1999 Toyota Camry oil in spark plugs

Tiny
DHOPPER
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 191,000 MILES
Engine won't start, turns over but won't start. Checked fuel pump, filter. Started to change plugs and found that two of the plugs were covered in oil. No oil on top but coated on the part that screws in. What is most likely problem?
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 6:27 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
The problem is leaking o ring seals in the valve cover(this is most likely not why your car is not starting) to fix the oil problem you just have to replace the valve cover gasket and 4 large o rings around the spark plug holes, fairly easy and inexpensive job.
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Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
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Are you saying this is "not" why the car will start. The oil is all over the firing part of the plug, the part in the cylinder.
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Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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Was there oil all over the bottom part of the plug wire, where it connects to plug?
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Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
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The camry has this long rubber plug. When I pulled it out first there was oil on it. When I took the plug out the bulk of the oil was on the part that fires, I don't know if it seeped onto plug as I was unscrewing it or if there was oil present in the cylinder. But as I said the bulk of oil seemed to be on the firing part, the part that fires in the cylinder.
One was just drenched in oil all over the other not quite as bad.
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Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
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Yes that is what happened. The oil leaked onto electrode of plug when you unscrewed it. This is very common. First you need to check to see if you have spark going to the plug. If there is spray starting fluid into intake, if it starts and you have fuel pressure this will tell us that there is no injector pulse. Get back to me, I will keep checking the post throughout the day, in between fixing cars at my shop.
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 AT 8:50 AM
Tiny
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I won't be able to get to it today, lost my main job and am currently working two min. Wage jobs to stay afloat. Here is where I am at. Prior to taking the plugs out I checked the first plug (facing car, driver's side) and it was getting fire. I then sprayed starter fluid, it would turn start but not stay running. That is when I pulled all plugs and found that 2 and 4 had oil. 1 and 3 dry. I have all new plugs but did not want to put in until I found what I needed to do. I went ahead last night and drained all my oil and took off the valve cover. Dont really know what to look for. I appreciate your help and will make a donation as soon as I can. Again before pulling valve cover I did just what you said to do, checked for fire but only on first plug and did the starter fluid, it fully turned over and tried to start then sputtered, then I pulled plugs, discovered the oil and last night pulled my valve cover.
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 AT 4:03 PM

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