Help! LOTS of oil on top of spark plugs

trevor217 · 10-16-2008, 10:33 PM

Hey everyone,
I've been studying up on all the FAQs and stickys here, this place is the best for information regarding Supras. I hope this is just the valve cover gasket, but here's my dilemma:

My 89 Supra Turbo(7M-GTE) started misfiring the other day, it had been working properly for the past year+. It just suddenly started misfiring about a week ago. I pulled the air intake/egr stuf off and started checking out the plugs. Once I got to the 2 cylinders closest to the rear of the engine I found both cylinders have a pool of oil resting atop the spark plugs. No wonder it was misfiring!

Anyway, does this sound like valve covers or BHG? Something else possibly? I've never changed the head gasket on this car(but was preparing to, using the info here)...is this engine shot? Any tips for getting the oil out from above the plugs? I'd hate to let all this nasty oil drip down into the engine. Ideas? Questions? Any help is greatly appreciated...I can't stand to have my Supra 'dead'...as it is now!

Thanks everyone!

Trevor

trevor217 · 10-16-2008, 11:32 PM

After re-reading the sticky, "Got oil on top of your spark plugs" and checking out diagrams of the engine, I came to the conclusion that this must be the valve cover gasket. I'm still pretty new to this stuff, so I was hoping anyone with a little more experience can tell me if I'm on the right track. It's just that it's a POOL of oil in the last 2 spark plug wells. I'll try to devise a way to get the oil out and check back in with any results. I knew the answer to my question was already here somewhere...!

Trevor

OkieRA29 · 10-17-2008, 03:17 AM

Most likely, it is that third cam cover/gasket. I would just follow the advice in the 'oil on top' thread. I did that and it solved the problem. To get rid of the oil, I just pulled the plugs and let it drain into the engine. Then I started the car and just burned off the oil. Kind of smokey, but it worked

trevor217 · 10-17-2008, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to track down the appropriate oil plug gaskets and give this a try. I'll post back with results!

Thanks again!
Trevor

dasleeper · 12-04-2008, 07:32 PM

It is most likely your valve cover gasket, but dont stress if you check your plugs once a month to make sure there isnt oil and if there is you clean it, its not really a problem.
I actually had the same problem with my eagle talon TSI, this is what you do.

First I took a shop vac and sucked out as much as possible. Then you take a small piece of paper towl and use a screw driver to get around the plug. Get it as clean as possible, you don't want that oil dripping down into the well. A question i have for you was the oil dirty (black) or was it clean? The oil in mine was very clean and there was oil all under my spark plug cover from spilling oil while filling the car over years. Also make sure you look in the plug wires inside of the boot to make sure the contacts are shiny and not black. My cylinder one boot was ruined and I had to replace my wires. If you replace your wires make sure to replace your plugs.

DO NOT let the oil drip down into your engine. This is not good for your entire car. Do you think oxygen sensors like to get gunked up with oil, not to mention engine components?

mrnickleye · 12-17-2008, 07:19 PM

Very simple. Just stick a rag down around the spark plugs before you remove them. Use a pocket screwdriver to push it down in there, and let the rag soak up most of the oil.

Then, remove spark plug, and and clean the area with some 'brake cleaner' spray. The tiny amount of oil and spray that goes into the cylinder will burn off, and won't hurt anything.

"Been there, done that" about 100 X.

10-16-2008, 10:33 PM	#1
trevor217 Stock Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pt.Pleasant, NJ Posts: 20	Help! LOTS of oil on top of spark plugs Hey everyone, I've been studying up on all the FAQs and stickys here, this place is the best for information regarding Supras. I hope this is just the valve cover gasket, but here's my dilemma: My 89 Supra Turbo(7M-GTE) started misfiring the other day, it had been working properly for the past year+. It just suddenly started misfiring about a week ago. I pulled the air intake/egr stuf off and started checking out the plugs. Once I got to the 2 cylinders closest to the rear of the engine I found both cylinders have a pool of oil resting atop the spark plugs. No wonder it was misfiring! Anyway, does this sound like valve covers or BHG? Something else possibly? I've never changed the head gasket on this car(but was preparing to, using the info here)...is this engine shot? Any tips for getting the oil out from above the plugs? I'd hate to let all this nasty oil drip down into the engine. Ideas? Questions? Any help is greatly appreciated...I can't stand to have my Supra 'dead'...as it is now! Thanks everyone! Trevor

12-17-2008, 07:19 PM	#6
mrnickleye 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, Calif. Posts: 1,705	Very simple. Just stick a rag down around the spark plugs before you remove them. Use a pocket screwdriver to push it down in there, and let the rag soak up most of the oil. Then, remove spark plug, and and clean the area with some 'brake cleaner' spray. The tiny amount of oil and spray that goes into the cylinder will burn off, and won't hurt anything. "Been there, done that" about 100 X. __________________ Had a Red 1989 N/A. Automatic. Sports Pkg. w/wing. TEMS, and some nice MODS. Sold to a friend 10/08/08.

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10-16-2008, 11:32 PM	#2
trevor217 Stock Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pt.Pleasant, NJ Posts: 20	After re-reading the sticky, "Got oil on top of your spark plugs" and checking out diagrams of the engine, I came to the conclusion that this must be the valve cover gasket. I'm still pretty new to this stuff, so I was hoping anyone with a little more experience can tell me if I'm on the right track. It's just that it's a POOL of oil in the last 2 spark plug wells. I'll try to devise a way to get the oil out and check back in with any results. I knew the answer to my question was already here somewhere...! Trevor

10-17-2008, 03:17 AM	#3
OkieRA29 Stock Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 29	Most likely, it is that third cam cover/gasket. I would just follow the advice in the 'oil on top' thread. I did that and it solved the problem. To get rid of the oil, I just pulled the plugs and let it drain into the engine. Then I started the car and just burned off the oil. Kind of smokey, but it worked

10-17-2008, 01:55 PM	#4
trevor217 Stock Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pt.Pleasant, NJ Posts: 20	Thanks for the advice, I'm going to track down the appropriate oil plug gaskets and give this a try. I'll post back with results! Thanks again! Trevor

12-04-2008, 07:32 PM	#5
dasleeper Stock Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: york, pa Posts: 1	It is most likely your valve cover gasket, but dont stress if you check your plugs once a month to make sure there isnt oil and if there is you clean it, its not really a problem. I actually had the same problem with my eagle talon TSI, this is what you do. First I took a shop vac and sucked out as much as possible. Then you take a small piece of paper towl and use a screw driver to get around the plug. Get it as clean as possible, you don't want that oil dripping down into the well. A question i have for you was the oil dirty (black) or was it clean? The oil in mine was very clean and there was oil all under my spark plug cover from spilling oil while filling the car over years. Also make sure you look in the plug wires inside of the boot to make sure the contacts are shiny and not black. My cylinder one boot was ruined and I had to replace my wires. If you replace your wires make sure to replace your plugs. DO NOT let the oil drip down into your engine. This is not good for your entire car. Do you think oxygen sensors like to get gunked up with oil, not to mention engine components?