Oil on my spark plugs! How can i take it out? Options

[joehernandez]

There has been some smoke coming out everytime i turn the car on or in the morning,,
the mechanic told me that one of all of my seals didnt worked,,,
but he didn't told me what was the name of the seal,,
i want to do it myself but i dont know what seals to change and how to clean the oil from the spark
plugs so i can change them.
any ideas?

[malpaso]

Every spark has own seal (looks like a ring). Seems yours are bad...

[joehernandez]

Every spark has own seal (looks like a ring). Seems yours are bad...

Yeah the mechanic told me that, but the problem is how do i take the oil out of the spark plugs,
or there is ant problem if i take them out and oil goes in?

[GriffGirl]

I believe you have to remove your valve cover to replace the seals he's talking about. You can get a set of new seals, or a set that includes the valve cover gasket as well. This would be your best bet, replace it all together so it buttons up nice and tight and you don't have to wonder when the next gasket (in that area) will go.

[6G96GT]

What?!? I get smoke whenever I start mine up too...but only at start up...is it possible it could only be spark plug seals???? How do you know if it's not rings instead (besides a comp. test)?

This post has been edited by 6G96GT: Mar 26, 2008 - 2:39 PM

[alltracman78]

GTs [5SFEs] don't have spark plug seals, nor does the valve cover seals have ANYTHING to do with oil in the plug holes, how many times do I have to say this?

If you have a GT [5SFE] and you have oil in your plug holes, your spark plug tubes are bad or leaking.

Smoke on startup is usually your valve seals, which are a PITA to replace for most of you [you'll need some special tools, mechanical experience and something to hold the valves up in the cylinder].
NOT a job for a beginner, unless you have experienced help.

[joehernandez]

I believe you have to remove your valve cover to replace the seals he's talking about. You can get a set of new seals, or a set that includes the valve cover gasket as well. This would be your best bet, replace it all together so it buttons up nice and tight and you don't have to wonder when the next gasket (in that area) will go.

yup i have to remove it,, i know how to though,,
but the problem is the oil. I am going to toyota dealer to get all those seals and change them all together, good idea.

What?!? I get smoke whenever I start mine up too...but only at start up...is it possible it could only be spark plug seals???? How do you know if it's not rings instead (besides a comp. test)?

i only do on start ups also,,,
and i don't think it is the rings,, several people have told me that the seals are bad,, that it is very common on toyota cars that this happens.

GTs [5SFEs] don't have spark plug seals, nor does the valve cover seals have ANYTHING to do with oil in the plug holes, how many times do I have to say this?

If you have a GT [5SFE] and you have oil in your plug holes, your spark plug tubes are bad or leaking.

Smoke on startup is usually your valve seals, which are a PITA to replace for most of you [you'll need some special tools, mechanical experience and something to hold the valves up in the cylinder].
NOT a job for a beginner, unless you have experienced help.

they dont??!!!!!!
some users say they do!
so i have to change the spark plug tubes?

[malpaso]

'alltracman78' is right... I overlooked you have 5sfe . I had the same problem wits my 7afe and everything was solved by changing those seals:



but for you is really no seal like this there:



so question is what to change at 5sfe?

[joehernandez]

thanks alot malpaso,
so i think the spark plug tubes have to be replaced i guess.

[joehernandez]

bump

[alltracman78]

What more info do you need?

I've already answered your question, are you waiting for someone to say something different?

[joehernandez]

i went to the toyota dealer and they examined my car and said that the rings where messed up, so i am making sure what it is.

[Hanyo]

you have two problems with your car.

start up with smoke is caused by bad valve stem seals. This is what your mechanic and your dealership is talking about. This does not make oil pool ontop of your spark plugs. I advice you do not attempt to repair this yourself because its is a very difficult job if you dont have the proper tools and knowledge. I've done this repair on two different cars before, Its alot of work.


the oil pooled ontop of your spark plug is from bad spark plug tubes. If you want to get rid of the oil ontop of the spark plugs.

take an air compressor and a big thick obsorbant rag.
Aim the air compressor nossle down the hole and cover the hole and the compressor nossle with the rag. What you are doing is blowing the oil up out of the hole into the rag.


But if you can't do this, you can just take a wrench and remove the spark plug letting the oil drain into your engine. A little amount of oil does not do harm to your engine. But alot over a long period of time can cause problems.

I read all your post and answered all your questions... what else do you need to know?

[joehernandez]

you have two problems with your car.

start up with smoke is caused by bad valve stem seals. This is what your mechanic and your dealership is talking about. This does not make oil pool ontop of your spark plugs. I advice you do not attempt to repair this yourself because its is a very difficult job if you dont have the proper tools and knowledge. I've done this repair on two different cars before, Its alot of work.


the oil pooled ontop of your spark plug is from bad spark plug tubes. If you want to get rid of the oil ontop of the spark plugs.

take an air compressor and a big thick obsorbant rag.
Aim the air compressor nossle down the hole and cover the hole and the compressor nossle with the rag. What you are doing is blowing the oil up out of the hole into the rag.


But if you can't do this, you can just take a wrench and remove the spark plug letting the oil drain into your engine. A little amount of oil does not do harm to your engine. But alot over a long period of time can cause problems.

I read all your post and answered all your questions... what else do you need to know?

thanks!
so the tubes are baad!!!!!
thanks a lot really!!!!!

[6G96GT]

Alright so I have bad valve stem seals too...and I'm not experienced in doing the fix myself so what am I looking at in cost? I am planning a rebuild in 30K just because I'm already at 173K and the "only issue I have" is smoke at start up. Is it worth doing the valve stem seals now or should I just rebuild or possibly swap in 30K (that's about 1 year of driving for me).

This post has been edited by 6G96GT: Apr 6, 2008 - 1:35 PM

[alltracman78]

As long as you're not burning a noticeable amount of oil, I wouldn't worry about it.

thanks!
so the tubes are baad!!!!!
thanks a lot really!!!!!

Was this not clear enough?

GTs [5SFEs] don't have spark plug seals, nor does the valve cover seals have ANYTHING to do with oil in the plug holes, how many times do I have to say this?

If you have a GT [5SFE] and you have oil in your plug holes, your spark plug tubes are bad or leaking.

Smoke on startup is usually your valve seals, which are a PITA to replace for most of you [you'll need some special tools, mechanical experience and something to hold the valves up in the cylinder].
NOT a job for a beginner, unless you have experienced help.

[6G96GT]

Uh...oh yea, I know you posted that already and I wasn't thinking clearly...tubes not seals...got it.


Thanks, good to know some of you guys know your sh*t with confidence, that's awesome!!


This post has been edited by 6G96GT: Apr 6, 2008 - 5:13 PM

[alltracman78]

You didn't read it close enough.
YOUR problem most likely IS valve stem seals. If you're not burning a noticeable amount of oil, not really a big problem IMO, it can sit on the back burner.

Most of my post was directed at someone else....

[6G96GT]

oh, thanks!