell you anything and if ur car runs smooth most likely u got a good compression but do 1 anyways also if the plus were such oil fouled the engine should have a miss ..mmm