twcinnh Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 My wife mentioned her 93 Accord SE has been slow starting the past week or so. I went out to change the spark plugs since it's been a couple of years and found 3 of the 4 had a good bit of oil on them. Is this the end? Or, is there a possible solution I can do (I'm an average at home mechanic). Would appreciate suggestions what the cause could be and what repairs to anticipate. Thanks, Tom C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaselias Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 the end? not by any means... check your spark plug seals/grommets ... theyre cheap, change them and the valve cover gasket.. see if its still leaking from there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twcinnh Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 the end? not by any means... check your spark plug seals/grommets ... theyre cheap, change them and the valve cover gasket.. see if its still leaking from there Any idea how complex this job is? I can do some simple things and would like to save the bucks if possible. Thanks, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleanGSR Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Any idea how complex this job is? I can do some simple things and would like to save the bucks if possible. Thanks, Tom This job should take you about 20 minutes. You remove the valve cover, remove the old VC gasket, remove the old spark plug gaskets, install all the new gaskets and reinstall VC. Just make sure not to overtighten the nuts on the valve cover when reinstalling as they are usually aluminum and break pretty easily if you overtighten them. Autozone will have a complete Valve Cover Gasket set for around 20 bucks I think. It will also come with lower spark plug gaskets but that usually requires you to remove the complete rocker assembly....and it's usually the upper gaskets that leak anyway. Edit: And to clarify....there was oil in the spark plug holes i.e. back of the spark plug.....not the tip and inside the cylinder...right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twcinnh Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 This job should take you about 20 minutes. You remove the valve cover, remove the old VC gasket, remove the old spark plug gaskets, install all the new gaskets and reinstall VC. Just make sure not to overtighten the nuts on the valve cover when reinstalling as they are usually aluminum and break pretty easily if you overtighten them. Autozone will have a complete Valve Cover Gasket set for around 20 bucks I think. It will also come with lower spark plug gaskets but that usually requires you to remove the complete rocker assembly....and it's usually the upper gaskets that leak anyway. Edit: And to clarify....there was oil in the spark plug holes i.e. back of the spark plug.....not the tip and inside the cylinder...right? I think the answer is yes. The plugs had oil on them when I took the old ones out. The oil was from the hold (sleeve) the plugs are set into. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kastigir Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 I think the answer is yes. The plugs had oil on them when I took the old ones out. The oil was from the hold (sleeve) the plugs are set into. Tom The it's bad plug seals or tubes. Like Nate said, an entire VC gasket set should be about 20 from Autozone. Buy the Felpro set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twcinnh Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 <br />The it's bad plug seals or tubes. Like Nate said, an entire VC gasket set should be about 20 from Autozone. Buy the Felpro set.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Sorry to be so long responding. Yup, it was bad seals, and yes, it did take about 20 minutes to get the job done. I was concerned as another poster had broken the bolts when replacing the valve cover, but I just made them snug and watched for leaks. It's been a few weeks now and no change in the oil level or signs of leaks. I called several auto parts stores and the price difference in the Felpro set was something like 40%. I got it at Autozone. I followed the instructions for replacing the gasket and that went very well too. The old one was obviously getting stiff and brittle. Thank you all for your responses and advice. Regards, Tom C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaselias Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 glad to help man! while you had the valve cover off, how did things look in there? I was a bit surprised to see a fair amount of sludging in my mine... I guess years of semi neglect by my family and a clogged pvc system, so i've been working on getting to desludged using a short oil change cycle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twcinnh Posted September 30, 2009 Author Share Posted September 30, 2009 glad to help man! while you had the valve cover off, how did things look in there? I was a bit surprised to see a fair amount of sludging in my mine... I guess years of semi neglect by my family and a clogged pvc system, so i've been working on getting to desludged using a short oil change cycle... Having never removed a valve cover before my answer isn't authoritative, but I thought it didn't look bad. About the color of the oil just put in. The car has had regular oil changes and it's got about 185,000 miles. My family has put about 143,000 of those miles on. Thanks again, Tom C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpearce1974 Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 glad to help man! while you had the valve cover off, how did things look in there? I was a bit surprised to see a fair amount of sludging in my mine... I guess years of semi neglect by my family and a clogged pvc system, so i've been working on getting to desludged using a short oil change cycle... Use a motor flush chemical! Follow directions, usually put in a hot engine, run st idle for 5 min drain oil ( I let it drain for 20 min at least to ensure all oil is out and chemical) Then change oil, run more usual 3000 miles and do a second flush, then you are good to go for a long while! I do that in every car I buy! I also run Seafoam through intake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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