Check this before your powertrain warranty is up!
#242
so i see now that valve cover gaskets are for sale on ebay. Is our issue the actual valve cover itself or the gasket? heres a link:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories
#244
so I will be reaplcing my spark plugs on my 04 next weekend. I have 103K and this is the first plug change. Since I a mout of warranty, I would like to know what I should do if I find oil on one or more of my plugs? can I just clean the oil out and put the new plugs in? the fact that I have 103K and no problems such as misfiring is that an indication that I do not have this problem? Should I just leave the old plugs in there and let sleeping dies lie?
#245
I didn't have any problems with misfires, and had oil in the #6 cylinder tube. I didn't even know about this problem until I changed my plugs and found it. The only "problem" I ever saw was there was a small puff of smoke after I restarted the car from the oil that dripped into the cylinder. When you pull the coil pack off you should be able to see oil on the it if there is some in there. Stuff some rags down there and soak up as much as you can before you pull the plug and that should reduce the amount of oil that gets in the cylinder.
Replacing the rocker cover wasn't too difficult as long as you have the manual.
Joe Mac
Replacing the rocker cover wasn't too difficult as long as you have the manual.
Joe Mac
#246
So if I clean as much oil as I can and install the new spark plugs then I shouldn't have any problems?
I didn't have any problems with misfires, and had oil in the #6 cylinder tube. I didn't even know about this problem until I changed my plugs and found it. The only "problem" I ever saw was there was a small puff of smoke after I restarted the car from the oil that dripped into the cylinder. When you pull the coil pack off you should be able to see oil on the it if there is some in there. Stuff some rags down there and soak up as much as you can before you pull the plug and that should reduce the amount of oil that gets in the cylinder.
Replacing the rocker cover wasn't too difficult as long as you have the manual.
Joe Mac
Replacing the rocker cover wasn't too difficult as long as you have the manual.
Joe Mac
#247
#248
I called and told them the problem. Naturally they acted dumb founded and said they would have to look at it. I waited 40 minutes while they checked it to confirm and then got a loaner car. They won't take your word for anything so they will diagnose the car for free usually if they are a reputable dealer.
#249
Could have sworn I posted here...had this done on my '04
Under warranty, just. I'm the original owner and the car was at 58k + miles, almost 6 years old, too. Would have been $800-900 job otherwise.
Found it chasing a random misfire code, plugs were looking pretty bad and 2/4/6 flooded with oil completely, 3 also.
I went in armed with the info from the OP which I didn't have to use, but they took their time deciding if it was covered. Poor bastards only get something like 3 hours or less warranty rate, they remove the entire plenum, etc. doing this work. I doubt that's a 1.5 hr in, 1.5 hr out job when you consider everything.
Can't figure out why my posts aren't here, I was pretty sure I posted back my results...maybe another thread. It was also related to stalling out on lift from speed off throttle...
Looked to me like the main problem is the seals were formed off-center, but I am far from an expert on the subject, idk if it's as obvious in my pics but this seal is sitting off center and they don't seem to move, they're formed into the cover that way. Bad QC I think.
Found it chasing a random misfire code, plugs were looking pretty bad and 2/4/6 flooded with oil completely, 3 also.
I went in armed with the info from the OP which I didn't have to use, but they took their time deciding if it was covered. Poor bastards only get something like 3 hours or less warranty rate, they remove the entire plenum, etc. doing this work. I doubt that's a 1.5 hr in, 1.5 hr out job when you consider everything.
Can't figure out why my posts aren't here, I was pretty sure I posted back my results...maybe another thread. It was also related to stalling out on lift from speed off throttle...
Looked to me like the main problem is the seals were formed off-center, but I am far from an expert on the subject, idk if it's as obvious in my pics but this seal is sitting off center and they don't seem to move, they're formed into the cover that way. Bad QC I think.
#250
Never lost enough oil to be measurable.
#251
Just read through all the posts (probably my 3rd or 4th time in the last couple yrs) and watched all the videos again. The time has come and my 6 yr powertrain warranty expires in Dec 24 so will need to do this. Been putting it off because it looks a bit intimidating and hope I won't break anything.
Do you need to take out the Negative post on the battery before doing all this? I thought you have to do that before you remove the MAF from the intake?
Do you need to take out the Negative post on the battery before doing all this? I thought you have to do that before you remove the MAF from the intake?
#252
So I finally checked today. Bone dry on all 6 coil packs. I am not even sure if that is good or not. I didn't take the spark plugs out, I wonder if it's possible that coil packs are dry but the spark plugs may have oil on the bottom (which I would need to take out to check). I don't know how you guys did it in 1 hour. I must been in the garage for 5 hours. The drive side coil pack, 2, 4 and 6 was quite easy. The passenger side 1, 3, 5, is horrible. I couldn't figure out how to move those ignition wires away so I barely have enough room to check 1, 3, and 5. Had to do them one by one and of course drop bolts, that's another story and putting in wrong screws when I put everything back.
Since the coil packs are dry, I am not touching it again even though i have 2 more months of powertrain warranty. Just didn't want to go through the process again. I only have 38k miles so I will wait a while before I swap the spark plugs.
Since the coil packs are dry, I am not touching it again even though i have 2 more months of powertrain warranty. Just didn't want to go through the process again. I only have 38k miles so I will wait a while before I swap the spark plugs.
Last edited by mikeee2; 10-10-2010 at 01:09 AM.
#253
For everyone that had the oil pooling issue. Did you ALL see oil pooling before pulling out the spark plugs? Meaning there was oil pooling around the coil packs.
Did anyone have dry coil packs but when they took spark plugs out, there was oil on spark plugs? I am a bit paranoid now because my coil packs were all dried but I didn't pull the plugs out. It took me 5 hours and I don't want to ever do it again.
Did anyone have dry coil packs but when they took spark plugs out, there was oil on spark plugs? I am a bit paranoid now because my coil packs were all dried but I didn't pull the plugs out. It took me 5 hours and I don't want to ever do it again.
#254
For everyone that had the oil pooling issue. Did you ALL see oil pooling before pulling out the spark plugs? Meaning there was oil pooling around the coil packs.
Did anyone have dry coil packs but when they took spark plugs out, there was oil on spark plugs? I am a bit paranoid now because my coil packs were all dried but I didn't pull the plugs out. It took me 5 hours and I don't want to ever do it again.
Did anyone have dry coil packs but when they took spark plugs out, there was oil on spark plugs? I am a bit paranoid now because my coil packs were all dried but I didn't pull the plugs out. It took me 5 hours and I don't want to ever do it again.
The spark plug tips may have a small amount of oil on them, but I really don't think that's anything to worry about unless it is a thick coating. All engines have a small amount of blow by that will collect on the plugs. You only run into problems when it is significant enough to start causing misfires.
#255
If you have dry coil packs you are fine...for now. I'm pretty sure all VQ's will have the problem eventually.
The spark plug tips may have a small amount of oil on them, but I really don't think that's anything to worry about unless it is a thick coating. All engines have a small amount of blow by that will collect on the plugs. You only run into problems when it is significant enough to start causing misfires.
The spark plug tips may have a small amount of oil on them, but I really don't think that's anything to worry about unless it is a thick coating. All engines have a small amount of blow by that will collect on the plugs. You only run into problems when it is significant enough to start causing misfires.