2001 buick park ave 112k miles
Hey guys. i installed new spark plugs on my park ave. The car has been driving beautifully. However, they've been giving off smoke the past 3 days i've been driving it. I didn't clean the spark plug bays very well. I was thinking that might be it. Then today I noticed that a coolant hose sprang a leak. I am hoping the two things aren't related. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
Spark plugs don't smoke. Some oil is probably getting onto the plugs and smoking when the engine heats up. A leaking 23-year-old valve cover gasket can do this. Possibly coolant spraying onto the plugs would do the same thing.
OK good to know. It must have been coolant from the leaking upper radiator hose then.
I'll replace the gasket too. Thx. You find out pretty quick if you have a problem with spark plugs, right? it was my first time replacing them.
You find out pretty quick if you have a problem with spark plugs, right? it was my first time replacing them.
Correct, you'd be able to tell rather quickly if something was "amiss".
Maybe something else is smoking.
It looks to me like oil burning off the exhaust manifold.
Ok is this a major issue? Should I just try to scrub off the oil?
It may just be oil from a prior leak that will burn off. If it continues then it's still dripping. Keep an eye on it, you don't want a fire.
OK how long do you think it would take to burn off?
Depends on how much oil is there but it shouldn't take long if no more is getting in there.
Keep an eye on it, you don't want a fire.
yeah, definitely not. I guess if it keeps smoking, i'll have to take it to a shop. i've done everything I can I think.
It's not uncommon for a new valve cover gasket to leak if the surfaces are not thoroughly cleaned, and that can be difficult especially on an old engine. You also don't want to over-tighten the valve cover bolts.
Copy that. I torqued them to spec. Went on good. Tried to clean it as well as I could. It is really too bad about the smoking. i'll have to take her for a cruise tomorrow.
Thx again chuck. The smoking stopped a couple days after I replaced the valve cover gasket and upper radiator hose.
Well, I installed a new valve cover gasket and upper radiator hose today and for whatever reason it appears my spark plugs are still smoking. Maybe something else is smoking. I'm not sure. Check it out.
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