I was doing a routine spark plug change awhile back and noticed my plugs were fouled. Checked one of the new plugs that I just changed and saw it had been fouled within a matter of minutes. I took it to my mechanic and they said it's the valve cover gasket. They also said that because of the leak, my ignition coils are no good and need to be replaced.

They've quoted me $400 labor, $40 for the valve cover gasket, and $850 for a set of ignition coils. My car has 76k miles...

Anyways, I know I can get the parts for cheaper elsewhere, but my mechanic won't install customer parts. Either way I think I'm looking at $1000 of work.

 

Sorry I just realized I didn't ask a question haha.

Does this sound right to you guys? Do I really need to replace all my coils because of an oil leak?

 

Is the car misfiring and setting off the check engine light.Some shops like to replace all the coils instead of just 1 to cover there *** if another one goes bad a week later.

 

The valve cover leak has turned out to be a very typical leak. Your are the first NA guy that i've heard of that has had this leak.

OP, just change the valve cover gasket, then change the plugs. Fix the actual problem before you change anything else, oh and do it yourself!!

 

There is no valve cover gasket only

You have to purchase the entire valve cover (pain I know)

But it shouldn't affect the coils. If it did your car would be running like total crap right now.

Fouled? You mean on the tip? Or the insulated part? ie.. white part? Oil from the covers shouldn't be making it's way into the cylinders and fouling the plug tip.

 

I have no check engine lights, no misfire codes. Since I discovered the issue, I can smell unburned gasoline on startup, smelled burning oil today when I popped the hood(had another shop look at it and give me a second opinion).

Second shop tells me 5 hours labor is a steal, they want to charge me 7-8. I mean from looking at plenum spacer installation manuals, I don't see what's so hard about replacing the valve cover that would take a professional mechanic 8 hours.

I've noticed a decrease in fuel efficiency as well, not sure if it's related. But I mean I haven't changed my driving style really and my MPG has gone down at least 3-4/MPG.

Are you sure I can't just get a valve cover gasket? The first shop actually quoted me a price, it was roughly $40. The plugs are fouled at the threads, this is me changing out the old plug, putting in a new plug, checking that same plug 5-10 minutes later, and it's already fouled.

Replacing all the coils is fishy, I haven't see a single post on this forum about anyone having to replace their coilpacks.

Thanks for the help so far guys.

 

Also I just ordered a 5/18" MD Copper Iso Spacer, it should be coming in the next few days. I should probably take care of this oil issue before installing the spacer right?

 

Still need help.

 

$14.05 from www.rockauto.com

 

Nice! I'm pleasantly corrected.

 

I don't see how the coils would go bad due to a valve cover leak. Plugs, yes but coils, no.


Good find on the gasket.

 

I've been able to find the gaskets on other sites as well, thanks. Is there a consensus on what brand I should choose? I've seen Beck/Arnley, Nippon Reinz, and now Fel-Pro.

Mechanic has told me the problem with our engines is the wells do not have individual gaskets, instead, they are molded onto the valve cover. So if the leak were related at all to those, I need to replace the entire valve cover.

I'm not going to replace the coils for now, and will not unless I get any cylinder misfire codes. My shop is going to just try and clean the boots out as much as they can.

Thanks a lot for the help guys.

 

i recently had my spark plugs replaced and the mechanic told me that my valve cover gasket was leaking and needed to be replaced. i was quoted about 180 in labor and 40 for the part. im aware that the part is overpriced, am i messing up my new spark plugs the longer i wait to replace the cover gasket?

thanks.

 

Why are you waiting to replace it if it needs to be done?

 

sigh cant belive no1 has said anything about that valve cover gasket.. its the circle seals that seal the spark plug tubes that are leaking not the actual vc gasket to the cylinder head.. other wise u would have oil on ur engine and not on your spark plugs.. the circle seals only come witih new valve covers. infiniti price arnd 850ish if i remember correctly. replacing the outer valve cover gasket will fix nothing in your case. as far as the coil packs go i dont think any damage can come to them. all thats down that far is a conductive spring and the plastic+rubber tube.