Oil got into spark plug wells, help!

[Avalon]

So I've got an '06 Chevy Aveo. We got an oil change on it about 2 months ago, and recently it has been sputtering pretty badly, almost like a spark plug was going. I decided I'd change the plugs and wires because it has been a while, and discovered that it looks like whoever did the oil change 2 months ago leaked some oil, so some of it got down into the spark plug wells.

Anyway, after installing the new plugs and wires it looks like some residual oil leaked down further into the plug wells, and when we started the car, it exhausted a bunch of white smoke. Will this oil burn off or do we have bigger problems?

 

[ghost recon88]

Sounds almost like a leaking head gasket. Are you losing coolant at all? Burning coolant smoke is white, burning oil smoke is black.

 

[SparkyJJO]

First off, a little bit of oil down the plug wells isn't a big deal and is rather common on a lot of engines from all makes. The little "donut" gaskets for the valve cover tend to seep. I wouldn't fret that. I usually sop it out with a rag or something before pulling the plug to keep most of it out of the cylinder, but a few drops in there isn't really going to hurt anything.

Did the white exhaust continue or stop after a bit? How much is a bunch? How warm/cold and how humid was it outside? If it stopped, did it come back later? Might be a good idea to take it to a TRUSTED mechanic to test gaskets. I emphasize trusted because the last thing you want to do is take it to a random one, mention your concern, and have them fake it is a gasket issue (or something else) if that really isn't the problem.

 

[soccerballtux]

eh IDK. A thin film of oil will increase the resistance and affect spark plug detonation.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Well first you make sure there isn't oil all over everything when you put it together And if you have enough oil down in the well to make it all the way up inside the boot to the connector of the plug you have some issues then. Also, last I checked you don't want any detonation going on with your spark plugs

 

[AMCRambler]

Oil is no biggie. If you cant pull the plug out and sop it up with a rag, you could take some small diameter tubing, duct tape it to a shop vac hose and use that to suck it out. Chances are thats not the cause of your white smoke. Need to know more about if its continuing to smoke or just a little at startup and goes away.

 

[kalrith]

I had an '06 Suzuki Forenza with oil in the spark plug wells, and it was from a leaky valve cover gasket. I think the Aveo is based on the Forenza (or vice versa), so that's my guess. If it's still under warranty, then the repair should be covered. Of course, mine didn't smoke and sputter, so it could be something different for you.

 

[cbrsurfr]

I had my valve cover leak oil into the spark plug wells at the track. Enough oil would short out the coil pack. We used an air tank with a long nozzle and a bunch of rags to blow out the wells so the coil packs wouldn't short.

Replaced the gasket and did a tune up and it's been fine.

 

[JCH13]

Sounds almost like a leaking head gasket. Are you losing coolant at all? Burning coolant smoke is white, burning oil smoke is black.

Head gasket?!

Sounds like a leaking valve cover gasket. Clean everything off, replace the valve cover gasket, should be good to go.

Oil in the combustion chamber will burn off. If the plugs are coated in oil use a toothbrush and acetone to clean them off.