Oil on cylinder 5 & 6 spark plugs

[Tomffmedic]

I changed my spark plugs and found cylinder 5 & 6 plugs to be saturated with oil. Not the part that screws in to the block. But the porcelain up was covered in oil. Am I looking at bilateral valve cover gasket leaks that happen to be at the back of the covers or is there another source that I should look for? My 2001 SR5 with 289K also need a new radiator. Starting to wonder if I should be looking for another one...

 

[BamaDrewski]

I changed my spark plugs and found cylinder 5 & 6 plugs to be saturated with oil. Not the part that screws in to the block. But the porcelain up was covered in oil. Am I looking at bilateral valve cover gasket leaks that happen to be at the back of the covers or is there another source that I should look for? My 2001 SR5 with 289K also need a new radiator. Starting to wonder if I should be looking for another one...

This is generally caused by old, worn out/dried out spark plug tube seals. (Oil slips past the seals and on top of the plugs) There are three of them on the underside of each valve cover. When you do your valve cover gaskets, replace these with OE and also the PCV valve. The last time I did mine, I also did the half moons and the cam covers in the rear of each valve assembly.

With respect to the radiator, I purchased a KOYO from amazon several years ago and no issues. (Save a bunch of $$$) over OE and better quality (IMO) than the junk at the big box parts houses.

 

[Tomffmedic]

This is generally caused by old, worn out/dried out spark plug tube seals. (Oil slips past the seals and on top of the plugs) There are three of them on the underside of each valve cover. When you do your valve cover gaskets, replace these with OE and also the PCV valve. The last time I did mine, I also did the half moons and the cam covers in the rear of each valve assembly.

With respect to the radiator, I purchased a KOYO from amazon several years ago and no issues. (Save a bunch of $$$) over OE and better quality (IMO) than the junk at the big box parts houses.

I appreciate the information. Looks like I have post Thanksgiving plans. I noticed a lot of the hoses were dry and brittle when I removed them to get to the passenger side plugs. I paid $1200 for the truck. Guess she deserves a little TLC.

 

[4Reak Show]

Oil on cylinder 5 & 6 spark plugs

X2 on spark plug tube seals. Too easy. Long term issues would be a coil or spark plug boot going south and such but it seems like you found it soon enough. Get the motor taken apart and fix the leak. These are the easiest overal engines to repair. Abundance or information, videos ( [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION]) and parts. For a $1200 truck you have a diamond in the rough. Few hundred bucks in fluids, gaskets, maintenance and a couple dozen hours of your time and it will be in tip top.

Be warned: once you start fixing it and dedicate to it, generally a weird love affair forms and you'll never want to part from the vehicle.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Tomffmedic]

X2 on spark plug tube seals. Too easy. Long term issues would be a coil or spark plug boot going south and such but it seems like you found it soon enough. Get the motor taken apart and fix the leak. These are the easiest overal engines to repair. Abundance or information, videos ( [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION]) and parts. For a $1200 truck you have a diamond in the rough. Few hundred bucks in fluids, gaskets, maintenance and a couple dozen hours of your time and it will be in tip top.


Be warned: once you start fixing it and dedicate to it, generally a weird love affair forms and you'll never want to part from the vehicle.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Definitely a love affair with the truck. My wife bought me a $400 Craftsman toolbox for our anniversary. She doesn't know I found a receipt today by accident. It is perfect for working on this truck and keeping my tools organized.

 

[4Reak Show]

Definitely a love affair with the truck. My wife bought me a $400 Craftsman toolbox for our anniversary. She doesn't know I found a receipt today by accident. It is perfect for working on this truck and keeping my tools organized.

Fantastic. It's a dying art. And few tasks warrant equal reward in my opinion. Keep it alive and it will return the favor. Drop some dough on a good set of metric sockets/wrenches/ratchets and you'll be set to do just about all of it. One of the joys of owning a well designed, thought out vehicle. You're at the tip of the ice berg.

 

[Tomffmedic]

Fantastic. It's a dying art. And few tasks warrant equal reward in my opinion. Keep it alive and it will return the favor. Drop some dough on a good set of metric sockets/wrenches/ratchets and you'll be set to do just about all of it. One of the joys of owning a well designed, thought out vehicle. You're at the tip of the ice berg.

My wife doesn't know it but every time I go to Lowe's to fix something on the house I buy a hand tool of some sort. Have a nice collection of sockets, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Been eyeing a torque wrench.

 

[jacked_72]

Spark plug tub seals need changed. Good time to do the valve covers. It all comes in the FelPro kit and many others.

 

[tystaco]

My wife doesn't know it but every time I go to Lowe's to fix something on the house I buy a hand tool of some sort. Have a nice collection of sockets, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Been eyeing a torque wrench.

I have really liked my Tekton torque wrench. Fairly cheap on Amazon too. In my opinion, a really necessary tool.