Didn't drive the car the other day. Next day the Check engine light starts blinking and the car is misfiring like crazy, so I pull over immediately. I pop out the spark plugs and you can see the oil pooled up on the piston and the plug is covered in oil.

What kind of surgery do I need to fix this? I cleaned the plug and threw it back in and the car runs fine, but obviously the oil usage is getting worse.

3/13/2008 3:57:16 PM

Sounds like rings. Any white smoke coming out of the exhaust?

Could be head gasket I guess. You'd probably notice coolant loss and maybe even see some oil in the coolant reservoir.

[Edited on March 13, 2008 at 4:06 PM. Reason : s]

3/13/2008 4:01:10 PM

Just blue/black when I get on it after not having driven it for a while.

Coolant is always where it should be and have never spotted any water in the oil or vice versa.

[Edited on March 13, 2008 at 4:47 PM. Reason : ]

3/13/2008 4:47:07 PM

Quote :

"Just blue/black when I get on it after not having driven it for a while"

valve stem seals

and..

obligatory year, make, model?

3/13/2008 4:54:18 PM

oops

'97 miata 135k miles

Also, not that I'm seriously wanting to do this, but what are the odds of a novice being able to rebuild the top end of the motor and not fuck it up completely?

[Edited on March 13, 2008 at 5:02 PM. Reason : ]

3/13/2008 4:54:44 PM

Quote :

"valve stem seals "

wtf do tires have to do with oil being on top of a piston?

3/13/2008 5:08:17 PM

are you fucking serious?

he's talking about intake/exhaust valve seals on the god damn head

[Edited on March 13, 2008 at 5:12 PM. Reason : ok he shouldn't have said stem, my bad.]

3/13/2008 5:10:48 PM

haha, c'mon man

3/13/2008 5:12:02 PM

haha, internet went out as soon as i posted that... i was like ah shit, nvm haha

3/13/2008 5:12:36 PM

haha, I guess the lack of response to the last question isn't a vote of confidence

3/14/2008 1:09:12 PM

it is a seal that goes around the stem of the valve

google it and see what comes up...

here, i'll make it easy
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=valve+stem+seal&um=1&ie=UTF-8

[Edited on March 14, 2008 at 4:11 PM. Reason : nice try tho... [not really].. ]

3/14/2008 4:10:16 PM

most people just call them valve seals.. valve on your tires = valve steam... you get the point.

3/14/2008 5:30:01 PM

oh come on fellas, i call a penis a vagina, and some call a penis a cock.

either way. its a penis.

3/14/2008 5:33:46 PM

some call them ngr's some call them blacks, you know how it is

3/14/2008 6:12:09 PM

wow that was such a better analogy than mine was.

props to you good sir.

3/14/2008 6:54:31 PM

3/14/2008 7:05:43 PM