when i take the 3 out on the back..... the coilpacks that i pull out are all brown and junk kinda like junk.. or rust maybe i dunno... is that ok that i just put it back in there like that or is there something i can do to clean it up.

 

you might need a new valve cover gasget, that brown stuff is oil

 

yep... got to get a new one of those.. lol been leaking for a good 6 months.

what all has to be taken off to change it?

 

AND... is it ok that i go ahead and put new plugs in w/o changing the gasket first? kinda late to ask b/c i already did.. the old plugs never were changed and they are all rusty and ****

 

You have to remove the valve cover and all the wiring and hoses. Won't hurt by changing them but will get all cruddy again eventually. I have a cylinder hole in the front that does that too, had my car over a year and about evey six months i just clean it out with some seafoam and its fine.

 

when the plugs get old... does the tip get pointy? my dad says he's never seen anything like that... and the new copper ones i put in aren't pointy....

j/w

 

OEM platinums are pointy

 

Wrong, you need the spark plug tube seals.

In order to access them you need to take off the entire intake manifold and rear valve cover. Its a good 5 to 6 hour job. I've done it. And yes it is oil on the plugs.

 

ouch thats not good...

is it necissary i get it fixed right away? does it hurt anything... basically do i have anything to worry about it i don't fix it now....

i know i need a new VC gasket for sure, how much would it cost to have this done?

 

Its not neccessary but you will have a build up of oil on the plugs... as long as the leak isnt too bad I would leave it until you have the money to do the job.

In order to access the spark plug tube seals you have to take off the entire intake manifold off of the engine which is cumbersome, however as long as you have patience its an easy job. Once the intake is off, you can take off the valve cover and access the tube seals and replace the rear valve cover.

My first time it took about 5 hours as I knew nothing about this job. At a shop I would guess they charge around $60 per hour x 5 hours = about $300 in labor alone.

 

For now, you can clean the boot side a bit by spraying some carb cleaner on it. That should clean the metal conductor inside the boot to ensure good contact with the spark plug. Make sure that they are dry before reinstalling them back. Remember though, oil will eventually crack those boots and when that happens, you'll need new coil packs. Delaying everything too long will only cost you more money to fix things.

Took me around the same time as Ant96GLE when I changed the valve cover gaskets on mine. Still, it was easier than I thought it would be. I can't believe I almost let the dealer do it for $500!

 

labor for me was $135 to replace vc gasket, plug tube seals,and plenum gasket.

 

probably for the front right? i've read the rear is way more work and would cost more. if not, you got a good deal!

i really need to do this myself too. how much was the new seals/gasket's for everyone?? my local dealer sucks and quoted me at $24 for the rear alone and that's with an employee (my work does business with them) discount!

 

labor was $135 for both vc gaskets, all 6 tube seals, upper plenum, and put a new coil for #3.
1 plug seal 3.64 ea.
V.C. gasket 14.25 ea.

 

i think total install from dealer is 232... or thats what they priced me.

 

If that is really the price, its a steal! Before I read up on the info on how to change the valve cover gasket, I thought that my only choice was the dealer. And the dealer quoted me a price similar to you guys. I made the appointment and I sat in the lobby for 3 hrs only to find out that the original quoted price isn't accurate. Not every service manager know of how certain jobs will actually cost because they don't do the work themselves which is why they'll usually only give you an estimate in the beginning. After the dealer mechanic looked at my car and realized how much labor it'll involve, the price doubled. I spent 3 hrs in the dealer for nothing thus I drove the car for another 6 months with leaking gaskets and checked the plugs every oil change to make sure it isn't fouled up enough to need a replacement. By the time I was ready to change the gaskets, 2 ignition coil pack boots had split so I had to buy 2 new ones and those suckers aint cheap.