Nick Carlson
New Member
Hey, I have a problem with my 93' ATX. The middle spark plug in the front has oil all over it, and the plug cover itself also flies off sometimes, causing my car to run like ****. What's wrong with it?
plug cover comes off - oil in plug wells
- Thread starter Nick Carlson
- Start date
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Bizzy
SHO Member
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- May 1, 2001
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You need plug well gaskets for starters. Very simple and relatively inexpensive fix, all you have to do is pull the intake and then valve covers and put new gaskets on each of the 6 holes. That would be a prime time to replace your valve cover gaskets, intake gaskets and spark plugs & wires.
Edit: Before you take the old plugs out soak up or suck out the oil first so the oil doesn't drain down into the spark plug hole. Oil in the wells can cause misfire and basically make your car run like you describe...like crap.
<small>[ September 23, 2003, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Bizzy ]</small>
Edit: Before you take the old plugs out soak up or suck out the oil first so the oil doesn't drain down into the spark plug hole. Oil in the wells can cause misfire and basically make your car run like you describe...like crap.
<small>[ September 23, 2003, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: Bizzy ]</small>
SHOguy 92
New Member
i doubt you had happen like what happened to me. but on my SHO one day it sounded like shit and i popped the hood to see a plug boot popped out i pulled it out fully it was all melted and gross. trned out the top of my spark plug snapped right off and the center of the spark plug shot right out of it didn't even break the outter porcelin. and compression was coming right through it which cause the boot to pop out and melt. and also go to www.midwestsho.com and order a valve cover gasket set for $99 you need to vavle cover gaskets and plug well seals.
Anthony1238
New Member
Ok you can order a valve cover gasket off of autozone.com for $71.00, it is a felpro kit that includes both valvecover gaskets and 6 plug well gaskets... i did this job about 3 weeks ago and it's not to hard... if your gonna do it yourself just remember where all the hoses on the intake went... while your at it get some permatex also.. you will notice where the factory used it in the corners... don't bother with the dealership cuz they will charge you 30 "a piece" for the plug well gaskets... here is the link to Auto Zone...
Auto Zone Felpro Gaskets
Auto Zone Felpro Gaskets
Anthony1238
New Member
opps... my bad... im not sure if those will fit the atx.... sorry
91 SHOplus
Sholess 4 Now
The valve covers/plug well seals are the same for both the ATX and MTX cars.
Not to hijack the post, but is there a preferred method of prepping the inside of the covers to clean where the seals sit? Berrymans? shrug You probably wont get a good seal on a dirty well.
Not to hijack the post, but is there a preferred method of prepping the inside of the covers to clean where the seals sit? Berrymans? shrug You probably wont get a good seal on a dirty well.
luigisho
SHO Member
Get the part number from the AZ website. I know it's listed for a 1991 model year. Some of their data base is not complete. Any year from 89-95 sho set is the same.
In fact I've noticed the knowledge and willingness to search for stuff varies widely from parts counter person to person. It's usually a good idea to find the part number from the web before you go to any local store to be sure you get the correct part.
<small>[ October 27, 2003, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: luigisho ]</small>
In fact I've noticed the knowledge and willingness to search for stuff varies widely from parts counter person to person. It's usually a good idea to find the part number from the web before you go to any local store to be sure you get the correct part.
<small>[ October 27, 2003, 11:10 AM: Message edited by: luigisho ]</small>
DHMag
Free At Last
ive got a slightly used (7K miles) set of valve cover gaskets and plug well seals that ill let go of...
sdpatt
Sr. SHO Engr.
Nick, welcome to the Forum. You have come to a good place to help maintaining your SHO. I ahve emailed you a few key documents for the service at hand. You can read the steps of the procedure to determine if you want to handle it yourself or pay someone else to do it for you. There may even be SHO friends in your area that may be willing to help.
A few key points are to make sure you clean the oil and any solid debris from the plug wells before thinking of removing the spark plugs. Letting that dirty mess drain into the cylinder can result in calamities from hydraulic lock to cylinder wall scoring. With the oil on the plug wire boots, if they plug wires are more that about 6 years or 120,000 mile sold, now would be an excellent time to replace them. Please note the plug wire order on the coil pack as it is not sequential.
The old RTV can be cleaned from teh valve covers and heads with a solvent soaked rag or shop towel. These sealing surfaces should be cleaned with intake cleaner (or equivalent) to make a clean metal surface with no oil residue. I use a solvent soaked Q-Tip to clean out the seal grooves in the vale covers. Apply the new Permatex Ultra Gray, oxygen sensor safe sealant in the four locations per bank where there are right angle changes in the seal face. Those locations are at the camshaft penetrations through the passenger side end of the valve covers.
A few key points are to make sure you clean the oil and any solid debris from the plug wells before thinking of removing the spark plugs. Letting that dirty mess drain into the cylinder can result in calamities from hydraulic lock to cylinder wall scoring. With the oil on the plug wire boots, if they plug wires are more that about 6 years or 120,000 mile sold, now would be an excellent time to replace them. Please note the plug wire order on the coil pack as it is not sequential.
The old RTV can be cleaned from teh valve covers and heads with a solvent soaked rag or shop towel. These sealing surfaces should be cleaned with intake cleaner (or equivalent) to make a clean metal surface with no oil residue. I use a solvent soaked Q-Tip to clean out the seal grooves in the vale covers. Apply the new Permatex Ultra Gray, oxygen sensor safe sealant in the four locations per bank where there are right angle changes in the seal face. Those locations are at the camshaft penetrations through the passenger side end of the valve covers.
Hack
...............
What is the recommended procedure for getting the oil out of the sparkplug wells? I have my intake and cam covers removed currently to get them ceramic coated. When I removed the rear cam cover I found that the well seals were leaking.
sdpatt
Sr. SHO Engr.
This has been asked and discussed on various occasions (hint: a search might be helpful here). The basic options are use some form of vacuum to suck it out - a vacuum pump or spray bottle pump and tube - or absorb it with cloths or paper towels.
I use a manual vacuum pump to remove the bulk of the oil from the wells. I then use intake cleaner spray to really clean the remainder of the junk out of the wells and use the vacuum pump to remove the remainder of the solvent/oil/debris mixture from the wells. A blast of compressed air can be used to dry the wells and remove any remaining solid grit. To use the compresed air before extracting the oil is the recipe for a large mess.
I use a manual vacuum pump to remove the bulk of the oil from the wells. I then use intake cleaner spray to really clean the remainder of the junk out of the wells and use the vacuum pump to remove the remainder of the solvent/oil/debris mixture from the wells. A blast of compressed air can be used to dry the wells and remove any remaining solid grit. To use the compresed air before extracting the oil is the recipe for a large mess.
sdpatt
Sr. SHO Engr.
No, I wouldn't (didn't) mind.SHO EET 1:
Scott, would you mind sending me the documents on valve cover gasket replacement as well?
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