Found oil on 3rd spark plug UPDATE

[AgaBoogaBoo]

My dad and I were changing spark plugs today and found some oil on the third spark plug from the left facing the engine.

We changed the spark plugs and turned the car on and saw smoke from it, so it was probably burning the oil.

Lately the car has been stalling and starting up again on it's own. The other day I was driving and the car just dropped to 0 rpms all of a sudden but never shook the car or anything like it would when you stall it. The first time this happened smoke came through the air conditioning vents, possibly burning oil.

The air from the exhaust looks how it should too.

These might be unrelated issues, but I thought I'd post them both incase they are related. I think the issue about stalling might be from when I installed my intake because at the time I had somewhat similar issues, but I fixed that by plugging a certain pipe I was supposed to plug. It's still plugged though.

I have a 91 Accord LX

Update:
Ok, I went to pickup some things with my dad and we encountered some more issues

First, besides in idle, it usually "hiccups" from time to time. It's like a sudden loss of engine power. That happened plenty of times while driving.

At one specific occasion, I lost complete power and the engine died as well. We tried turning it on but it didn't work. My dad ended up getting the car on by giving lots of gas and keeping it there, it just wanted to die.

We think it's the Fuel Pump or the fuel filter or something like that.

I don't think it's related to the valve cover gasket. Also, when I do the Valve cover gasket, should I do it for all 4 cylinders or just that one? They've never been changed and we're almost at 170k miles

 

[NutBucket]

I assume the oil was on the electrode end?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
I assume the oil was on the electrode end?

The oil was on the spark plug wire mostly, when we took it out it was dripping

I don't remember if there was oil below it

My terminology sucks

 

[NutBucket]

Oh, well if its above then its either the o-ring between the the head and the valve cover or the lower tube seals. Replacing the former is easy, the latter requires removing the cam.

 

[0]

How many miles?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: 0
How many miles?

Almost 170k miles

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Oh, well if its above then its either the o-ring between the the head and the valve cover or the lower tube seals. Replacing the former is easy, the latter requires removing the cam.

How do I determine which one it is?

Does the Haynes manual cover either of these?

And how much will this cost me?

 

[goodoptics]

Most likely, you need to replace valve cover gasket, 4 spark plug tube seals and grommets on the valve cover.

 

[goodoptics]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Oh, well if its above then its either the o-ring between the the head and the valve cover or the lower tube seals. Replacing the former is easy, the latter requires removing the cam.

Agreed. Replace the latter is more labor intensive.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Oh, well if its above then its either the o-ring between the the head and the valve cover or the lower tube seals. Replacing the former is easy, the latter requires removing the cam.

How do I determine which one it is?

Does the Haynes manual cover either of these?

And how much will this cost me?

Well, valve cover gasket is easy so I'd start with that. The lower tube seals should be in the Haynes manual. If not I can scan some pages for you or something.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Ok, I went to pickup some things with my dad and we encountered some more issues

First, besides in idle, it usually "hiccups" from time to time. It's like a sudden loss of engine power. That happened plenty of times while driving.

At one specific occasion, I lost complete power and the engine died as well. We tried turning it on but it didn't work. My dad ended up getting the car on by giving lots of gas and keeping it there, it just wanted to die.

We think it's the Fuel Pump or the fuel filter or something like that.

I don't think it's related to the valve cover gasket. Also, when I do the Valve cover gasket, should I do it for all 4 cylinders or just that one? They've never been changed and we're almost at 170k miles

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Ok, I went to pickup some things with my dad and we encountered some more issues

First, besides in idle, it usually "hiccups" from time to time. It's like a sudden loss of engine power. That happened plenty of times while driving.

At one specific occasion, I lost complete power and the engine died as well. We tried turning it on but it didn't work. My dad ended up getting the car on by giving lots of gas and keeping it there, it just wanted to die.

We think it's the Fuel Pump or the fuel filter or something like that.

I don't think it's related to the valve cover gasket. Also, when I do the Valve cover gasket, should I do it for all 4 cylinders or just that one? They've never been changed and we're almost at 170k miles

Got a picture of the spark plug? Are you sure it's oil? Not really a good sign. Check the compression in that cylinder.

It could be your fuel pump/filter, have the fuel rail pressure checked. Very well could be something else though. Is the engine throwing any codes?

It most certainly doesen't have anything to do with the valve cover gasket(s), lol. Are you sure you're even describing the right part? There isn't one valve cover gasket per cylinder, the valve cover.. covers the valves for each bank of cylinders. Since you only have 1 bank of cylinders, you only have one valve cover gasket. There is no need to ever replace any gasket or seal unless it is leaking or if the part(s) have been disassembled.

Edit: GRR.. the forum error is seriously pissing me off.

Ok, I read the thread. I see what you mean about valve cover gaskets and stuff, mybad. When I read the thread title, I thought you meant you found oil on the electrodes of the 3rd sparkplug.. are you just saying that you have an external oil leak? Unless it's severe, it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Ok, I went to pickup some things with my dad and we encountered some more issues

First, besides in idle, it usually "hiccups" from time to time. It's like a sudden loss of engine power. That happened plenty of times while driving.

At one specific occasion, I lost complete power and the engine died as well. We tried turning it on but it didn't work. My dad ended up getting the car on by giving lots of gas and keeping it there, it just wanted to die.

We think it's the Fuel Pump or the fuel filter or something like that.

I don't think it's related to the valve cover gasket. Also, when I do the Valve cover gasket, should I do it for all 4 cylinders or just that one? They've never been changed and we're almost at 170k miles

Got a picture of the spark plug? Are you sure it's oil? Not really a good sign. Check the compression in that cylinder.

It could be your fuel pump/filter, have the fuel rail pressure checked. Very well could be something else though. Is the engine throwing any codes?

It most certainly doesen't have anything to do with the valve cover gasket(s), lol. Are you sure you're even describing the right part? There isn't one valve cover gasket per cylinder, the valve cover.. covers the valves for each bank of cylinders. Since you only have 1 bank of cylinders, you only have one valve cover gasket. There is no need to ever replace any gasket or seal unless it is leaking or if the part(s) have been disassembled.

Edit: GRR.. the forum error is seriously pissing me off.

Ok, I read the thread. I see what you mean about valve cover gaskets and stuff, mybad. When I read the thread title, I thought you meant you found oil on the electrodes of the 3rd sparkplug.. are you just saying that you have an external oil leak? Unless it's severe, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Yeah, the oil issue isn't a big deal. I'll get the fuel rail pressure checked and then I'll see about the fuel pump and filter.

The engine isn't throwing any codes