Resealing spark plug tubes

[mickie]

Hey guys,
One of my spark plugs is getting oil on the electrode side and from searching it is most likely the seal at the bottom of the tube. So I grab a wrench and take it out, use lock tite tape and rescrew in? Seems simple enough, but wanted reassurance before I turn an easy problem into a severe mess. Thanks

[new echo owner]

If it is on the electrode side of the spark plug, you have internal engine problem, like valve seals. If it is on the insulation/plug wire side of the spark plug then you can try resealing the spark plug tubes.

N.E.O.

[mickie]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

If it is on the electrode side of the spark plug, you have internal engine problem, like valve seals. If it is on the insulation/plug wire side of the spark plug then you can try resealing the spark plug tubes.

N.E.O.

I've talked to a couple mechanics and from reading on this site it seems there is some sort of lock-tite tape seal around the bottom which would allow oil into that area. I'll try to follow up if this is indeed the case. Thanks

[new echo owner]

Originally Posted by mickie

I've talked to a couple mechanics and from reading on this site it seems there is some sort of lock-tite tape seal around the bottom which would allow oil into that area. I'll try to follow up if this is indeed the case. Thanks

Yes, it is correct that there are sealer at the bottom of the spark plug tubes; however, when those leaks it is on the top side above the threads not on the electrodes. But if you want to give that a try, go for it, and keep us posted.

N.E.O.

[Eye8Pussies]

I would use actual loc-tite sealant instead of the teflon tape personally


and what NEO says is right though...the oil isn't coming from the sparkplug seals...the oil is coming from underneath that

[mickie]

Originally Posted by Eye8Pussies

I would use actual loc-tite sealant instead of the teflon tape personally


and what NEO says is right though...the oil isn't coming from the sparkplug seals...the oil is coming from underneath that

Hmmm on second thought it was more on the threads. I'm going to pull one tomorrow and try to be sure if it is actually on the electrode. The problem I have been having is dying cylinders that fix themselves when a new plug is installed. I pulled the one and it had oil on it. I replaced the valve cover gasket and top spark plug tube seals, but sadly I am now running on two cylinders. Thanks for the advice guys.

[new echo owner]

Was the spark plug wires soaked with oil when you remove them before your last repair? If there was oil on the wires, did you replace them?

N.E.O.

[mickie]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

Was the spark plug wires soaked with oil when you remove them before your last repair? If there was oil on the wires, did you replace them?

N.E.O.

There was only one wire that had oil on it and yes all were replaced. Not to say that the one isn't soaked in oil at this time.

[new echo owner]

OK, that is actually a good sign, in a way. If there is oil on the spark plug wire, which would mean the oil is leaking down from the top, as in the spark plug tube itself, because if it is internal the wires would be dry.

In other words, there is a good chance you will correct your oil on spark plug problem; however, I am not sure if that would be related to your running on two cylinder problem, unless you have more than one spark plug with oil on it.

N.E.O.

[mickie]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

OK, that is actually a good sign, in a way. If there is oil on the spark plug wire, which would mean the oil is leaking down from the top, as in the spark plug tube itself, because if it is internal the wires would be dry.

In other words, there is a good chance you will correct your oil on spark plug problem; however, I am not sure if that would be related to your running on two cylinder problem, unless you have more than one spark plug with oil on it.

N.E.O.

I pulled the one plug and the threads had oil on them them. It's hard to say if the electrode portion had oil because it was not wet. I pulled another wire that wasn't firing and it had moisture the wire. Also another wire that had no previous problems was split at the top near where it connects to the plug and was not getting fire to the plug. I replaced the faulty ones and I am back on all cylinders for now until I have time to really rip into it. In the process I broke a green plastic tube that connects to the water pipe going into the engine block. Any idea what this is before I go searching for it?

[new echo owner]

Green plastic tube? One of the Thermo Vacuum Valve maybe! Look at the vacuum hose diagram somewhere in the engine compartment, it may tell you if it is or not.

N.E.O.