[mysterl33]

I sure hope it is! haha will be the most expensive oil change I've done to the car. But it'll be well worth it if it helps the car run longer haha

btw, I found a coupon for advanced auto $40 off $100 so I just bought a air filter and cabin filter for my dad's Odyssey while I was at it. Plus some funnels and a magnetic tray. BIG40 is the code if anyones thinking of buying stuff.

 

[mysterl33]

so today is fairly warm so I decided to change the spark plugs and do the oil change.. but ran into problems..

1. There's quite a bit of oil in the spark plug tube.:disappoin which i know means one of the gaskets is leaking.

2. I can get the second spark plug out from the left but the first one..has something weird. The socket doesnt go in as far and when I looked inside, it looked like there was a bolt or something on top? I took a smaller socket and I think 6mm socket fit over it and I could turn it but it doesnt go anywhere.

3. I can't pull the spark plug wire off the 3rd and 4th spark plugs. It wont budge. :facepalm:

I'm really wondering if I should just sell it and get into a different car. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[71Corolla]

Sounds like part of the spark plug lead got stuck on the plug itself. Fish it out and get a new set of wires. But replace the gasket/seals while you're at it.

 

[fenixus]

so today is fairly warm so I decided to change the spark plugs and do the oil change.. but ran into problems..

1. There's quite a bit of oil in the spark plug tube.:disappoin which i know means one of the gaskets is leaking.

2. I can get the second spark plug out from the left but the first one..has something weird. The socket doesnt go in as far and when I looked inside, it looked like there was a bolt or something on top? I took a smaller socket and I think 6mm socket fit over it and I could turn it but it doesnt go anywhere.

3. I can't pull the spark plug wire off the 3rd and 4th spark plugs. It wont budge. :facepalm:

I'm really wondering if I should just sell it and get into a different car. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

per 1) most likely the tube nut seals on top (right below the 30mm nuts) are leaking allowing the oil splashes to get into the tube from outside (under the valve cover).

before you replace them. the very common problem is the nuts are simply loose. get a 30mm socket from autozone (loan a tool program) and a 3/8'' torque wrench with adapter to fit the 1/2'' drive socket and tighten them all to 17ft-lbs. it may stop the leak if it was coming from top of tube.

per 2) how was the wire tip end looking like when compared to others? anything missing? you may need a pair of long needle nose pliers to fish it out. sounds like something is still attached on top of spark plug.

per 3) they may be rusted to spark plug. try gently twisting/rotating the wire boots and pull. since you've got new wires waiting for install, no need to be actually gentle with them, if you have to, just pull on the wire (a no no if you are re-using them).

don't give up

 

[mysterl33]

can you explain to me what you're talking about for #1? haha tube nut seals?

ok sos after a little search on google I found this post

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276289

don't know if I want to tackle this job haha I don't feel comfortable at all taking the valve cover off the engine. ahhh guess it's time to look for a mechanic.

 

[71Corolla]

can you explain to me what you're talking about for #1? haha tube nut seals? valve cover off the engine. ahhh guess it's time to look for a mechanic.

He means these, the 4 donuts in the picture. The tubes themselves thread into the cylinder head and can sometimes leak at the base but it's not that common. Edit - the exact name is Valve Cover Seal Washer.

 

[mysterl33]

so is everything in that picture what I should replace?

 

[71Corolla]

Yes, plus the PCV valve. You will also need some RTV, which you use to re-seal the "half-moon" plugs and also place it in the specified locations.

 

[fenixus]

valve cover on 5s-fe engine is super easy to take off, check this out, it has pics:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339863

tube nut seals are the black rubber rings that go below the metal nuts (30mm).
nuts hold the valve cover down while nut seals prevent oil splashing inside the valve cover from getting out or inside the tubes (making it look like tubes leak from top).

 

[71Corolla]

valve cover on 5s-fe engine is super easy to take off, check this out, it has pics:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339863

I just realized, I have the same generic torque wrench as you. :lol:

 

[fenixus]

I just realized, I have the same generic torque wrench as you. :lol:

mine comes from a sale in Harbor Freight Tools
was cheap and works awesome - I love it

 

[mysterl33]

so i would just need to take the 4 tube nuts off and pull the cover off, then unscrew the spark plug tube, clean, put new sealant on the threads, screw it back on, put the valve cover back on and screw everything together? should I just replace the valve gasket while Im in there?/

Whats the part number for the valve gasket? should I use OEM or is there a good A/M gasket that I can get?

oh and just for future refernce, what are the cylinder orders haha going from left to right when looking at the engine from the front of the car?

 

[71Corolla]

Cylinder #1 starts at the front (right side of the car) of the engine, and just count. But it doesn't matter you can't put the plug wires back on wrong, well unless you try really hard. Get OEM parts, doesn't have to be from Toyota many places will sell the valve cover gasket kit made by Ishino. You don't have to unscrew the tubes and re-seal them they are rarely a problem, leave them alone.

 

[mysterl33]

the what do i need to do to stop getting oil in the cylinders? haha just re-tighten the tube nuts?

 

[71Corolla]

You should get yourself a service manual. :thumbsup: But this will help...

The hardest part is removing the old sealant without dropping it into the engine. Be very careful with this!

 

[fenixus]

hey, there is also a chance that a spark plug went loose and allowed oil or some vapors to come up from cylinder below up to the tube. it happens.
same common thing is worn tube nut seal on top, causing similar effect, but oil looks more smeared all over the tube and not only at bottom.

as mentioned above, first try re-tightening the nuts, it takes 5 minutes with proper tools and it might just solve your problem.

 

[mysterl33]

there was oil along the walls of the tube. It's ok if the oil goes down the tube when I remove the spark plug right? I just saw a lot of black smoke when I turned the car on after I reinstalled the old plugs and wires.

I'll stop by autozone after work and get the 30mm socket and try re-tightening it first.

Is there anything I can do to clean the oil off the sides of the spark plug tube? should I install my new plugs or just re-use the old ones until I fix the oil leak?

 

[fenixus]

unless the leak is severe (plugs submerged in oil) don't worry about it much. you can try cleaning it a bit with shop towels (e.g. the blue ones from autozone).
Install new plugs and re-tighten the nuts and call it a day. if oil leak from top returns (easy to check by pulling the wire boot off and taking a peek) just replace the nut seals.

 

[mysterl33]

there was quite a bit of oil in the 4th and 3rd plug tubes. So I'm guessing this is something more than just the seal nuts. so what I should I do then? should I just stick a rag down there and try to soak most of it up?

 

[fenixus]

there was quite a bit of oil in the 4th and 3rd plug tubes. So I'm guessing this is something more than just the seal nuts. so what I should I do then? should I just stick a rag down there and try to soak most of it up?

yeah, you can try soaking it up with something.

were the #3&4 spark plugs loose?

if there is that much oil than either oil is coming from bottom (leaky tube
threads in cylinder head) or the nuts on top are completely loose - can you turn them freely with 2 fingers?