New sr20 owner with dumb sparkplug question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 05:24 PM

Im new to owning a redtop sr20det and doing my first round of preventive maintenance on it. I wanted to see what condition the spark plugs were in what type and what gap. I unscrewed the top part and took out the thing that goes down to the sparkplug, i think that is the coil pack?, and its covered in oil, is that normal? Or is there a blow seal?

I didnt take the spark plug out yet, i just took off the part that connects from the spark plug wire to plug (coil pack?). Once i saw it covered and dripping of oil i got scurd and put it right back in and back on, lol. I expected the chamber to be clean. I'm a total newb and just wanna make sure that its ok before i proceed forward!

PureRush · 04-25-2013, 05:28 PM

Your valve cover gasket is leaking oil in the spark plug hole. The oil in there can cause issues with ignition and you need to replace that gasket. It's really simple to fix.

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureRush

Your valve cover gasket is leaking oil in the spark plug hole. The oil in there can cause issues with ignition and you need to replace that gasket. It's really simple to fix.

That's what i expected. Anything i need to know and where is a good place to order from?

rwtf · 04-25-2013, 05:48 PM

just sell your car. please.

nekrodev · 04-25-2013, 05:49 PM

OEM Valve Cover Gasket - Nissan SR20DET - Enjuku Racing Parts, LLC

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureRush

Your valve cover gasket is leaking oil in the spark plug hole. The oil in there can cause issues with ignition and you need to replace that gasket. It's really simple to fix.

would this do fine? Nissan Genuine OEM S13 SR20DET Valve Cover Gasket
The sr has a t28 turbo and is at 20psi, i would think maybe there would be a better one than OEM

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwtf

just sell your car. please.

i know i know i know! was an epic dumb question, just not familiar with SRs yet. Had a KA all my life

Hoffman5982 · 04-25-2013, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellz

The sr has a t28 turbo and is at 20psi

Uhh what??

litch · 04-25-2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellz

would this do fine? Nissan Genuine OEM S13 SR20DET Valve Cover Gasket
The sr has a t28 turbo and is at 20psi, i would think maybe there would be a better one than OEM

Just out of curiosity... when you aren't on the throttle, and you are - on your boost gauge... what number does it read?

The reason I ask is I will bet that you are reading 15-12 on the negative side... hence why you are "boosting" up to 20psi..

I would venture to guess that you have a leak sir.

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoffman5982

Uhh what??

T28 s15 Dbb turbo, and is pushing 20 psi form what the gauge is reading. It has a Greddy Profec b spec 2 boost controller as well, and i put it back to default settings but still pushing 20... drives fine and all but im not really triyng to make it boost at all until i get it all figured out and working properly

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litch

Just out of curiosity... when you aren't on the throttle, and you are - on your boost gauge... what number does it read?

The reason I ask is I will bet that you are reading 15-12 on the negative side... hence why you are "boosting" up to 20psi..

I would venture to guess that you have a leak sir.

when im not on the throttle its around negative 4 or so, a leak is very possible, the kid i got it from dogged it out pretty bad

litch · 04-25-2013, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellz

when im not on the throttle its around negative 4 or so, a leak is very possible, the kid i got it from dogged it out pretty bad

I would bet something very close to the inside of my right leg... you have a leak... and since you said he dogged it out... here is another question for you...

is the car lowered?

does the car have a fmic?

if the answers to both these questions is "yes"... I bet you will find the leak on the intercooler/couplings/piping right up front... you are supposed to be at -20 with no leaks mang.

jamg · 04-25-2013, 06:45 PM

spark plug gaskets.

i can sell you the 5 that you need. $10 shipped.

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litch

I would bet something very close to the inside of my right leg... you have a leak... and since you said he dogged it out... here is another question for you...

is the car lowered?

does the car have a fmic?

if the answers to both these questions is "yes"... I bet you will find the leak on the intercooler/couplings/piping right up front... you are supposed to be at -20 with no leaks mang.

Yes and yes! Thank for this advice

zombiewolf513 · 04-25-2013, 06:51 PM

Im curious about this car. Did you recently buy it with the swap already done? The s15 t28 isnt efficient past about 18psi, so youre doing more harm than good running it to 20, if that really is the case. And since the profec's default settings are about 14.5 psi with average "gain" and "set gain" I have a sneaky suspicion youre going WOT in first gear and spiking like a motherfucker.

Change out the valve cover gaskets.

BTW, what else does it have on it if youre effectively maxing out the boost on a t28?

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamg

spark plug gaskets.

i can sell you the 5 that you need. $10 shipped.

well i havent taken off the plug to see if they are oil fouled yet, so i dunno quite yet if i will need them, but i wont be surprised if i do need em

litch · 04-25-2013, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombiewolf513

Im curious about this car. Did you recently buy it with the swap already done? The s15 t28 isnt efficient past about 18psi, so youre doing more harm than good running it to 20, if that really is the case. And since the profec's default settings are about 14.5 psi with average "gain" and "set gain" I have a sneaky suspicion youre going WOT in first gear and spiking like a motherfucker.

Change out the valve cover gaskets.

BTW, what else does it have on it if youre effectively maxing out the boost on a t28?

I bet he isn't actually boosting to 20, I bet he is getting to about 12 psi but has a bad leak and he doesn't have the correct vacuum... since his gauge is missing 16ish on the negative side...

his gauge is lying to him telling him he is getting madawesomesuperboostyo... when he is only getting stock boost...with a nasty leak... which means his car just smells like gas...

litch · 04-25-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellz

well i havent taken off the plug to see if they are oil fouled yet, so i dunno quite yet if i will need them, but i wont be surprised if i do need em

you just said the guy before you dogged it out... Just assume everything that is non-durable/blowable is fucked. Change the oil, get new coolant, change out the gaskets, change the spark plugs, fix the turbo leak, go to a reputable shop and have them compression test your engine... then drive it around confident that you have paid for your sins.

PureRush · 04-25-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellz

well i havent taken off the plug to see if they are oil fouled yet, so i dunno quite yet if i will need them, but i wont be surprised if i do need em

I dont think you understand. Oil fouled spark plugs are cause by bad rings in the cylinder. The oil thats in the sparkplug hole is coming from the valvecover. Regardless of the condition of what the spark plug tips look like, you will need to replace the valvecover gaskets or else you'll have ignition failure for that specific cylinder.

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombiewolf513

Im curious about this car. Did you recently buy it with the swap already done? The s15 t28 isnt efficient past about 18psi, so youre doing more harm than good running it to 20, if that really is the case. And since the profec's default settings are about 14.5 psi with average "gain" and "set gain" I have a sneaky suspicion youre going WOT in first gear and spiking like a motherfucker.

Change out the valve cover gaskets.

BTW, what else does it have on it if youre effectively maxing out the boost on a t28?

port and polished head, 550cc injectors, T28 s15 turbo, Profec b spec 2 BC, turbonectics exhaust system, Mishimoto radiator, Greddy Dual FMIC, 3" exhaust, Greddy Downpipe, GReddy BOV, has a chipped ECU, cant remmeber the name or where it was from, has some other stuff i cant think of. My statement of the car running fine wasnt was not implying its boosting properly, cuz its not, and i havent tried to push it too boost enough to get a good read on the gauges during boost to see it spike. i havent actually gone WOT, the times i have pushed it it was more of a gradual push past 4500 rpms, i did it enough to see the gauge hit 20, and i thought the default setting would of had it at around 8 or something

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureRush

I dont think you understand. Oil fouled spark plugs are cause by bad rings in the cylinder. The oil thats in the sparkplug hole is coming from the valvecover. Regardless of the condition of what the spark plug tips look like, you will need to replace the valvecover gaskets or else you'll have ignition failure for that specific cylinder.

Right, i understood the part that the valve cover gasket is in need of replacement, just not aware of the plug rings needing replacement. But if you guys say they need to be it will be done

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litch

I bet he isn't actually boosting to 20, I bet he is getting to about 12 psi but has a bad leak and he doesn't have the correct vacuum... since his gauge is missing 16ish on the negative side...

his gauge is lying to him telling him he is getting madawesomesuperboostyo... when he is only getting stock boost...with a nasty leak... which means his car just smells like gas...

does not smell like gas that is for sure, the rest is very true lol

ultimateirving · 04-25-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellz

Right, i understood the part that the valve cover gasket is in need of replacement, just not aware of the plug rings needing replacement. But if you guys say they need to be it will be done

Cellz, the spark plug gaskets are what go between the valve cover and the head to keep oil out of the spark plug galleys.
When you pull off the valve cover you will see the 5 O gaskets.

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litch

you just said the guy before you dogged it out... Just assume everything that is non-durable/blowable is fucked. Change the oil, get new coolant, change out the gaskets, change the spark plugs, fix the turbo leak, go to a reputable shop and have them compression test your engine... then drive it around confident that you have paid for your sins.

Yup that's the plan.

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultimateirving

Cellz, the spark plug gaskets are what go between the valve cover and the head to keep oil out of the spark plug galleys.
When you pull off the valve cover you will see the 5 O gaskets.

ohhhhh i get it now, for some reason i was thinking the were around the plugs themselves, and not the top of the galleys. So then that the spark plug gaskets are the only replacement needed, and not the valve cover gasket or just go ahead and do both?

zombiewolf513 · 04-25-2013, 08:12 PM

Couldnt hurt to do both

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 08:21 PM

yeah both is gonna be the way i go. valve cover gaskets are easy money, anything to know about doing the plug gaskets? I assume some grey RTV or something wont hurt right?

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PureRush

I dont think you understand. Oil fouled spark plugs are cause by bad rings in the cylinder. The oil thats in the sparkplug hole is coming from the valvecover. Regardless of the condition of what the spark plug tips look like, you will need to replace the valvecover gaskets or else you'll have ignition failure for that specific cylinder.

i see what you mean, piston rings and/or valve seals will cause oil fouled plug tips, my bad

zombiewolf513 · 04-25-2013, 08:29 PM

You dont need rtv except for around the half circle cutouts on the front and back of the head on the s13 sr, i have always used the red for that with success. Just look at the fsm for valve cover installation procedure and follow that. Easy

Cellz · 04-25-2013, 08:42 PM

Thanks everyone, and thank you for not flaming me like crazy!

04-25-2013, 05:24 PM	#1
Cellz Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Tampa FL Age: 45 Posts: 16 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	New sr20 owner with dumb sparkplug question Im new to owning a redtop sr20det and doing my first round of preventive maintenance on it. I wanted to see what condition the spark plugs were in what type and what gap. I unscrewed the top part and took out the thing that goes down to the sparkplug, i think that is the coil pack?, and its covered in oil, is that normal? Or is there a blow seal? I didnt take the spark plug out yet, i just took off the part that connects from the spark plug wire to plug (coil pack?). Once i saw it covered and dripping of oil i got scurd and put it right back in and back on, lol. I expected the chamber to be clean. I'm a total newb and just wanna make sure that its ok before i proceed forward!

04-25-2013, 05:48 PM	#4
rwtf Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Maryville, TN Age: 33 Posts: 830 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	just sell your car. please. __________________

04-25-2013, 05:49 PM	#5
nekrodev Leaky Injector Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greenville, SC Age: 38 Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	OEM Valve Cover Gasket - Nissan SR20DET - Enjuku Racing Parts, LLC __________________ "To be or not to be" - there is no such question. To be! But to be what...?

04-25-2013, 05:28 PM	#2
PureRush Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Orange County Posts: 893 Trader Rating: (15) Feedback Score: 15 reviews	Your valve cover gasket is leaking oil in the spark plug hole. The oil in there can cause issues with ignition and you need to replace that gasket. It's really simple to fix.

04-25-2013, 06:45 PM	#13
jamg Nissanaholic! Join Date: May 2009 Location: GA Posts: 2,106 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	spark plug gaskets. i can sell you the 5 that you need. $10 shipped.

04-25-2013, 06:51 PM	#15
zombiewolf513 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: AZ Age: 37 Posts: 1,682 Trader Rating: (6) Rides Gallery: zombiewolf513 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Im curious about this car. Did you recently buy it with the swap already done? The s15 t28 isnt efficient past about 18psi, so youre doing more harm than good running it to 20, if that really is the case. And since the profec's default settings are about 14.5 psi with average "gain" and "set gain" I have a sneaky suspicion youre going WOT in first gear and spiking like a motherfucker. Change out the valve cover gaskets. BTW, what else does it have on it if youre effectively maxing out the boost on a t28?

04-25-2013, 08:12 PM	#26
zombiewolf513 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: AZ Age: 37 Posts: 1,682 Trader Rating: (6) Rides Gallery: zombiewolf513 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Couldnt hurt to do both

04-25-2013, 08:21 PM	#27
Cellz Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Tampa FL Age: 45 Posts: 16 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah both is gonna be the way i go. valve cover gaskets are easy money, anything to know about doing the plug gaskets? I assume some grey RTV or something wont hurt right?

04-25-2013, 08:29 PM	#29
zombiewolf513 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: AZ Age: 37 Posts: 1,682 Trader Rating: (6) Rides Gallery: zombiewolf513 Feedback Score: 6 reviews	You dont need rtv except for around the half circle cutouts on the front and back of the head on the s13 sr, i have always used the red for that with success. Just look at the fsm for valve cover installation procedure and follow that. Easy

04-25-2013, 08:42 PM	#30
Cellz Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Tampa FL Age: 45 Posts: 16 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks everyone, and thank you for not flaming me like crazy!