After I changed my spark plugs 10k miles ago, I noticed a small oil leak in two of the cylinders. 7K miles ago I pulled both covers, replaced all six spark plug tube seals, and both cover seals. Everthing had been running great on my car, no problems with stuttering, stalling, or starting, and my gas mileage was still great (30+ on highway).

Today I wanted to check my plugs, and five of them look great, but the front center tube is filled up to the top with oil! I'm not sure if it is leaking down into the cylinder, but I do not think it is. I'm going to get a turkey baster to suck the oil out, and pull the plug to see if there is any problems further down.

Did I mess up that spark plug tube seal job? I mean I guess I could have scratched the sealing surfaces, but I mean the whole thing is literally filled up. I'm going to snap some pictures, but I won't get a chance to upload them until I get back from vacation on the 12th.

Also, should I try to keep the cylinder running by sucking out the oil and cleaning the coilpack? Or should I disconnect the coil pack and the injector connector (to save fuel)? Suggestions? Hints?

Update: I used a spray bottle to suck out most of the oil, and when I tried to pull the spark plug, I can't even get my socket down into it, I think the tube seal is blocking it. My father seems to think I overfilled it with oil, though I've always put what the manual says, 4 & 5/8s, though my dip stick has always shown it to be higher than max, which has always boggled my mind.

 

You need to Pull off the front valve cover and most likely the spark plug Guide tube seal slipped down the Tube and allowed oil in by your spark plug. I would put money on that being the case. When you install the tube seals you need to make sure they're securely put into the valve cover. If they are at all loose, they will work their way down the tube and oil will be allowed into the tube.

-matt

 

My manual says 4 litres of oil is the capacity. That's what I use.

 

well I cleaned out the tube, and put everything back together, and the cylinder is firing, as the idle dropped when I removed the coilpack plug. I'll have to order the parts and pull that front cover again.

I'll double check my manual, but I've always had 4 & 5/8's written on the front, as I always forget.

EDIT: I just checked, and it says with filter, 4 & 5/8s quarts for the US measure, 3 & 7/8s quart for the Imp measure, and 4.4 Liters. Is my manual wrong?

 

No man you're manual is correct. That's what mine says as well. With the filter it's 4 and 5/8's.

 

i've got the 96 factory service manual , haynes manual
and owners manual - All 3 say 4 1/4 quarts when changing
oil & filter.

 

4-1/4 Quarts including the filter. No less, no more.

-matt

 

Interesting info, I always put 4 and 1/2 quarts, not anymore

 

where are the picure? i dont htink it's an overflow issue with oil.

 

So..........yeah.........Are you aware you just bumped a 19 month old thread????

 

I don't see a mention of pics in the thread above, but I only skimmed over it. If there were any, it could be because of the age of the thread...

 

Here's the pictures I took back then: http://www.davidschick.com/pictures/...ube/index.html

As others have said, it was a bad spark plug tube seal. Replaced it, checked later, still leaking a bit, it is really hard to get it properly seated when doing the work by myself. Eitherway, the oil isn't leaking out of there (nowhere to go), so I'm just letting it be. Won't have to mess with it until I change my spark plugs next year.

 

^^ Did you glue your seals? My seal fell into the rocker arm around the seal.

 

They should "click" into the valve cover. OEM fit really well but the aftermarket dont really fit all that well and could fall down into the motor around the tube resulting in oil going up and into the tube.

-matt

 

Yeah, all but 1 fell down so I rather be safe than sorry and add some glue or so.

 

4.25 qts.