Oil In Spark Plug Wells!

[redmaro1]

I was took out 2 spark plugs on one side of the engine and I noticed some engine oil in my spark plug wells. Any one know where this oil is coming from? And I also noticed some engine oil in my Throttle body. Any thoughts? The valve covers don't seem to be leaking btw. And how also how to fix the problem.

 

00 Silverado 1500

5.3L Vortec

[Indy]

Were the spark plugs tight? You have an '00, has the throttle body ever been cleaned? If not black oily deposits are normal and you should get some throttle body cleaner.

[redmaro1]

Were the spark plugs tight? You have an '00, has the throttle body ever been cleaned? If not black oily deposits are normal and you should get some throttle body cleaner.

Well the throttle body hasnt been cleaned in a while.

 

And yes the Spark plugs were tight. At start up it will shoot some white smoke through the tail pipe. All the head gasket set was bought and installed in the car not too long ago. Im also loosing some oil.

 

Also does the 5.3L have a a PVC valve?

[Draenor]

Were the spark plugs tight? You have an '00, has the throttle body ever been cleaned? If not black oily deposits are normal and you should get some throttle body cleaner.

Well the throttle body hasnt been cleaned in a while.

[/A good cleaning will take care of this.

And yes the Spark plugs were tight. At start up it will shoot some white smoke through the tail pipe. All the head gasket set was bought and installed in the car not too long ago. Im also loosing some oil.

Some whit smoke can be burn off of some residual moisture in the exhaust but Since you replaced the head gaskets this may be something to be concerned about. Did you replace them yourself? And Why?

Also does the 5.3L have a a PVC valve?

Yes

[redmaro1]

Were the spark plugs tight? You have an '00, has the throttle body ever been cleaned? If not black oily deposits are normal and you should get some throttle body cleaner.

Well the throttle body hasnt been cleaned in a while.

[/A good cleaning will take care of this.

And yes the Spark plugs were tight. At start up it will shoot some white smoke through the tail pipe. All the head gasket set was bought and installed in the car not too long ago. Im also loosing some oil.

Some whit smoke can be burn off of some residual moisture in the exhaust but Since you replaced the head gaskets this may be something to be concerned about. Did you replace them yourself? And Why?

Also does the 5.3L have a a PVC valve?

Yes

 

I had the a complete Felpro head gasket set installed by a mechanic. All the seals and gaskets in the head were also replaced. I was getting some oil at the tip of all my spark plugs. The oil on the tip of the spark plugs seems to be gone but now the oil is in the spark plug wells, and its still shooting white smoke(sometimes alot) out of the tail pipe. I will check the spark plugs again to see if they have oil in the tip in a week of so.

[Rosedog]

Were the spark plugs tight? You have an '00, has the throttle body ever been cleaned? If not black oily deposits are normal and you should get some throttle body cleaner.

Well the throttle body hasnt been cleaned in a while.

[/A good cleaning will take care of this.

And yes the Spark plugs were tight. At start up it will shoot some white smoke through the tail pipe. All the head gasket set was bought and installed in the car not too long ago. Im also loosing some oil.

Some whit smoke can be burn off of some residual moisture in the exhaust but Since you replaced the head gaskets this may be something to be concerned about. Did you replace them yourself? And Why?

Also does the 5.3L have a a PVC valve?

Yes

 

I had the a complete Felpro head gasket set installed by a mechanic. All the seals and gaskets in the head were also replaced. I was getting some oil at the tip of all my spark plugs. The oil on the tip of the spark plugs seems to be gone but now the oil is in the spark plug wells, and its still shooting white smoke(sometimes alot) out of the tail pipe. I will check the spark plugs again to see if they have oil in the tip in a week of so.

 

 

Was it a dealer mechanic? If so, then the work should be warrantied.

[redmaro1]

Were the spark plugs tight? You have an '00, has the throttle body ever been cleaned? If not black oily deposits are normal and you should get some throttle body cleaner.

Well the throttle body hasnt been cleaned in a while.

[/A good cleaning will take care of this.

And yes the Spark plugs were tight. At start up it will shoot some white smoke through the tail pipe. All the head gasket set was bought and installed in the car not too long ago. Im also loosing some oil.

Some whit smoke can be burn off of some residual moisture in the exhaust but Since you replaced the head gaskets this may be something to be concerned about. Did you replace them yourself? And Why?

Also does the 5.3L have a a PVC valve?

Yes

 

I had the a complete Felpro head gasket set installed by a mechanic. All the seals and gaskets in the head were also replaced. I was getting some oil at the tip of all my spark plugs. The oil on the tip of the spark plugs seems to be gone but now the oil is in the spark plug wells, and its still shooting white smoke(sometimes alot) out of the tail pipe. I will check the spark plugs again to see if they have oil in the tip in a week of so.

 

 

Was it a dealer mechanic? If so, then the work should be warrantied.

 

 

No it wasnt at the dealer.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

[mooreapi]

RedMaro1,

oil on the tips of the spark plugs? which tip :inside (in combustion chamber) or outside (spark plug wire end)?

 

oil in the spark plug holes (one bank only or both sides? front, back, center?), around the plug base where it screws into the head means that there is a weeping leak at the valve cover gasket or a crack in a head oil passage. I have heard there can be an internal casting failures, but nothing that would make just oil leak, usually it'll show up as antifreeze/water in the crankcase.

 

best fix would be to clean off the motor (power wash) then replace the valve cover seals. Those are supposed to be reusable if original, but if they've been replaced with after-market, they may not be.

 

your truck using oil? how much are you loosing? My truck, when newer, would use 1/2 to 1 quart over the 5-6K between oil changes (lots of sitting and idling during hot weather). Now that it has 343K, it'll use/loose about 1.5 qt over the same period. It weeps a little oil from the valve covers (never been off) and I have a rear main weep/leak.

 

Unless it's a lot of oil around the spark plugs, or you're using more than a quart between oil changes, I wouldn't really worry about it unless it's a show truck.

 

Oil in the throttle body? Inside, where butterfly is? Definitely from the PCV valve, just requires periodic cleaning. Have you noticed that sometimes you might have a sticky throttle pedal when you first start after sitting? Not an unusual condition, caused by buildup or by the poorly machined throttle body (should have been replaced by a TSB/recall, mine was). If it's on the outside of the TB, I can't think of where it's coming from unless there is a leak in the power steering which is spraying up on the driver side of the block and top. Would be messy and almost immediately obvious.

 

Matt

[threearmsinjune]

depending on the mileage and condition of the motor it may be oil mist coming through the PCV. The oil in the throttle body is the key possibly to the white smoke from the exhaust. What condition are the piston rings in? The head gaskets and seals were recently replaced but what condition are the rings in? A leak down test would be a good indicator. If there is excess blowby, that has to go somewhere.........PCV. If the valve is hanging open, then as the pressure regulates itself back to a balance when you turn the truck off, there may be oil running into the throttle body. As the truck starts this oil is mixed with the fuel and is burned creating the white smoke.

 

Excess oil consumption is also a sign the rings are wearing. The oil around the plugs, if they are tight, should not be coming from within the combustion chamber. there are oil passages in the head that may have a defect.........a magnaflux test would show this. This would require taking the heads to a machine shop. Also a leaking valve cover may do the same thing. Clean the motor off thoroughly and dry it. Spray some Tinactin foot powder (aerosol) all around the area and run the motor for a day or so. The spray dries white and an oil leak will show up very significantly.

Hope this helps.

Chris