Hi folks,

I'm sorry I don't get to post so often. My other engine equipped things (truck, bikes, snowblower, etc.) all take more of my maintenance/repair time than the Max. She's a 2003 SE 6-speed.

Anyway, I finally have to do the rear valve cover. It is leaking oil into the spark plug tubes. This has now caused the failure of a new coil I put in #5 less than a year ago. It hasn't failed completely, yet. Twice in the past week it's dropped out while idling. The first time it came back in about 30 seconds - not out long enough for a code. Then a few days ago it dropped out for probably a minute and gave me a pending misfire fault on #5. When I changed the coil last time I was stuck for time and couldn't do without the car for the week or two it would take to get a valve cover. Now I have a cover and a coil on the way.

So, the question is this - is the coil actually dying because of being oil soaked or is it faulting because it is oil soaked and will be fine when it is not operating in an oil bath anymore? Don't get me wrong. I will put the new one in regardless (#1 & #3 are also new last year). But, I still have old ones on the front bank and would save this 8 month old one for a front coil replacement when the time comes if it is not actually dead.

Thanks,
Glenn

 

the coil should be fine once you change the valve cover and clean the oil out. the oil is just redirecting the spark to ground on the head instead of through the plug.

I highly recommend getting the aluminum Mitzone valve covers, they are only $90. I have a set but haven't had a chance to put them on yet. I thought I had oil leaking into my plugs but it ended up being the coil connectors.

when it comes to cheaper valve covers never use the included gasket, they get hard and brittle fast and will leak prematurely. the valve cover set I have on my car now was $60 and was installed with Fel Pro gaskets and have been ok since may of 2019..

 

Thank you, Sam. I already have a cover and coil on the way from Rock Auto, but I will get a Fel-Pro gasket set here at Napa. I will also save the coil for the next replacement.

Glenn

 

it's always good to have extra coils. I usually have an extra set of 3 along with a plenum gasket so if one goes bad on the rear bank I'll change all 3 as well as the plugs.