1997 Plymouth Breeze (similar to older Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Cirrus). Engine starts up easily, runs mid-range on the temp gauge. Engine seems somewhat weak, but I haven't had the car long enough to know if it's any weaker than it ever was. I took out each spark plug this afternoon to check it out. Every one is covered in oil. I can't even do a compression test on the cylinders. I turn the engine over and the gauge bounces and zeros. I know the gauge works because I used it yesterday on my Civic and a few days before on my brother's Nissan Stanza. Where should I start? I think the car needs a head gasket job also, but could it just be the gaskets on the valve cover for the plug tubes? Or is it more likely to be leaking rings or something really bad? I just did a headgasket in one of my Civics so I imagine that'll be similar in this. If anyone knows where to start please let me know. Thanks.

 

It could very well be. Try the valve cover hole seals first. If the problem continues, the tubes have to be replaced.

 

I have to agree that it is most likly the sparck plug tube need the be resealed or replaced ,
I have had to do this many time to cure the oil problem.

 

First, if it is a 2.4L there are no spark plug tubes in the head. They are holes cast and machined into the solid head body. As for the oil in the holes: common problem. Put a new valve cover gasket and tube seals at the top of each hole.DO NOT put RTV on the rubber seals.REPEAT-DO NOT put RTV on the seals. A thin film over the half-moon plug and a dot in each corner is all that is needed. Next: replace the plug wires, they are now saturated with oil and will arc resulting in a misfire and loss of power. If they are not doing this now, they will soon. As for your compression guage: put the schrader valve back in the hose and try again. Cranking compression with throttle wide open should be 120-150 psi with only about 10% variation across the board. Unplug the coil first. The 2.4 is a weak engine to begin with so dont expect much from it.

 

where can you get spark plug tubes for a neon? will the dealer sell them and how much?