so i've discovered oil leaking onto my sparkplugs. i'm definitely going to change the o-rings. but my question is, will changing the valve cover gasket solve my problem? or is that changing the head gasket?

thanks

 

spark plug seals...get a valve cover set its like 20-30$ trq valve cover to 10ftlbs

 

The o-rings under the cam caps will cause this,change them + sparkplug seals + VC gasket all @ once... (o-rings under the rocker/cam caps,and do not forget to use HondaBond under the outside edges of the outer cam caps on ends of head + inside corners of VC or you'll have more oil leakage...)

 

alright thanks guys. is the hondabond necessary? i see a bunch of people not using it.

and i cant really figure out where the o-rings are under the cam caps. i'm looking at a picture of the head with the valve cover off. where would it be at?

 

AKA Permatex Gray (same shiz,10.00 cheaper than hondabond-up to you!) And if you'll pull the rocker assembly-you'll find them (under the cam caps,around plug tubes) Also,the top seals that come w VC set,replace them as already stated also...

 

This will solve your problem. When you pull the valve cover, you will see a gasket for each spark plug tube -- these are the culprits.

I have no idea what BIGZ is talking about -- pulling rockers etc.?

It is recomemnded that you use a bit of gasket maker (Hondabond, etc.) on the valve cover gasket on either side of the cam(s).

 

Well,they're under every d series non vtec rockers head I've ever built... (too lazy to post pic,haha) Trust me,they'll leak oil down the plug tube like a **** when old/brittle/etc...
Might just be his top spark plug tube seals,but whilst there it'd be dumb not to replace em unless repair beyond one's skill level/experience!!!

 

lol well honestly i've never really worked on motor internals before, so i've never inspected the head. i am definitely changing the vc gasket and spark plug seals.

but what you were saying bigz, to pull the rocker arm in order to see the o rings, does that involve removing the cam caps and cams or anything else?

 

Involves removing timing belt,loosen all cam cap bolts (including the 2 10mm headed ones on each end),then lift entire rocker assembly as one unit.The seals are UNDER each cam cap that are next to/over plug tubes.Sounds more complicated than it is,but then most explanations do compared to the actual work. ***Just change the top seals if uncertain mang!*** If I weren't elbow deep in my latest lil crx,I'd take a pic of the ones I just changes on a d16a6... Perhaps later tonight if ya still need

 

thanks for the explaination bigz! i'll take a look at it when i remove the vc later. if im incapable of doing it, i just won't touch it. haha. but thanks for the help! so what's in store for ur lil crx eh? or is that a secret. ;]

 

Do you know where to buy these seals?
I need a set for a d16 and a dohc zc

 

I had the same problem, they were swimming in oil. its true there is another set of seals, but thats an unlikely problem. I changed out the well seals, but they were already new, and it didn't help much. I could stil; look into the wells and see where the oil had been running down the tubes. You need to use a sealant because the VC is not designed to be torqued enough to seal without it.

 

alright i will use a sealant then. what do you guys prefer instead of hondabond? i might use permatex gray like bigz mentioned.

oh and when i replace the vc gasket, will it be hard to remove the old one? like will it be really stuck onto the head and the vc? or will it come right off liek a plastic gromet?

 

Just a lil jdm b16a swap it came with,

They come with full gasket sets,prolly dealer item for individual seals...

Well,after 200K (like most hondas already have,lol),the "under cam cap" seals are usually very brittle/flattened and I always replace em.I hate replacing plugs to have several tblspoons of oil pour down into cyls-lots of smoke til burns!!!

It'll come off clean-just wipe down the sealing surfaces snd do not 4get the sealant in the inside corners @ end cam caps + under their edges if you pull the rocker assembly...

 

b16a sounds fun. :]

well i got the stuff but one more question. since all my spark plugs are all oiled up, can i just clean them up and reuse them if the electrode and everything looks fine?

 

torque to 7.2 poundss, not 10. use hondabond at the corners and use some on the spark plug seals.

 

where on the spark plug seal? which side?

 

nvm got it done.

so does that mean i need to replace my oily spark plugs? or are they good just clean em up?

 

Shakez head,lol. Dude,NGks are like what?-.99 ea @ O'reilly's auto here.But the oil on outside didn't hurt them...

 

I would try the spark plug o-rings first.

If oil still on the spark plug then it might be your valve seals (very cheap to replace) BUT it is a PITA to get to.