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2003 Nissan Altima, 3.5, 110,000 miles. Went to change the spark plugs after obd2 read a misfire in cylinder six, when i removed the ignition coil it was soaked in oil, as well as the spark plug when i removed it.I Wiped out most the oil and finished replacing the plugs. After starting it the first time white smoke was pouring out the exhaust for a min or so and stopped,and the car drove fine. However today i started it up and it was misfiring again, worse than before and this time the check engine light kept flashing all the way home, p0306, cylinder six misfire. What could be causing oil to get in the spark plug well? Im assuming the oil is causing the misfire. Please Advise
Most likely a leaking valve cover gasket. If the gasket is not sealed around the spark plug well it will leak oil into that area. It also could be a faulty valve cover (cracked), but it is more likely that the gasket is the problem.
In my case it was a bad spark plug well gasket. Oil gets inside the tube and causes cylinder misfire. You always need to replace the valve cover gasket as well. On 2002-2006 model spark plug seals are embedded into the valve cover and it’s impossible to replace just the seals. You’ll have to buy valve cover. You can find step by step instructions and more details such as torque specs and sequence, silicone gasket maker application, tools and parts needed, etc. in the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQmMdfEGw…
I’m and owner and a licensed mechanic, problem sounds like you need to replace valve cover and gasket to fix the leak around the spark plugs, then check your ignition coils and plugs may need to be replaced from the leaking oil , white smoke comes from the engine burning oil that leaks inside the valve replace them and problem solved reset codes and be on your way
I have a 2003 nissan altima and recently had the valve cover gasket changed and was told that I had to change the valve cover as well because the the seals in the valve cover where the spark plugs go are not replaceable so even if you change the valve cover gasket oil still gets thru the seals up top and on your plugs resulting in your car misfiring and smoking …you can get the valve covers on ebay fairly cheap or there about $150-200 @ the dealership hope I helped you out some..
For a temp fix you can go to your local parts store and get high temp sylicone gasket maker. I had the same problem on my 03 Nissan altima. Just fill the gap between the valve cover an the spark plug well and let it cure for about 12 hours this will not perminately fix the problem but should get you by until you can get a new valve cover.
Oil in spark plug wells is almost always caused by an old perished gasket. After a number of years the gasket shrinks due to constant heating and coiling cycles and from the contaminants in the oil. Oil like water and electricity always finds the path of least resistance and after some time, creates a big enough gap to allow more oil to flow in to the well. Once your plugs have bathed in oil for awhile, they are pretty much done. And even if cleaned up should really be replaced. As the ceramic can no longer efficiently dissipate heat. As the oil level rises in the well it moves it way up to the cap of the plug. Oil however won’t really affect your car by causing misfires, as all it might do is create a bit of resistance and oil doesn’t tend to conduct electricity. The main causes of misfires are electrical faults within the ignition leads or faulty plug. Again heat and cold cycles tend to cause the leads to break down over time, usually on the inside where you can’t see it. If the engine starts OK and runs when cold then starts missing and jerking. The ignition leads are most likely at fault. As they tend to be ’tighter’ when cold but as the leads heat up, everything expands and that close gap widens, and the electricity needs to jump a wider gap, this can happen numerous times in a damaged lead. So in the end the spark at the plug is both weak and erratic.
Why is there oil in the spark plugs when I pulled them out
I have a 2006 Nissan Altima, that was misfiring changed the valve cover and gasket with one ordered online and the car smoked like crazy. Replaced it with the old Nissan part it stopped smoking so we bought new Nissan valve cover had a mechanic put it on the car stopped smoking but started missing and coded misfire on port 3 had them change coil pack and new plug. Drove the car until it warmed up stopped and started it again it made a hard start sputtering and idling ruff, check engine light came on brought back to the mechanic and got the same code plug 3 misfiring he changed plug again and it’s doing the exact same thing again.drives perfect, idles hard when stopped unless in neutral What could possibly be the problem.
hey, it is the spark plug tube seals more than likely. this engine unlike others can’t be serviced. no way of just replacing O-rings. after the 100k mile run gaskets begin to show signs of wear. For this engine you need to replace the valve cover itself. replace this before it does any worse damage to your engine. the valve cover is 130 at oreillys and autozone. the oem spark plugs are 9 each. replace your valve cover gasket the felpro brand runs about 12 to 15 dollars depending your area. goodluck.
Getting gas and oil to plug had head redone and oil changed
check the relative spark plug , and related coil , if any one of them is not functioning the oil will be on the spark plug because that is a fuel which spark plug has to make combustion in the cylinder so if coil/plug is not working then , it will come over ignition area of spark plug , try changing ignition coil and plug
Please can some explain why my Nissan Altima 2.5s year is 2005. It started smoking after changing the spark plugs whereas I found oil in the plug compartment. Please I need urgent answers
I have a BMW 5 Series 2001 change the spark plugs and found traces of while on the spark plugs and the car is misfiring is there anybody who can tell me if this is normal or what I have to do to resolve this problem thank you very much
My Land Rover 2003 model( Discovery SE7) is misfirmisfiring,what could be the possible cause
I drive Nissan Almera 2003. Both fans are coming on when you start on mornings. Then the engine light would come on . When the fans go off, the engine light went off . The car will cut out. Engine revs going between 2000-3000 rpm when the fans are on. The throttle body and the strainer at the bottom of the fuel pump was sprayed. Diagnostic test was done and no codes was shown. The air filter was changed.
I had this exact problem last year on my sons 05 altima 4 cylinder. Replaced valve cover qasket myself , then new spark plugs and coils . Has run great since.
You may need a new value cover gasket
Valve is leaking change it out u will be fine
Its either the valve cover gasket or much worse, it’s a bad oil piston
It might be the head gasket leak
You need to change the valve cover gasket and tube seals… that will keep the oil where the oil needs to be.
Having the same problem . I ordered new valve cover gasket with tube gaskets . Really hope it helps I had tried to use honda bond around plug but it didnt last long . I had just replaced the whole gasket .
You will need to replace the valve cover gasket. For the spark plug, it was the oil that caused the problem. Once you fix the oil leak and if the plug wire is still good. With a new spark plug you should be good to go.
