Oil in spark plug well? Get an expert diagnosis at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(75)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(75)


Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection Service

Oil leaking into the spark plug wells is an indictor of a fairly serious problem that should be inspected and repaired immediately. It is almost always due to a failing gasket or O-ring but can also be the result of a failing piston or worn valve guides.

Oil making its way into the spark plug wells will drastically affect the engines performance, leading to misfires, increased oil consumption and blue exhaust. In extreme cases, it can even lead to an engine fire. If the vehicle is exhibiting any of these symptoms, the spark plugs should be inspected immediately.

How this system works:

his issue involves two systems, the spark plugs and the engine lubrication system.

The main function of a spark plug is to ignite the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber. Electrical energy is transmitted through the spark plug where it jumps the gap and the spark ignites the gasoline and air mixture. Spark plugs also pull heat out of the combustion chamber, working as a heat exchanger, it pulls thermal energy from the combustion chamber and transfers it to the cooling system.

Engine oil is used to lubricate the moving parts of an engine. The constant moving of the engine parts generates heat, as well as wear and tear. Engine oil helps to minimize the friction and dissipates the heat generated by the engine.

The oil pan is where engine oil is stored. A typical oil pan will hold up to 6 quarts of oil. When the engine starts, the oil pump pulls oil from the oil pan through a part called the pickup tube. The oil then moves to the oil filter, which removes dirt and debris before it is sent to the various parts of the engine via spurt holes. Eventually it heads back to the oil pan to start the process over again.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Leaking Valve Cover Gaskets: The valve cover is a metal part found on the top of the engine, which seals the engine and helps prevent oil leaks. Between the valve cover and the engine are gaskets that tend to fail over time. Due to the high temperature of the engine the gaskets can get brittle, and start to leak. It is possible for the oil to leak into the spark plug wells. Leaking valve cover gaskets need to be repaired as quickly as possible, failing to do so can lead to further damage to the engine.

  • Failing O-Ring Seals: There are O-Ring seals at the bottom of the spark plug wells and if a seal starts to fail, oil can leak past these seals and into the spark plug well. Again, this issue should be repaired as soon as possible and the spark plugs should be changed as well.

  • Failing Piston Compression Rings: The pistons in a car’s engine have compression rings at the top of the piston and the bottom. These rings are set in grooves in the piston and help scrape excess oil from the cylinder walls and prevent oil from getting into the combustion chamber. If these rings fail, oil can make its way into the spark plugs wells. Other symptoms of failing compression rings include increased exhaust that is blue and smells oily.

  • Failing Piston: A piston that is running too hot can develop a hole or crack. The most common symptoms of a failing piston include rattle and knocking noises while the car is running, excessive oil burning as well as a loss of power and engine misfiring. It can also lead to oil in the spark plug wells. This is an extremely serious condition that needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

  • Worn Valve Guides: Valve guides help to regulate air intake by keeping the valves in place while the engine is running. Over time, valve guides can become extremely worn and will require replacement. Blue smoke and oil or ash in the spark plug wells is a common symptom of failing valve guides. Worn valve guides can lead to more serious engine problems and should be repaired as soon as possible.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the source and cause of the Oil in Spark Plug Well issue, ​and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

A mechanic will check your valve cover gaskets, O-Ring seals, pistons and other important components. The mechanic may need to crank the car and test drive it to pinpoint the cause of the leak and produce an accurate diagnosis.

How important is this service?

Oil in a spark plug well is a very serious problem that should be repaired as soon as possible. It can do extensive damage to the engine, such as broken or warped pistons and valves. Eventually, if not repaired, the head gasket can result in the fatal destruction of the engine. There is also the potential for an engine fire if the spark plugs ignite the oil.


Recent Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(75)

Rating Summary
69
2
2
0
2
69
2
2
0
2

Ramon

7 years of experience
111 reviews
Ramon
7 years of experience
Hyundai Santa Fe V6-3.3L - Oil is leaking into spark plug well - Los Angeles, California
Ramon did a great job and is very honest about what does and does not need to be done. He came out to do work based on a diagnosis from a previous mechanic. He identified what did not need to be done, and worked on the things that did need attention. The car is running great now and the cost was less than half of the original quote from previous mechanic. I highly recommend Ramon.

Tim

15 years of experience
57 reviews
Tim
15 years of experience
Nissan Altima L4-2.5L - Oil is leaking into spark plug well - Vancouver, Washington
Tim arrived on time which was awesome. Did a fantastic job. Also pointed out some issues which I will get fixed soon too. Thanks again Tim really appreciate everything!!!

Travis

10 years of experience
158 reviews
Travis
10 years of experience
Honda Civic L4-1.6L - Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection - Houston, Texas
Loved the service and Machanic was so knowledgeable. Will definitely be booking my next service appointment soon.

Nazareth

27 years of experience
276 reviews
Nazareth
27 years of experience
Honda Odyssey V6-3.5L - Oil is leaking into spark plug well Inspection - La Puente, California
Nazareth was polite and on time, explained what my engine problem, great mechanic! highly recommened!

Recent articles & questions

A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Nissan Titan
With With the 2012 Titan, Nissan continues its march into domestic territory. This model lives up to its name, but it’s also quite impressive inside as well. Even if you are in the market and wouldn’t normally consider a truck,...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP Sensor)
Common signs of manifold absolute pressure sensor problems include excessive fuel consumption, lack of power, and failing an emissions test.
How to Quickly Cool Down a Hot Car
Knowing Knowing how to cool off a hot car that has been sitting in the heat and sun can save you the discomfort of having to sit in your vehicle's hot interior while driving to your destination. By taking a...

Semi-soft brakes - 2009 Mercury Milan

Hello there, many faults will cause your 2009 Mercury Milan to have soft brakes. The most common causes of soft brakes are air in the brake fluid, master cylinder failure (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-master-cylinder-replacement), brake fluid leaks (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-fluid-is-leaking-inspection), or a faulty brake booster...

Shifter

The first thing to check is to see if the shifter cable end broke loose from the transmission shifting lever on the transmission. If the cable end came off then it may need to have transmission shift cable replaced. If...

Chirping noise while rolling

Check to be sure the noise is not also present when the car is stationary. If the noise occurs when the car is not moving, it is likely related to the serpentine belt or accessory drives. Even when moving, the...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

+1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com