JunkFanatic

Just yesterday I bought a 1985 Toyota Xtracab Deluxe with 148,000miles. It has had the same owner since 1996, and has been pretty much sitting for the past 3 years. Anyways, I got it for $2300, and we drove it home (Quite a few stalls on the way, but hopefully just bad gas), and then parked it. Well, the key he gave us turns out to not be the original, but he said that he never had a problem with it, but of course it won't work for us. So while we are getting that sorted out, I went ahead and replaced the spark plugs and air filter, oil and filter to come soon.

So I was at the last spark plug (the one furthest back) and I see oil covering the bottom half of the plug hole, and then down from there. Upon closer inspection the oily-ness goes all the way to the bottom of the engine and transmission, and looks like it might have dripped twice on the ground. The oil is just caked on there, so it was obviously from the last time it was really used, but this is starting to worry me. There was no smoke on startup, or while the engine was running, and the old spark plug was worn out pretty well. I'm hoping this was maybe just the sealing washer on the bottom of the spark plug, and that the new plug and seal will fix it, but I just want to be sure. There is also some oil in the frontof the engine, from the valve cover? down. I can't take pictures right now, but I'll try to post some later. Thanks.

rokblok

iTrader: (1)

When dealing with an oil leak, start up top and work your way down. Most likely yours is from a leaky valve cover gasket and it was just pooling in the spark plug recess. Oil won't come from inside the cylinder typically, unless, possibly, you have a serious piston ring sealing issue and the spark plug crush washer was non existent. But I doubt this since you said there was no start-up or running engine smoke...

So replace valve cover gasket, grommets and half moons, pressure wash the engine and keep an eye out for any further leaks.

As a word of advice, don't over tighten the valve cover, it can hit the rocker arms. And use a dab of Permatex Ultra Black silicone on the corners of the half moons (on in front and one in back), where the flat side and the head meet. No need for silicone elsewhere on the valve cover gasket.

JunkFanatic

Okay, thanks. I'll check into that. Would there be a reason why the spark plug was all oily and the electrode cracking? Like is it possible that any oil could leak from the gasket, to the spark plug recess, and then into the top of the cylinder? I'll try and get a picture of the spark plug up soon.

ojm3

The only way it would make it past the plug into the cylinder is if the plug was backed out. But you would have noticed that. ..I second valve cover and half moon replacement

JunkFanatic

Okay, it's just weird that it was the only plug that was like completely shot. But that's fine, I bought the gasket set today and will hopefully install it this weekend. I also noticed that there is a lot of oil around the distributor, is there a gasket behind there as well?

ojm3

Nope I bet its seeping past the valve cover seal

JunkFanatic

Okay, I guess I'll replace the seal, get it all cleaned up, and then see what happens. Thanks!

rokblok

iTrader: (1)

There is an O-ring on the distributor, where it slides into the head. But I would do the valve cover gasket first. Then clean and watch for the next leak. A leaking valve cover gasket can make things look like the entire engine is leaking oil...

ojm3

Hell yea it does!