Honda Car Forum

I have a 1989 Civic LX sedan and it burns oil -- not visibly, just
have to add more every so often. When the oil starts burning away, I
have this problem of one or two of my spark plug wires popping off and
partially out (not entirely) of the engine block. The car, of course,
then runs a little rough -- I'm surprised it runs at all. They also
have oil on them and I already know I get oil on the spark plugs
themselves, as I noticed that the last time they were changed. I'm
guessing the increased heat with the lack of oil is causing some
pressure build-up of some kind and that, in turn, is forcing the wires
out of the engine. If they only pop off a little way, I have to pull
them up with a *pop* in order to push them back down again and secure
them.

Anybody else experience this problem? Does it make any sense? What
is wrong? How many $$ am I looking at for a repair? I'm going to
take it into the shop, but I'd like to have an idea of what I am
talking about and be able to understand what the mechanic's diagnosis
is.

I'm at 232,000 miles and the car runs like a champ, otherwise.

Thanks.

In article <8389adb4.0401141756.18ae31a2@posting.google.com >, Ronald
<ronetzel@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I have a 1989 Civic LX sedan and it burns oil -- not visibly, just
> have to add more every so often. When the oil starts burning away, I
> have this problem of one or two of my spark plug wires popping off and
> partially out (not entirely) of the engine block. The car, of course,
> then runs a little rough -- I'm surprised it runs at all. They also
> have oil on them and I already know I get oil on the spark plugs
> themselves, as I noticed that the last time they were changed. I'm
> guessing the increased heat with the lack of oil is causing some
> pressure build-up of some kind and that, in turn, is forcing the wires
> out of the engine. If they only pop off a little way, I have to pull
> them up with a *pop* in order to push them back down again and secure
> them.
>
> Anybody else experience this problem? Does it make any sense? What
> is wrong? How many $$ am I looking at for a repair? I'm going to
> take it into the shop, but I'd like to have an idea of what I am
> talking about and be able to understand what the mechanic's diagnosis
> is.
>
> I'm at 232,000 miles and the car runs like a champ, otherwise.
>
> Thanks.

i have never heard of that happening but one thing that comes to mind
is a completly clogged PVC valve (lets gasses and expanding air out of
the crankcase) PCV valves are cheep so it would be an easy fix if that
is the problem (it is under the intake manifold, pull it out and shake
it, if it dosnt rattle its gummed up and will need to be replaced
anyway) the other thing that comes to mind is a bad vlave cover gaskit
and that owuld be pretty cheep and easy to fix as well

Andrew

Ronald wrote:
> I have a 1989 Civic LX sedan and it burns oil -- not visibly, just
> have to add more every so often. When the oil starts burning away, I
> have this problem of one or two of my spark plug wires popping off and
> partially out (not entirely) of the engine block. The car, of course,
> then runs a little rough -- I'm surprised it runs at all. They also
> have oil on them and I already know I get oil on the spark plugs
> themselves, as I noticed that the last time they were changed. I'm
> guessing the increased heat with the lack of oil is causing some
> pressure build-up of some kind and that, in turn, is forcing the wires
> out of the engine. If they only pop off a little way, I have to pull
> them up with a *pop* in order to push them back down again and secure
> them.
>
> Anybody else experience this problem? Does it make any sense? What
> is wrong? How many $$ am I looking at for a repair? I'm going to
> take it into the shop, but I'd like to have an idea of what I am
> talking about and be able to understand what the mechanic's diagnosis
> is.
>
> I'm at 232,000 miles and the car runs like a champ, otherwise.
>
> Thanks.
=================

Ronald,

One guess: Plugs are loose and pressure is pressurizing the cavity where
the wire goes in. POP!

I've found spark plugs finger-tight.

'Curly'

================

In article <8389adb4.0401141756.18ae31a2@posting.google.com >,
ronetzel@yahoo.com (Ronald) wrote:

> I have a 1989 Civic LX sedan and it burns oil -- not visibly, just
> have to add more every so often. When the oil starts burning away, I
> have this problem of one or two of my spark plug wires popping off and
> partially out (not entirely) of the engine block. The car, of course,
> then runs a little rough -- I'm surprised it runs at all. They also
> have oil on them and I already know I get oil on the spark plugs
> themselves, as I noticed that the last time they were changed. I'm
> guessing the increased heat with the lack of oil is causing some
> pressure build-up of some kind and that, in turn, is forcing the wires
> out of the engine. If they only pop off a little way, I have to pull
> them up with a *pop* in order to push them back down again and secure
> them.
>
> Anybody else experience this problem? Does it make any sense? What
> is wrong? How many $$ am I looking at for a repair? I'm going to
> take it into the shop, but I'd like to have an idea of what I am
> talking about and be able to understand what the mechanic's diagnosis
> is.
>
> I'm at 232,000 miles and the car runs like a champ, otherwise.
>
> Thanks.

The first thing I'd check is if the spark plugs are seated properly.
They're not screwed in very tight so they depend on a built-in crush
washer to make the seal and hold the plug in place. Screwing the plugs
in too tight damages the washer so it won't work then next time the
plugs are properly tightened.

The oil seals near the plugs may be blown out. They're easy to replace
but you should look for related problems if they're damaged. The PCV
system could be plugged or your engine could be worn so badly that
blow-by gas is generating too much pressure.

PCV system not working, causing the oil burning AND wires coming loose.

"Ronald" <ronetzel@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8389adb4.0401141756.18ae31a2@posting.google.c om...
> I have a 1989 Civic LX sedan and it burns oil -- not visibly, just
> have to add more every so often. When the oil starts burning away, I
> have this problem of one or two of my spark plug wires popping off and
> partially out (not entirely) of the engine block. The car, of course,
> then runs a little rough -- I'm surprised it runs at all. They also
> have oil on them and I already know I get oil on the spark plugs
> themselves, as I noticed that the last time they were changed. I'm
> guessing the increased heat with the lack of oil is causing some
> pressure build-up of some kind and that, in turn, is forcing the wires
> out of the engine. If they only pop off a little way, I have to pull
> them up with a *pop* in order to push them back down again and secure
> them.
>
> Anybody else experience this problem? Does it make any sense? What
> is wrong? How many $$ am I looking at for a repair? I'm going to
> take it into the shop, but I'd like to have an idea of what I am
> talking about and be able to understand what the mechanic's diagnosis
> is.
>
> I'm at 232,000 miles and the car runs like a champ, otherwise.
>
> Thanks.

I've seen some aftermarket wires that just don't fit real well (and cost
more that the stock wires) and keep popping off like that. I would replace
all of the spark plug tube seals and check the PCV system. And if you have
a cheapo set of wires, I'd buy the Honda wires.


"Ronald" <ronetzel@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8389adb4.0401141756.18ae31a2@posting.google.c om...
> I have a 1989 Civic LX sedan and it burns oil -- not visibly, just
> have to add more every so often. When the oil starts burning away, I
> have this problem of one or two of my spark plug wires popping off and
> partially out (not entirely) of the engine block. The car, of course,
> then runs a little rough -- I'm surprised it runs at all. They also
> have oil on them and I already know I get oil on the spark plugs
> themselves, as I noticed that the last time they were changed. I'm
> guessing the increased heat with the lack of oil is causing some
> pressure build-up of some kind and that, in turn, is forcing the wires
> out of the engine. If they only pop off a little way, I have to pull
> them up with a *pop* in order to push them back down again and secure
> them.
>
> Anybody else experience this problem? Does it make any sense? What
> is wrong? How many $$ am I looking at for a repair? I'm going to
> take it into the shop, but I'd like to have an idea of what I am
> talking about and be able to understand what the mechanic's diagnosis
> is.
>
> I'm at 232,000 miles and the car runs like a champ, otherwise.
>
> Thanks.