Noob has oily spark plug wires

[skate1968]

I've got a 91 DX with the 92 HP D15. I pulled the the spark plug wires out of the the valve cover (valve cover was on). There was a little oil on the bottom of three of them.

What causes this?

Is it caused entirely by faulty O ring/gasket/grommets that came with the valve cover gasket? Or could it be caused by my worn rings or something else?

And if the the O ring/grommets are bad could that contributing to my oil burning/smoking?


Note: My car has burned oil for years. I've have a good bit of blowby for 5 years. But if i can reduce oil consumption by just fixing a gasket I definitely want to do it.

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[FrodoGT]

It wont stop it from BURNING the oil, but it would stop it from leaking out of the valve cover..

[hondacivic99sivtec]

do a compression test. how bad is the oil??? could be the gromet that goes around the spark plug hole.

anymore specific info. would help... noises and what not.

[Tony]

If its on the top side of the plug, its the spark plug tube seals, which you can order by them self or they come with a valve cover set. If its the tip of it, you got bad rings most likely, and should run a compression check to see how bad it is.

[skate1968]

Thanks to all for feedback.

Recently I've ran another cycle of an engine cleaner called Auto Rx. Oil consumption went up over 1 quart in 200 miles. It smokes at higher rpms. I've already posted this information on Honda-Tech and BOBISTHEOILGUY. I'm confident that the rings are worn. And the valves might be bad also.

Once i finish the cycle i'm hoping that consumption will slow down with a thicker moly oil. (maybe i'll even resort to restore, please don't flame me)

Two months ago I tried to get a Valver Cover gasket from the Honda dealer but he was out so I just let the mechanic use NAPA or whatever after market shop he used.

Again if i can determine that faulty gaket/grommits are contributing to consumption I will gladly replace them the with a genuine honda gasket/grommits. But it sounds like new gasket/grommits can't possibly help this smoke.

Background.
Car has always burned oil. Especially at long fast highway trips at high rpms.
In January i cleaned the sludge out of the motor with cleaner -- engine sounded much better, the pinging stopped.

June - mechanic fixed timing belt noise.
- valave clearance adjustment
- installed a low-miles jdm transmission -- cheap fix that I'm extremely
happy with

After getting this significant improvements my car feels much better. And I started driving it harder and faster which caused increased blowby.

[jimmym86]

Sounds like the same thing my engine on my civic does...Now is the oil getting into the combustion chamber (covering the spark plug)??? Or just on the plug wires??? I have a big problem with the oil seaping around the worn rings and into the combustion chamber causing oil to coat my plugs. Now I do believe that if you are just getting oil on your wires then POSSIBLY a gasket set of grommets, seals, and valve cover MAY solve your problem...and keep in mind you can pick this kit up at advanced auto for around $45-ish.

A few months back I bought the gasket set and replaced the grommets and seals from under my valve cover. It didn't do crap for my spark plugs.

So....

If your plugs are getting covered in oil, chances are your rings are shot! (as are mine )

If your wires are getting alittle oil on them, then you may get away with buying a gasket set for the valve cover!

Good luck and hope you don't have the same problem I have!!!

[skate1968]

Hey Jimmy, thanks for the info and the well wishes. Best of luck to you also.