Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Romie on 09 January 2016, 02:36:48

Title: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Romie on 09 January 2016, 02:36:48
My mechanic replaced the valve cover gaskets and after 300 kms I  experienced misfires and hard starting. My friend and I check the wires and plugs and found 2, 4, and 6 were swimming in oil. So I called my mechanic and requested an appointment. He said he used good quality gaskets and that couldn't be the fault for the leak. Is he just brushing off an error in reassembly or a bad gasket or would there be another reason for the oil filling in the ports?
thanks for your input
Romie
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: zirk on 09 January 2016, 06:19:53
Was the Breather System blocked and cleaned at the same time? Pointless changing the seals without checking this, otherwise its down to crappy non GM seals, wrong sealant, or he hasn't torqued them down properly.

Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: TheBoy on 09 January 2016, 09:43:44
As Zirk says, the breathers need to be clear. But given the timescales, I would suggest a combination of poor quality gaskets and poor fitting.

It is absolutely the only place oil can get into the plug wells.
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: terry paget on 09 January 2016, 11:09:09
As said before, with clear breathers, cam cover gasket merely have to resist  air being sucked into cam covers by breather light vacuum. With breathers blocked, they struggle to contain sump pressure caused by piston leakage, soon fail and allow oil to blow past into plug holes.
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Webby the Bear on 09 January 2016, 11:20:13
Sounds like poor fitment due to the amount of time it took.  :y
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: EMD on 09 January 2016, 14:54:06
Could also be warped rocker covers due to being over tightened previously , if they are warped you will never get an oil tight seal .
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Romie on 11 January 2016, 17:17:21
Thanks for the speedy reply...not so on COG. It seems most answers are in line with my friend Dave. I have yet to take the Cat to Jeff so that he can check his work.
Is the breather easy to remove and inspect?
How do I remove the oil from the spark plug wells?
Thanks
Romie
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: EMD on 11 January 2016, 17:40:37
Thanks for the speedy reply...not so on COG. It seems most answers are in line with my friend Dave. I have yet to take the Cat to Jeff so that he can check his work.
Is the breather easy to remove and inspect?
How do I remove the oil from the spark plug wells?
Thanks
Romie

I use a turkey baster with a thin pipe attached to syphon all the oil out .
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Nick W on 11 January 2016, 18:10:36
Thanks for the speedy reply...not so on COG. It seems most answers are in line with my friend Dave. I have yet to take the Cat to Jeff so that he can check his work.
Is the breather easy to remove and inspect?
How do I remove the oil from the spark plug wells?
Thanks
Romie


Cheap turkey baster.


Damn, not quick enough >:(

Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: amba on 11 January 2016, 18:35:55
Large sized syringe with thin tube attached ,although does help having a A & E nurse in residence for such items  ;)
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: terry paget on 11 January 2016, 19:41:12
I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: EMD on 11 January 2016, 22:05:33
I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences  ;D
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up  :o Not recommended though  ::)  :-X
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 11 January 2016, 23:28:59
I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences  ;D
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up :o Not recommended though  ::)  :-X

You can't admit to doing things like that on here!!!!  :o :o :o   You'll get banned!!!  ::) ::) ::)  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Romie on 12 January 2016, 01:39:31
Was the Breather System blocked and cleaned at the same time? Pointless changing the seals without checking this, otherwise its down to crappy non GM seals, wrong sealant, or he hasn't torqued them down properly.

Thanks Zirk
After watching this video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PczuE0tH7Xw
I'm thinking Jeff the mechanic didn't pull the cover off the drivers side (3L 1998 Catera Left hand drive).
You have a good point and I would like to know more.
Thanks
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: Romie on 12 January 2016, 01:57:06
I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences  ;D
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up  :o Not recommended though  ::)  :-X


Thanks EMD
After I had blotted the oil out with a rag (not fun) my friend Dave held the starter on until it started to run. But Dave said not to run the car very long like that. The car was putting out white smoke and then we found that #2 was misfiring. I still have some issues but now I'm just gathering information to repair it myself.
Your advise worked for me, at least now I can move it into my heated garage. Since I don't see any wrench marks on the valve cover, I don't think Jeff the mechanic didn't install the driver's side cover gaskets. I've watched a video and wow what a job. You can see the video on my previous post.
thanks
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: robson on 12 January 2016, 09:43:34
When I had my cam cover gaskets done on my last omega at a garage when the car was driven out of the garage I have never seen such a cloud of smoke come out of the exhaust obviously drained the oil into the cylinders but all was well after a few miles.
Title: Re: Oil in spark plug ports
Post by: EMD on 12 January 2016, 14:51:54
I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences  ;D
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up :o Not recommended though  ::)  :-X

You can't admit to doing things like that on here!!!!  :o :o :o   You'll get banned!!!  ::) ::) ::)  ;D ;D ;D

 ::) :P

I wont be doing that again  ;D It smoked out the whole street but soon cleared  ::)