kobalt

iTrader: (3)

I just pulled the first coil in rear bank and its covered in oil. Valvecover perhaps? What to do? Can I still change the plugs? Need help quick

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Update: pulled other two coils - no oil...

AcerX

Well if there isn't any oil on the other plugs then you've found the leak. I guess you might take off the cover and try and diagnose the problem. Can't say much else since I'm not there with you. Update this if you find anything.

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Thanx for the response. Pics soon...it appears that the ring/gasket on the inside of the valve cover was a bit moist with oil - so thats where the oil came from. Other coils and gaskets looked fine. I soaked the oil up as best I could with paper towel and will proceed to change the plugs. Will update soon.

AcerX

Okay, I'll be here till 11:00 AM Central time. Plus, you should use a old t-shirt or something not as fiberous to clean something involving your internals. Just my 2-cents. Trust me when I say its all I got.

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Thanx for the tip! I used my air compressor to blow out any possible paper towel leftovers (before removing the plugs of course) and finished off with a cotton rag. Want to see plugs with 140k on them? Stay tuned for pics.

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Just finished - no problems (so far). Some pics - I'll add comments when I return from school.


This was about 1/4 filled with oil

Like the bungiee holding the mainfold?

The culprit was the inner valvecover seal seen here moist with oil

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Another shot of the leaky seal

Made sure nothing could fall into the lower manifold

I had to wipe the valvecover down as the oil-covered coil pack was unexpected

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Front bank was completly dry

Old versus new

Plugs after 140k. Notice #5 was no worse than others

AcerX

Those plugs are in pretty good condition for having 140k on them. Only one that looks worn more so than the others is the bottom center plug. Which isn't even the one that had the leak.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Wow, those electrodes are gone ... Those are the stcok Pt units I take it?

Matt's00MAX

i ma about to do a tune up on my 00 auto max and i was wondering if NGK spark plugs for $7 a piece are good enough or do i need to get better ones.

steven88

iTrader: (28)

dude...cylinder #5 was shooting out oil even with the spark plug/coil pack still in place?

i see alot of oil from the pics your showing me...

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Just got back from school. I can't say drivability improved too much, but it seems a bit stronger down low. I'll see what changed with time. Its just unbelievable that the car ran super-smooth, got 28-29 highway mpg and did a 1/4 in under 15 seconds with plugs gapped as much as .086

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Mine lasted 140k - I would say that's pretty good for $7

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Luckily the oil came from the leaky valvecover seal, not the cylinder. I was a bit freaked out when I first pulled that coil.

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

And you confirmed this I take it?

MaxOctane

Oil shouldn't be in the combustion chamber period. If there is, it will burn up before it leaks out of the spark plug hole. If oil was coming up from the cylinder and leaking past the spark plug than you've got some serious issues. Oil in the spark plug well almost always means a leaky valve cover seal and won't effect the performance of the car at all. I don't know why one would have expected that spark plug #5 would look any different either - the oil in the spark plug well was not getting into the cylinder, and if it was, the spark plug would have to have been pretty loose...

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

Thats why I posted, because if it was merely a bad gasket, not that big of a deal, but being how it was concentrated in that one cyilnder area, that would have me concerend.

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Yes I have. I examined the spark plug and found oil on the top first 2 or 3 winds of the threading from the base. This would indicate that the oil accumulating in the coil/plug cavity seeped ever so slightly into the threading. Had the oil come from the cylinder area, the the entire threading would be covered in oil, especailly in the electrode area. I did not find any evidence of oil there. But I did find the inner valvecover seal saturated in oil which collaborates my findings.

misiek

iTrader: (2)

thanks for the pictures!
sorry i cant put any inout for you
but the pictures helped with one of my projects!

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Misiek let me know if you want high resolution ones, I'll email them to you

NmexMAX

iTrader: (22)

And what might that be?

k2max_driver

iTrader: (6)

Ahh... I see you too have discovered the leaky valve cover that plagues our maximas. I too had the problem but i discovered it at 30k when i changed my plugs. why did i change them? simple i was bored and had some free ones sitting in my garage. But yes getting back to the valve cover, Nissan decided to use plastic valve cover gaskets which tend to leak. Solution, replace them with new rubber ones from any parts store. Or you can ***** (to your local Nissan Dealer) like i do. But then you have to explain how you found out the they were leaking. Anyways now i dont have any oil in my plug resevoir and i know this cause i recently swapped out my NGK R's for NGK Iridiums.

ABS

I also had this problem when I changed my plugs around 75k. You actually have to replace the entire valve cover as the leak is coming from the rubber seal between the valve cover and the metal spark plug access tube. I also disassembled my coil to clean out any oil that had gotten into it. If you do this last step, just be careful, there are a few small parts which "pop out" when the rubber boots are removed and you won't want to lose them.

ZeRo MaX

iTrader: (4)

i'm changing mine this weekend and hopefully this won't happen...

do you have to replace the entire valve cover or just the rubber seals?

siren001

is there any way to feel if its leaking while driving? without tearing it all apart?

kobalt

iTrader: (3)

Im afraid not. But not to worry as the leak itself is harmless. Once the spark plug well fills with oil the leak stops and thats it. All the leak does is cause a bit of a mess while changing spark plugs.