Oil Around Base of Spark Plugs!

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Tue May 02, 2006 3:48 pm

Hello -- I've had something odd happen to my SuperHawk engine while it is running. There is an accumulation of oil (at least it looks like oil to me - dark brown and thin) around the base of the spark plugs. When it's idling you can look at the spark plug base and see the oil bubbling away. I had my mechanic check it out, and he found that both plug electrodes are dry and look good. Plus, it is not smoking or burning any oil, so I don't think it's the rings. He applied some copper anti-seize paste around the threads, but it is still doing it (he said that the threads in the plug holes are fine and the plugs fit nice and tight, but applied this paste as an experiment to see if the oil would go away). So the plug threads are wet but the electrodes aren't. The bike idles great, has strong compression and has really good power. As an aside, we recently replaced the mechanical advance, so I'm not sure if the removal of the head caused something to happen. However, my mechanic can't see any way that oil could end up there, basically puddling around the base of the plugs by the plug holes. Any thoughts out there??? Where could this oil be coming from if the electrodes are dry and 'normal' looking and I'm not smoking?????

joeweir1 · Post by **joeweir1** » Tue May 02, 2006 4:08 pm

If it did not leak before you pulled the head I'd say that is where you should look.What about the small bolt and nut by each plug that hold the head? Did you replace the head gasket?Make sure your head nuts are tight. I also, have alittle oil in and around plug on right side of my CA77.But I am thinking I have some oil blowing by the rings and coming out the exhaust because my front fins are black and have oil on them but do not have enough that it is bubbling.Cam shaft seals?You will jsut have to keep eliminating things.

Vince Lupo · Post by **Vince Lupo** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:47 am

Hi Joe -- Thanks for responding. No, we did not replace the head gasket, though I just ordered one from Sirius Consolidated. Is it possible for oil to leak from where those two studs are just below the spark plugs if the head gasket is faulty? Does there need to be any kind of sealant applied on those two studs beyond simply the head gasket? It doesn't seem to show oil anywhere else except around the base of the plugs. As well, if the head gasket ultimately proved to be the culprit, wouldn't that result in some kind of power loss/ compression loss (which I don't seem to have)? I know that in a water cooled engine, head gasket failure would give itself away by coolant leaking/ white smoke, etc, but how does head gasket failure in an air cooled head provide any evidence? As far as the head nuts are concerned, I'm sure they are torqued down to their proper specs.

joeweir1 · Post by **joeweir1** » Thu May 04, 2006 8:26 am

You would probably see oil around those two studs and nuts if it was coming out of there. I was just throwing things out there for you to check if you had not already.I doubt it is the head gasket.There are two o-rings that are used with the head gasket also,not sure if you were aware of that.Also, my CA77 is leaking oil on the right side top end and I noticed it around the plug. I pulled the points plate off and looked at the seal and plate the cam comes thru.The screws were loose that held the end seal plate on.I pulled the seal plate off and used some honda bond to reseal. I did notice though yesterday some small amounts of oil around the same area again. It appears some oil is seeping out my seal job again or the cam seal itsself and it runs right down to the plugs and onto the fins infront of the plugs.I cleaned all the oil off I could and then watched for signs of the leak.Did you check that as a source? I would get the engine good and warm and look to see if it may be running down from above the plugs.Clean oil is hard to see if it's a slow seep.Can't be too many things causing it.Joe

leonvjames · Post by **leonvjames** » Sun May 07, 2006 4:17 am

if it is like my CB77 which I have owned for 30 plus years oil seems to get up round the cast in crowns in the heads and comes out round the plug holes. Looks horrible but does not seem to have any effect on the motor. Cosmetic problem only.
Leon :)

Bob Dale · Post by **Bob Dale** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:39 am

I recently stumbled across an old Honda document in the Bill Silver set that appeared to be sort of a memo to their dealers about this issue. Essentially, they said to tell customers that it is normal and to simply clean their engines more frequently!

deaddog · Post by **deaddog** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:50 am

You can try this trick to find oil leaks/seeps. Use a powder spray antiperspirant and coat the area heavy it will be powder white. Run the engine and look for area that darkens.