So I've had a SES light for almost a week now... I've gotten codes 1284 & 1273.... S&R drove around with the scanner and ECU monitor. Everything ran fine. MAF was good and O2 sensors were fine. But now it showed a "random misfire" code. I was told that I should've replaced my spark plugs to one step colder... So I ran down to advanced auto parts and got some NGK colder plugs. But when I went to install the last plug (driver side plug closest to the steering wheel ) the plug was DRENCHED in oil.... I'm assuming this is probably why it was misfiring? I was told that a gasket probably went bad.... Can anyone comment on this?

 

Sounds about right my man.

Download a workshop manual and get to replaceing it!

 

Clarify for us, the top (insulator section) of the plug was covered in oil, or the bottom half which is in the cylinder?

 

It was the bottom half that was drenched in oil (part in the cylinder)

 

maybe blow-by as well, maybe you blew a ring in the cylinder?



hope not...........

 

Hmm... this doesn't sound quite right to me. I'd think if it were blowby on the piston rings, I would think you'd see burned oil on the head of the plug, not liquid oil. Are you sure you didn't just pull the plug out of the barrel and get the whole thing soaked in oil as you were doing so? If it was pooled up on top of the plug than this could be what happened.

I'm still thinking that it's just a valve cover gasket.

 

Yeah. Its not like my car Is smoking or aything. I just saw the oil on the plug and got freaked out... Thanks for the input. I'll keep an eye on it

 

just do a quick compression test on the cyl to make sure its good. if you got oil on the bottom half, then its not good.

Top half, then valve cover gasket

if oil everywhere, you drive a honda.

 

well, the bottom of the plug (igniter) wasn't burnt or anything. So I'm almost positive that it comes from the top... I'm sure it just got oil on it from when it got pulled out....

So people say the valve cover gasket is pretty easy and a do-it-yourself job... Doesnt sound easy! Can anyone comment on their experience with this kind of job?

 

its just bolts, valve cover comes off and look at the gasket and see if its bad. should take you more than 30 minutes. I think getting to the plugs are harder

 

ya valve cover gasket is a peice of cake. If you can take off plugs, you can take off covers. Btw, if you dont have a torque wrench, get one. I would torque the intake manifold covers if i were you.

 

alot of times if you get a bad spark plug oil seal that will happen.........seen it on a many of vehicles...........i would't worry about the rings, but the valve cover has to be taken off to be fixed

 

Well, looks like after replacing the spark plugs with a step colder plug (heat range 6) the misfire code went away!!! *knock on wood* But I still got the SES light for the 1273 & 1284 code.... But after flip flopping the position on the downpipe of the O2 sensors, no more SES light *knock on wood, again*

 

Great, that's good news. Hopefully I don't have as many issues with my install *crosses fingers*

 

Yeah, good luck with your install. You're gonna love it!!! Just do TONS of research before the install, even if you're having a shop do it... I left it to the pro's at S&R in Tampa to install mine... And they did a PERFECT job

 

the spark plug could have failed and with the cylinder not firing, it would get wet with fuel and could get confused with oil when mixed with the carbon on the plug. if the part of the plug outside of the combustion chamber had oil on it too, then ya, change your valve cover gaskets. if it was clean, and only on the inside of the cylinder, you will be changing plugs again soon, unless the spark plug just went **** up on ya.

 

So my car was SES light-free for about 130 miles then this morning...... *Ding*!!! The SES light came back...... looks like I'm going to be buying an OBDII scanner soon

 

The multiple cylender misfire code is normal (albeit annoying) on FI cars. With the UTEC, mine was getting it for the first few hundred miles after resetting the ECU, but it would turn off after a while. It doesnt harm anything unless you're getting emissions inspections.

Do a quick search on the forums and you'll see what I mean.

 

+1 It happens from time to time...

This weekend I was getting on it pretty good with one of those Bentley's and the SES light came on.

Thanks God for the scanner...

 

I only get the Misfire on Cold Start and maybe 1-2 every 2 months. I have never seen misfire when my car is running or on boost with Utec.