Our Community is 940,000 Strong. Join Us.


Engine Oil all over spark plugs


Dian1
09-28-2006, 10:47 AM
I just took out one of the spark plugs of my Neon and it had oil all over it. It was soaked... Do you guys think that this could have caused the problem I was previously talking about - the car choking every time I press the gas pedal? It runs fine if I am extremely gentle on the gas pedal, but as soon as I push it just a little more (trying to speed up) - it starts choking and makes a banging noise coming from the engine...

Also, should I just replace the valve cover gasket? Is that the solution to the oil in spark plugs problem?

Thank you for all the help so far. Hopefully this will take care of my bigger problem...

neon_rt
09-28-2006, 11:43 AM
Have you checked the PCV?
If the valve is allowing oil to blow by, that could be where the oil is coming from.
There will be a path of oil in the air breather if this is the case. Cheap fix.

Dian1
09-28-2006, 11:49 AM
What is the PCV? Sorry, I don't have much experience... So I am not exactly sure what I need to do.

das2123
09-28-2006, 12:37 PM
Your spark plug tube seals need to be changed. To get to them, you need to pull the valve cover, so replace that as well. A kit should run you about $20-$30.

What is the PCV? Sorry, I don't have much experience... So I am not exactly sure what I need to do.Pressure Crankcase Ventilation valve. It's about a $5 part.

Dian1
09-29-2006, 12:49 PM
Thank you very much for the tip. This is the first time I am venturing to do this, so I am a colmplete rookie... I got the whole kit with the valve cover gasket and 4 rings, which I am guessing are the plug tube seals... I took the valve cover out and now I am looking and trying to figure out where the little rings go - do they go in the holes on the cover? Also, do I need to do something to clean up the oil that was in the plugs so that the new spark plugs won't get soaked in or do I just try to reach in the plug tubes and wipe out as much as I can? Thank you.

das2123
09-29-2006, 12:53 PM
The plug seals attach to the underside of the valve cover. Try to stick a shop towel down there to get the oil out of the spark plug hole.

neon_rt
09-29-2006, 01:56 PM
Oil on the outside of the plug, not the inside, lol. Sorry.

Dian1
10-04-2006, 09:42 PM
Thank you very much. I changed the gasket and the rings and also found out that the cables were bad. The car is running fine now (well, there are still a few things to fix, but nothing as major). Thank you.

Dian1
10-04-2006, 09:45 PM
Thanks everyone. The car is finally running. Thanks for everybody's help.

das2123
10-04-2006, 09:45 PM
Hey hey...good to hear! It's funny/irritating when you start to work on one thing and find other problems while you're at it.

Add your comment to this topic!