I was doing the normal tune up on my 89 firebird...When I was changing the spark plugs....One of them had oil in it...

What does that mean...Broken rings??? Bad pistons??
How do I fix this? how big of a job is it?
I am just a house mechanic but by no means a real one....Help me out with some input/ideas...

 

Could just mean your valve seals are leaking (common problem, nothing to worry about). What happens is the rubber around the valves dries up and gets cracks in it, so oil drips down the valves onto the top of the piston when the car sits overnight. Then when you start the car up later, the oil burns off (and there would be a puff of blue smoke). There's no harm in having leaking valve seals (although it is annoying!); of course you can change them but you'd have to get the valve covers off and use an on-the-car valve spring compression tool.

Best way to tell if it's the valve seals or rings is to do a compression test. (Well the absolute best way is to do a leakdown test but you need an air compressor) Places like Autozone will rent out compression testers (or buy one for ~$30).

If you had a broken ring, or worn out cylinders, you'd be using a LOT of oil (and would probably smell it and see it while driving), and the car would be running poorly.

 

Thanks for that info...So basically you are saying that there is no problem running the car like this?? Is it worth fixing it? would it burn a lot of oil like this?
Anyone else has any input??

 

I think this what's wrong with my car. It shoots a little blue smoke on startup and that's about all I notice. I think it looks cool shooting blue smoke at startup so I'm, not planning on fixing it untill i have problems effecting driveability. Seems like it shouldn't cause any more problems if you just leave it alone.

 

well I dont thing oil on the spark plugs is good...could cause bad starting connection for sure...could this escalate into a bigger problem??

 

Yeah I agree. Its no a huge deal but I would say check the plugs from time to time. It could eventually fowel the plug.

 

Nice name, Kevmann.

 

LOL Thanks. I have used this on a couple of other forums and never seen any other spelling. Guess its not as original as I thought.

 

Like was said, every now and then check on your spark plugs, which you should do once a year anyway. You might get a small buildup. But it won't hurt anything because the oil is so small it burns up right away. My car's had that problem since, oh, 1996 or so...

 

Wow. Im just browsin thru and you guys completely described the way my car acts. sweet. now im not so concerned bout it lol. you guys are awesome. keep up the good work