Leaking valve cover gaskets
08-29-2008, 07:09 AM
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Leaking valve cover gaskets
Could this problem, leaking valve cover gaskets, in addition to leaking oil, causing a small boost leak, and causing oil to come smoking up from under the engine, also cause the engine to run rich?
08-29-2008, 07:15 AM
#4
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Burning excess fuel means you're running rich. Burning oil is burning oil
Chances are that oil couldn't get past the spark plug seals, so it just sits in there.
Keep looking for your rich condition elsewhere.
Keep looking for your rich condition elsewhere.
08-29-2008, 07:42 AM
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You would have to have a very loose plug to be getting much oil into comb. chamber. And a very loose
plug would probably mean incomplete burn and a rich situation, but that really would be an unusual situation. Take plugs to where they start to get tight, then give 1/2 turn. I guess oil into the chamber could effect some things, but I suspect a loose plug or a dead plug to get a rich sit. may also be a dying coil, or a low voltage situation. All those things are not common.
08-29-2008, 07:52 AM
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My problem is definitely not common---I'm checking the plug for oil tonight
What do you mean by a loose plug? They didn't tighten it enough?
I'm asking about a leaking spark plug gasket I guess.
Thanks for your reply---I hope I'm closing in to nail this issue, finally!
I'm asking about a leaking spark plug gasket I guess.
Thanks for your reply---I hope I'm closing in to nail this issue, finally!
08-29-2008, 07:56 AM
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Bad spark plug seals is what I'm suspecting.
While I didn't do the fuel pressure test or connect a scope to the O2 sensors, those are both highly unlikely given my situation as a whole.
There is very little else it could be at this point. I'm pulling the plugs tonight to look for oil.
There is very little else it could be at this point. I'm pulling the plugs tonight to look for oil.
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08-29-2008, 07:57 AM
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What have you done to diagnose the rich situation? boost leak?
And what information are you basing those observations on?
You might have a couple different issues or a few might be related. I'd say at a minimum you probably have two issues.
1. Leaking VC gasket = oil near plugs and smoke from under hood
2. Boost leak = rich condition
You might have a couple different issues or a few might be related. I'd say at a minimum you probably have two issues.
1. Leaking VC gasket = oil near plugs and smoke from under hood
2. Boost leak = rich condition
08-29-2008, 08:23 AM
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Neither of the two have been done yet
I have done almost everything else, however.
I am checking the plugs for oil tonight. If I find oil, I'll need to change the plugs again when changing the gasket, correct?
I do have smoke from under hood from an oil leak, and a leaking valve cover gasket like I have is supposed to create a (small) boost leak also as I understand it.
Fingers crossed I strike Eureka when I pull the plugs.
I am checking the plugs for oil tonight. If I find oil, I'll need to change the plugs again when changing the gasket, correct?
I do have smoke from under hood from an oil leak, and a leaking valve cover gasket like I have is supposed to create a (small) boost leak also as I understand it.
Fingers crossed I strike Eureka when I pull the plugs.
