hi, i wanted to check my spark plugs to see how they were while taking them out the 1st and 4th cylinder spark plugs were soaked in oil, outside and inside..... i cleaned them off, auto store was closed, reinstalled them and started the car.... now it smokes from behind the engine and a little bit from the exhaust.....
Is there a common problem these cars have? the car only has 105k on it and seems too run well
thanks for any help

 

There is a known issue that the spark plug tube seals or tubes themselves leak.

Some have been able to just reseat the tubes if they have unseated themselves. Not too difficult a repair. Look around should find info on how to address.

Now the oil in chamber was it fresh or burnt on. If fresh was just what fell in the hole when you pulled them. Run the car more and see if it clears up. Run this weekend and recheck plugs. If fouled with oil and burnt on that is more likely ring packs.

Try the new Pennzoil Platinum or AutoRX to clean ring packs.

 

accidental double post

 

What color is the smoke?
If it's black, you're burning oil. How is your idle at low RPM? And at higher RPM?
Could be bad piston rings.

 

...and what I mean by "how's your idle" is, is it unstable at low, then smooths out at higher speeds.

 

thanks for the help..... the idle is good.... i think it smoked because i removed the plugs, oil got into the cylinders and that was just burining off..... the car never smoked before i did that and i let it idle for about 2 or 3 minutes and it completly went away.... there was a decent amount of oil on the outside of the plugs...... the plugs werent actually too bad.... so im thinking its those seals.....

 

On my 01, I thought I got oil in the tubes from a faulty valve cover gasket. Nope. It did seem easier to fix though with the valve cover off. Got a block of wood and tapped the tubes in firmly and put the valve cover back on, viola!

 

If the old ones fall out replace them. The rubber has soaked in too much oil and the metal band inside expanded and will be a **** to put back in properly. If you put the old ones back in I guarantee you they will fall off again. I just had 2 seals fall out, only was able to buy 1 new one from the local dealership so I HAD to put one old one back in but it wouldn't go in all the way without taking chunks of rubber with it along with bits of my valve cover.