Subject:	oil in spark plugs
Question:	i just bought a 98 eclipse rs automatic with 70000 miles oil is coming up through the spark plug wires bad what should i check for?
Answer:	Terry, Oil in the spark plug wells can be caused by a few things. One cause could be bad valve guides. Oil may be leaking past your guides and eventually spitting out of your spark plug wells. That could require a valve job to re-seat you valves onto the guides. A new valve cover gasket would be installed if a valve job was needed. That would also be a good thing. You may be building too much crankcase pressure that is causing this excess oil build up. You will want to have your PCV valve replaced. This is a very easy replacement anyone can do. It takes about 10 minutes and a new valve cost under $5. Another common cause is a cylinder that isn't firing properly. If your car seems to run a little rough, you could have an electrical short somewhere from your distributor to your spark plugs. I would recommend have your distributor, spark plug wires, and spark plugs checked. Replace them if its determined they are bad. If you know that none of those have ever between replaced before, now is a good time to do it. Also be sure to use the correct weight of engine oil. In winter climates use 5W-30. During warmer months, use 10W-30. If you live in an area where its consistantly hot (dessert type areas) use 20W-50. Good luck!