Seeing oil in your spark plug well is one cause for concern among car engine owners. This happens when oil leaks into the plug well since the spark plug o ring is no longer able to keep it sealed. Failure to quickly fix this issue may result in some engine problems.
Just like in the cars using gasoline, spark plug is very important in ignition, and the oil is crucial for the smooth running of every moving part, as lubricant.
Even though not adequately supplied, however, there shouldn’t be any leakage that can make oil seep through the plug well, though.
There are a number of causes of oil in the spark plug well, and the common symptoms and quick fixes are here.
Causes of Oil in Spark Plug
When your spark plug is in order, the car’s ignition should be working alright, and you shouldn’t have to bother about anything.
But what does it mean when you find oil on the bottom of the spark plug? Well, first off, we are dealing with two separate systems here: the spark plug system, and the lubrication system.
In general, they work good for the engine, because while the spark plug ignites the energy in the combustion chamber that contains the fuel/air mix, the oil in the engine works good for the various moving part by preventing friction between them.
Engines store the oil in the oil pan- that holds six quarts of oil, and the oil moves with the aid of the oil pump, travelling down to the oil filter before going to other parts.
However, it should not be allowed to reach the spark plug well because it can cause some serious trouble, and there are five main reasons why you find oil on spark plug wells, and they are:
#1. Worn-Out Valve Cover Gasket.
After a close look at your car’s engine, you will notice a metal cover on the engine, termed the “valve cover.”
This seal preserves possible leakages from the vehicle’s engine. However, there lay gaskets between the valve cover and the engine, which with time tend to fail.
This failure becomes worsened by the high temperature of the engine, and as such, the valve cover gasket too, starts to fray. You can thus soon notice some leakages, which can allow oil into the spark plug well.
#2. Faulty O-Rings.
If you have had to take a look at your spark plugs once in a while, you will notice the O-ring seals under the spark plug tubes.
These seals work very fine, acting as a cover for the spark plug well. However, with time, they too start to wear out, and once they are damaged, oil can leak into your spark plug well.
That is why a quick action is needed to avert any further problem. Just a note though, since the oil would saturate it, you should also change the current spark plug.
#3. Failed Piston Compression Rings.
Above and beneath the piston, there are piston rings, which carry the task of preventing oil from getting to the car’s combustion chambers. These rings also help a great deal in getting out the excess oil that may attend the cylinder walls.
With worn-out piston compression rings, they can hardly prevent oil from make a beeline for the spark plugs. At any rate it can find its way there, and you will begin to smell engine oil around the cabin. You will also start noticing some blue exhaust from the car each day.
#4. Bad Piston.
Apart from a bad piston ring that will allow engine oil into the cylinder and saturating the spark plug, a bad piston can also lead to oil in the spark plug well.
Due to the excessive heat, it may soon begin cracking, and result in such problems as engine misfire and excessive combusting of oil. The rattling of sounds while running the car is another symptom of such a fault. You shouldn’t take this issue lightly and fix it quickly, as swift action will improve the car’s engine performance.
#5. Aged Valve Guide Seals.
The air intake into the car’s engine is one job that the valve guides help in taking care of, and in the process, they help hold the valves in such operation.
With frequent use, the valve guide seals are bound to start appearing worn, and you may have to timely get them replaced, as that will keep oil from leaking to the spark plug well. If you don’t, there may just be some serious problems for you to handle.
Oil in Spark Plug Well Symptoms
A few symptoms tell you there’s oil in the car’s spark plug well. At the sight of these, you will promptly discover such an issue, and fix it before the car develops further problems.
Recognizing those signs is crucial when to remove oil from the spark plug well.
#1. Gas Smell from the Tailpipe.
Ever wondered why you continue to perceive the smell of gas from your car’s pipe? Well, this could mean that your Toyota Camry has oil in the spark plug well. This applies to various other vehicles, and in some cases, the smell penetrates the car cabinet.
#2. Blue Smoke from the Exhaust.
Soon, the exhaust pipe may be sending out blue smoke, denoting that oil is being burnt somewhere overhead the engine. This in too many cases refers to the sign when there is oil in spark plug well.
Once there’s oil on the spark plug, they automatically affect how efficient the engine would burn the fuel.
There’s a sizeable increase in the fuel supply, while the ECU tries to have its way again and tinker about with the fuel ratio. The only thing is, there’s very much fuel in the combustion chamber that would be passing through the exhaust valve, unburnt.
#3. Decreased Engine Performance.
Since the oil in the plugs well had touched the plug, automatically, there is lesser spark to be generated by it. And remember, it is this spark that is responsible for the ignition that occurs in your car. The oil contamination of the tip will affect the ignition badly.
In summary, there will be lesser chances for an ignition of the air/fuel mixture to occur in the vehicle’s combustion chamber. If there’s no proper combustion, there won’t be sufficient pressure that is needed for the engine to, in turn, do its work.
#4. Engine Misfiring.
A stalling engine can refer to one that has missed the firing stroke, while the brush of the air/fuel mixture in any of the engine cylinders in actuality.
Now, there is oil on the plug. See, there’s no chance in hell that the spark plug will produce some spark for the complete ignition of the gas/air mixture. Hence, you would start noticing this about your vehicle’s engine.
#5. Increased Fuel Consumption.
An increase in the craving for gas guzzler is a sign something is messing with the plug. In essence, any day you discover your car drinks high usage of gas, you’d do well to quickly check out the spark plug, to see if there’s oil on it. This sign could guide you on when to get it out of the spark plug well.
#6. Engine Backfiring.
Often, the back a car makes can refer to when the air/fuel particles come to combust outside the space of combustion that is found in the surfboard.
You could get to notice this symptom when there is oil in the spark plug well. It is as a result of the particles haplessly taking the path of least resistance to the exhaust.
How to Fix Oil in Spark Plug Well
It’s important to learn how to fix oil in spark plugs. Whether you have oil leaking from spark plug motorcycle, or, oil in plug threads, you can follow these steps below to get them fixed.
Step One
Quick Tests: You should quickly turn the engine off and get the vehicle’s battery disconnected from the terminal. Getting the negative terminal detached should do; that way, the supply power is cut off.
Step Two
Removing Valve Covers: In order for you to see the spark plug, you need to take the vehicle’s valve cover out. You can gently pull out the bolts.
It may seem pretty tight; hence, you need to choose your tool properly. Be careful, you don’t want to destroy the cylinder head in any way as you pull out the bolts.
Step Three
Getting the Spark Plugs Out: Using the suitable tool, you should get all the plugs out. Check them in the well for oil.
You should be checking them for wear and tear, and you should do the replacing if the plugs are affected. You can call an expert in case you are having problems doing this yourself.
Step Four
Removing the O-Ring: Using the right tools, you should begin to peel off the existing gasket, and clean the cylinder head and the valve cover.
You have a suitable degreaser for this, you can use it to prepare both surfaces to receive a new O-ring seal. Just try to be careful, you don’t want those things finding their way to the engine’s internal area.
Step Five
Reinstallation of New O-Ring: The spark plug o ring replacement is easy, you can have that arranged in no time, after that, you should be looking to put the spark plugs back! You should check for the best options out there.
Final Words
Spark plugs are essential for gasoline-working vehicles as they assist in igniting the engine. Thus, the spark plug must remain functional for the engine to run without a hitch.
Issues with the spark plug would tell on the engine adversely, and you would even experience that the car starts, but won’t stay running.
With oil in the spark plugs well, there would accordingly be lesser spark generation for ignition. Thus, it may seem expedient to clean out the spark plug hole and replace the spark plugs and O-ring seals.
Read on to find out more on the causes, symptoms and fixes for oil on the spark plug.