Oil in spark plug 2.2 1999 camry

[carnage9]

Hi i would appreciate some advice. I was tuning up my car and i changed my spark plugs and i think i let the 4th lose and the spark plug shot up and made a dent on my hood. I replaced it and went on with my business. Well my car seemed to still run fine but then i got problems. It seem to just lack power and seemed weaker than before. Then it had trouble starting sometimes i would have to try like 3 times especially on cold mornings. Well i inspected the spark plugs and noticed that the new spark plug had some oil in it so i replaced it again. It worked for about almost a month but then the symptoms returned and the oil was once again on the spark plug. Any ideas on what can be the culprit? Please i would appreciate any help or ideas.

Also the car has 160,000miles because i commute about 20miles a day. This happened about 20,000 miles ago.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

your 99 isn't a Gen 5..

[carnage9]

I thought 96-01 was 5th well w.e.

[new echo owner]

Oil on all four plus? On the electrode or the insulator? Does it smokes when yo first start the car up?

N.E.O.

[carnage9]

no only on the 4th and i dont remember how far it goes but when i remove the wire theres oil on the wire itself

[new echo owner]

It sounds like you have a few different problems, and they are not necessarily related to each other.

If the oil is on your spark plug wire for #4 Cylinder, you may have a spark plug tube leaking. Since you did mention anything about the engine running rough, the plug wire maybe still good. However, with 160k, yo might consider replacing them.

Lack of power, you should probably do a compression test and see where with the engine is at. If it is low on compression, then you may have found the cause of the engine lacking power.

When you said having trouble starting, do you mean the engine cranks over but won't start, or do you mean you have to try a few times before it cranks?

N.E.O.

[carnage9]

do engine does run rough sometimes and it will crank but nothing will happen

[new echo owner]

Well, I would suggest start with the compression test first; find out how the engine is doing inside. Then run some fuel system clean through the fuel system. From your description, it is possible that you have slight restricted injectors. If it improves with the cleaner, you can either run more cleaner though it or take the injectors out to have them clean.

The spark plug tubes can be reseal, if you don't need to do anything else with the engine.

N.E.O.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Gen5 02-06 Yours is a Gen 4.

[CharmCityES]

yes a 97-01 is a gen 4....
im moving tjhis to the gen 3-4 section

[Mike Gerber]

As to the oil on the #4 spark plug and spark plug wire, clean the plug wire and clean the spark plug well of all oil. I found removing the spark plug and then using a plastic straw with a paper towel taped to the end works well and won't scratch anything. Then tighten the 4 30MM nuts under all the spark plug wires to 17 ft lbs of torque in 3 passes. First 6 ft lbs, then 12 ft lbs and finally 17 ft lbs. Many times this stops the oil from getting in to the spark plug well.

Mike