After realizing a loss of power, I swapped out my Bosch Plat Plugs after 15K miles of mild driving. I noticed that they were white on the tips and had a little oil around the edges when I took it out. What does this mean?

 

Your car burns HOT if the tips are white. The oil is probably a slight buildup of oil that has leaked through the O-rings on your valvecover. I would replace the O-rings if there is oil, its easy...

 

Is the car burning HOT due to the O-rings needing to be replaced? What else should be replaced when I change the O-rings?

Are there any sites w/ step by step instructions on how to do this? I do have the Helms manual as well. Also, where should I purchase the stock O-rings from? And are O-rings different than regular rings? I'm a bit confused.

 

The O-rings are the small gaskets that sit where the spark plug cylinder and valve cover meet. They are on there already, but can start to leak over time.

I do not think that the O-rings and the car burning hot have anything to do with eachother.

Just go to either the Acura parts dept. or a Honda parts dept. for the O-rings. (all B-series DOHC VTEC O-rings are the same, so civic SI ones will work etc etc...)

 

thnx for your help 92TypeR. Should I replace anything else while swapping out the O-rings?

Does anyone know what causes the car to burn HOT?

 

When you are running too lean, the combustion is hotter. I would rather be running lean than rich

I would buy some HondaSeal (sp?). Its a silicon sealant that helps the valvecover seat better, plus its always good to have a good seal where the possibility of leaking oil is. You can buy that at any Honda/Acura parts dept. as well.

Your total cost should be no more than 6 dollars with the sealant.

Here are some basic instructions: Remove the valve cover, turn it upsidedown, take a flathead screwdriver, take out the stock O-rings (they are black BTW), put in the new rings, take the HondaSeal and make a line all around whereever the valvecover touches the head. Replace the valvecover and you are all set!

 

HondaBond is actually some what spendy. I think its about $12 minimum. You canm go a crehaper route of about $3-$4 use OEM grey. Go to your auto parts tore and look for gasket sealer. Look for the OEM grey. Its just like HondaBond...but 1/3 the price.

 

Isn't it better to use HondaBond? At least for the name?

 

Sealant is sealant I guess. If it does the job, get it

 

HondaBond does the job WAY better. BUT if the jobs gets done then its fine. I perfer the HondaBond on things like the oil pump and the flywheel/crank cover where you wond tbe touching it for a long *** time. The cheap **** I use on oil pan gasket (never have luck with those *******) and the valve cover (actually I dont even use gasket sealer on it anymore.