changed Spark plugs and i found Oil...

[shawoo]

I replaced my spark plugs, and in one of the spark plug holes (proper term?!), at the very top i found a hint of oil. I took a rag and cleaned it up....there wasnt much oil at all, and the spark plug hole was very clean....but there is obviously a little leak at the top.

COuld this be why Im burning some oil, and what needs to be done to fix this (gasket?). Like i said, it was maybe 3 drops worth at the inner rim of that spark plug hole, and in only on of the 4.

ANy help would be great.

Oh... 94 civic CX hatch

[crxlvr]

could be your piston rings are shot in that cylinder letting the oil get to the top like that. but try running around for a few more miles and see if it comes back, then you'll know for sure blown rings, if not, then maybe you just dripped some oil there changing the fluid one time.

[91civicDXdude]

check the compression against specs in your service manual.

[Shortbus]

Yeah your either getting blow by from the piston rings or have a bad valve stem guide, or valve stem oring. Compression test all the cylinders.

[b16a3sol]

it sounds to me like you have oil leaking in from the valve cover. this would account for oil where the spark plug boot and the spark plug meet, which is where it sounds like you found oil. if you take off our valve cover, there are little o-rings at each hole for the spark plugs, on the underside of the valve cover. they act as a gasket between the valve cover and the head. they cost about $0.50 each, so get all 4. to replace them, just pull the old ones out and push the new ones in.

[free_refil]

I recently went to change the spark plugs and wires on my B16, and when i pulled the wire out, oil flung EVERYWHERES. I freaked out, because not too long ago i replaced my valve cover and I didn't remember oil being on the plug of the wire!!! So i shoved it back onto the spark plug in hopes that my engine would still start (didnt want oil inside of the plug and on top of the spark plug) And it started. I'm still freaked out, I dont think that oil is supposed to be there. I thought it was maybe because my engine was warm so, I came back the next mornming and pulled out a different boot and THE SAME THING. WHAT GIVES? I haven't had the change to pull the spark plug itself out, but it looks like it's swimming in oil down there. Someone just mentioned that there are seals inside the valve cover that I might not have replaced? I am going to look at my old valve cover now to see if they are in there. Please let me know what's up, I'm freaked out, and i have NGK wires and Bosch Platinum +4 plugs to put in!!!

[free_refil]

SOOO I took a look at my old valve cover, sure enough there are seals underneath it which seal the valves from the spark plug tubes!!! MAN OH MAN DO I HAVE A JOB AHEAD OF ME. Good thing I have a head rebuilt kit handy with brand new seals that I can put in. This is going to suck, I have to take off my brand new valve cover, clean it up, put on these new seals, AND worry about cleaning out all 4 of these tubes properly. I'm guessing I will just leave the spark plugs in there, and keep shoving rags in and out of the holes until most of the oil is gone, then remove the spark plugs. I don't want to pull the spark plug out and have all of that oil drain inside of the cylinders, then blow pure oil through my exhaust when I crank it up. Well, hope anybody replacing their valve cover doesn't forget to put these seals in like I did!

[aznbmxxxer]

i found oil on the tip of one of my spark plugs, and i got some of that restore stuff for 4 cyl. i checked it again after about a thousand miles and now the spark plug is dry and theres only a lil on the threads. i think the restore did help.

[BullShifter]

Replacing the spark plug tube seals is simple. Don't forget there are more seals just like those between the plug tubes, they are two parts. The lower seals are a little more difficult to replace since the rocker assy. needs to come off.