Replaced the spark plugs today on my 95 Lude VTEC. Found oil on the plug threads, not on the electodes themselves, they were clean, looked normal. One of the plugs had oil on the body (insulator) of the plug. Odd. I am guessing this is a blown valve cover gasket. Thoughts

 

spark plugs smell real bad of gas? my lude did that and i had a blown headgasket

 

Oil on the body of the plug, and on threads = bad spark plug tube gaskets.

When you buy a new valve cover gasket, it usually comes with those 4 small round gaskets. Installation is self-explanatory when you remove the valve cover and flip it over, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Prelude_1992 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">spark plugs smell real bad of gas? my lude did that and i had a blown headgasket</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, and they were not replaced because of any problem, just due. They all had normal wear and just needed replacement. Oil was not on the electrodes so I do not think it is happening on the cylindar side.

 

its the tube seals on the valve cover

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by socialistic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oil on the body of the plug, and on threads = bad spark plug tube gaskets.

When you buy a new valve cover gasket, it usually comes with those 4 small round gaskets. Installation is self-explanatory when you remove the valve cover and flip it over, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Right, and I need a new Valve cover gasket too. Dealer quoted me $65 for a kit. but $16 for the valve cover gasket by itself. The kit includes the spark plug tub gaskets and some washers with the valve cover gasket. Is that the way to go, the kit, or can I just go aftermarket?

 

Honda Hose Job! Called the dealer back, the plug tube gaskets are $3.50 each, the speical washers are $7.50 a piece. So do I need these washers? Are they supposed to be tourked once and replaced?

 

Any thoughts on the washers, are they necessary

 

I would just reuse the washers if they arent leaking.

 

any special sealant that needs to be put on the gasket?

 

according to honda you should use alittle bit of hondabond but i dont usually use it and it doesnt leak.

 

Yeah you are fine with a clean gasket surface, or if you really want to, add a bit of hondabond over the cam cap area, and the corners.

 

cam cap for sure seal it. The honda service manual dictates where to add honda bond I think. But there are a few places you should.

 

Wow, thanks all

 

i have the same problem too. so i am going to add a question, if that happens does oil leak into the combustion chamber too?? if so is there a way to clean it or do i have to take the head off?

 

I would think if oil got into the combustion chaimber it would burn up, you would not need to clean it. My leak was not heavy. The spark plug holes were not filled with oil. The part of the pulgs that was in the combustion chamber did not have oil on them, so I assume that that when oil leaked into the combustion chamber it burned up.

 

Many times this occurs because of sloppy oil changes rather than bad gaskets...

 

To answer your question on the washers, I'm assuming those are the 8 washers that go on the top side of the valve cover for the valve cover bolts (they're black and a hard rubber). If yours are in decent condition I wouldn't replace them. They get kind of dried out, but I've never seen oil leak out of them. I've only replaced a couple because they looked particularly dried out.