there’s oil I’m one of the sparkplugs does this meany engine is irreplaceable?
My car has been rattling and there was oil in one of the sparkplugs
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello there, without know your year, make, and model I can only offer general advice. When oil is seen on the spark plugs it is most often due to the valve cover gaskets leaking. The valve covers have seals around the spark plug tubes and over time these seals can leak filling the spark plug tubes up with oil. The rattling can be caused by many faults but an engine that is misfiring due to oil on the plugs can have a rattle noise. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your engine rattle and inspect the spark plugs to determine why they have oil on them.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Leaky O-rings (spark plug tube seals) are probably the number one cause of oil on spark plugs. Spark plug tube seals keep engine oil, coolant, and everything else on one side of your spark plugs, so they remain dry. If these rings fail, engine oil can leak into your spark plug well and onto your spark plugs.
Can I Drive with Oil on My Spark Plugs? Spark plugs that are significantly oil-contaminated can result in an engine misfire. Because a misfire can cause additional damage to other parts of the vehicle, such as the catalytic converter, it`s a good idea to address oily spark plugs right away.
When the spark plugs malfunction, they reduce the effectiveness of the engine`s cylinders, which then causes the cylinders to rattle. These unpleasant noises indicate that the cylinders are being overworked and will lead to further troubles down the line.
Black, oily deposits on the electrodes and insulator tip points to an oil-fouled plug. Oil could be leaking into the cylinders, getting past pistons that are worn or valve guides that are worn. Finding the source of the leak is very important – consult a mechanic for guidance.
Spark plugs are designed for long-term durability, meaning that they only need to be replaced between every 80,000 and 100,000 miles. However, they can become damaged earlier than expected and require replacements to avoid pricey engine repairs.
Continuing to drive on worn out or damaged spark plugs can ultimately cause engine damage, so don`t put it off.
If the spark plug is only lightly soiled, you can try cleaning it with sandpaper. You can start by removing any debris on the outside of the spark plug. Next, use 220-grit sandpaper to gently sand away buildup – use a light touch, as you don`t want to damage the metal.
The spark plug wire rubber boots may get soaked with oil, causing a misfire or rough idle.
If you found oil has entered the spark plug tube galley then the oil may have shorted out all the coils and plug wires causing the engine no start.
A misfiring engine also causes rattling, along with knocks, pings, and other forms of engine noise.
Many issues can cause rattling noises when accelerating, including worn-out suspension components, loose heat shields, and low transmission fluid. Worn-out suspension components, a misaligned driveshaft, broken or loose heat shields, and low transmission fluid can all cause a rattling sound when accelerating.
If enough oil is in the combustion chamber, the deposits can build up on the tip, porcelain or shell. If you can`t determine if it is carbon or oil fouling, smell the plug; it will smell like engine oil. The oil can come from the piston rings, valve stem seals or the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system.
Faulty O-Rings
O-ring seals are located beneath the spark plug tubes. Oil will seep through an O-ring that has been worn or cracked, and it will reach the spark plug tube. You`ll need to address this issue promptly before the engine suffers too much damage.
Now this next one: really, really clean, spotlessly clean, cleaner than any of the other plugs in the engine. That usually signifies that coolant is getting into that cylinder and it is cleaning, steam cleaning the end of the spark plug.
Oil damage is another cause of ignition coil repairs. If a customer comes in for parts relating to an oil leak, the spark plugs and ignition coils might also have been damaged and in need of replacement.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
lost all oil pressure, replaced the oil pump, low oil sensor, oil pressure sensor, oil pan gasket,
ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.
Low oil pressure light comes on when idle. Check engine light is on as well. Both came on after getting an oil change 3 days ago.
ANSWER : It is possible that they put in the wrong viscosity oil. In rare instances, a defective filter will also cause low pressure. If there is too much oil, it will aerate and cause low pressure. Be sure the oil level is really not above "max". The P2187 code will appear if the oil fill cap is not tight but it will also appear due to a myriad of causes because that code only "generally" identifies a lean running condition. Consequently, numerous parts would have to be tested including the O2 sensor, gas cap seal, manifold air leaks, any vacuum leak anywhere including PCV and EVAP systems, exhaust leaks, and fuel system faults such as failing fuel pump, clogged filter and more. Since the car has relatively low mileage, you would not expect a failed oil pump, although the pressure sensor (or switch) could be bad. However, the occurrence of the oil pressure warning light is quite coincidental to the oil change, thus I would suggest bringing the car back and asking them to redo with a new filter and double check the viscosity of the new oil that they use. If the problem persists after that, you will have to test actual operating oil pressure (at idle for instance) as well as the oil pressure switch. Finally, if the oil pressure warning light comes on continuously, unless the warning circuit itself is malfunctioning, that means the oil pressure is too low to operate the engine without damaging it. Anytime the light comes on for more than literally an instant, you should shut down the car and thus an issue like this obviously has to be repaired.
If you’d like, a YourMechanic certified mechanic can come to your home or place of business to inspect the vehicle and perform an oil pressure light is on inspection to diagnose the vehicle and suggest potential repairs.
Just noticed a huge oil leak trailing my car. It seems to be coming from below the engine. I recently had my oil changed a month
ANSWER : You might have a problem with the oil filter leaking when you rev the engine and increase the oil pressure. This can be from a collapsed oil filter media or excessive oil pressure from the engine. I recommend having the oil and filter replaced using a good quality filter and have the oil leak verified to be from the filter. Make sure to not run the engine low on oil. If you are finding you do not want to drive with the leak, a mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, and replace both your filter, and oil.
there’s oil I’m one of the sparkplugs does this meany engine is irreplaceable?
ANSWER : Hello there, without know your year, make, and model I can only offer general advice. When oil is seen on the spark plugs it is most often due to the valve cover gaskets leaking. The valve covers have seals around the spark plug tubes and over time these seals can leak filling the spark plug tubes up with oil. The rattling can be caused by many faults but an engine that is misfiring due to oil on the plugs can have a rattle noise. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your engine rattle and inspect the spark plugs to determine why they have oil on them.
Stop car check oil warning
ANSWER : This light will usually come on when one of two things are happening. Either the motor is in fact low on oil or the oil pressure sending unit is not working properly and may be producing a faulty reading. I would recommend first, to check the actual oil level in the motor by using the dipstick. Be sure the oil level reaches the "full" mark. If this registers as "full" then you likely have a faulty oil pressure sending unit. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle to determine what may be causing your low oil pressure light to come on.
Check engine light refuses to go off after engine replaced
ANSWER : Hello there, you have a long series of issues going on with your 2013 Hyundai Sonata. If you keep getting a repeating oil light on than there is likely a fault in that system.
Since this fault has lasted after the engine was replaced it could be a oil pressure sensor, wiring harness fault, ECU fault, oil pump, oil strainer clogged, or low oil pressure.
To diagnose this issue properly you need a complete vehicle inspection to start from square one and identify the root cause of all this.
Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.
ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.
You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.
The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.
Burning engine oil and have gray smoke coming from below the engine and the tailpipe.
ANSWER : Hi there. If you are getting gray smoke from under the vehicle and in the engine compartment, then there is an external oil leak. The oil is leaking onto the exhaust pipe and then burning off. This is why you are not seeing any oil on the ground. As for the engine smoking some oil, then the valve guide seals on the cylinder heads are possibly leaking causing oil to enter the combustion chamber through the intake valves.. Another way that the engine could be getting oil into the combustion is having a positive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV valve) being stuck causing oil to enter the intake system. To check this, check the intake tubing and see if there is any oil present. If there is oil present, then I recommend replacing the PCV valve to prevent any oil from going into the combustion chamber. The external oil leaks could be, a leaking front engine seal, a leaking rear main seal, a loose oil filter, oil cooler lines could be split or loose, or a valve cover gasket could be leaking. If you need further assistance with your engine using a lot of engine oil, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
