I was out driving last week when my S started acting funny.. It would idle fine and smooth, but when I was accelerating, especially around 3000 rpm, the car would lose power, sputter, then jerk forward, then lose power, and so forth. I drove straight home and turned her off as to hopefully not damage the engine... I figured it was something fuel related but since Honda recently replaced one coil pack, plugs, and my valve gasket I figured Id look around there. Low and behold, #2 plug tube had about an inch of oil in her. I pulled all four and was cleaning out the tubes when I noticed the top seal on #2 looked out of place. I already have a new VCG set ordered with spark tube seals as well. Will I need different seals for the top of the tubes, rather than the bottoms? Does anyone think it is just the seal or am I maybe looking at something more serious? I've heard maybe a cracked block? Or horribly scored cylinder walls? ...here are pics for reference. Any help or input is greatly appreciated. Im planning on doing a VCG job along with the spark plug tube seals sometime this week. Thanks

Spark plug tube #2
https://flic.kr/p/uJTHzt


Other Spark Plug tube seals
https://flic.kr/p/vphziR
https://flic.kr/p/uJTJhR
https://flic.kr/p/vpaigq


And I noticed some oil around the VCG in the rear....
https://flic.kr/p/uJJ8gC

 

Notice how your spark plug gasket isn't fully seated around the tube? Just stick your finger in there and slide it down.

 

Here is a link and a couple of posts I made with Billman. I was careful doing my valve adjust but I did not correctly position the tube seals on re-install. I went back, discovered the error and corrected them. I was fortunate not to have any oil leakage or tear on the seals.


https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/106.../page__st__100


Posted 24 January 2014 - 03:50 PM
View PostBillman250, on 22 January 2014 - 02:41 PM, said:

Hurting the tube seals is near impossible. Just make sure to push the seal lips back before re-installing cover.


I did not see anything on the tube seals in the book or Robbins (other than inspecting or replacing if needed) DIY that had you pushing the seals back. I did see that for the rubber washers with the metal tops on the cover bolts. I did make sure they were seated properly.

I just spread a little extra clean motor oil on the tube seals before installation. Do I need to reopen and check those tube seals? I just pulled the cover straight up and off and then back down when done. (Several days went by)

#107User is online Billman250

Posted 25 January 2014 - 06:30 AM
With the cover upside down on the work bench, the 4 tube seals should look like this \/ \/ \/ \/

When you pull the cover, some of them get stuck to the tube, and you will get this \/ \/ /\ /\

The last two have been pulled in the wrong direction. Just push them back down with your finger.

If you don't, you can cut the lip on the tube seal.

You can likely check yours just by pulling the coil packs and inspect them with a bright light. You can see the seal edge around the tube.

I've pulled over 1000 covers, and the chances of the seals inverting is 95%




Today I decided to replace the spark plugs (did not do it during the valve adjust) and wanted to double check the tube seals. I discovered 2 of the 4 looked out of whack. I was glad there was no oil leakage in the tubes. I pulled the cover and pushed the seals into the correct position. I reinstalled the cover watching the tube seals carefully. No problem and all mated correctly. I can't believe this escaped me the first time. Was glad also the seals appeared to be intact.

Thanks Billman for the heads up.
This post has been edited by cosmomiller: 19 March 2014 - 08:41 PM

 

Thanks for the info. I'll pull the cover this week and see where I'm at. I'm hesitant to just "push" them back in.. Seems like a short term fix?

 

I have an 09 that had < 50K on it. < 5 years. I was on the fence about replacing the gasket and seals but it seemed I could go with what I had. If yours are older you may want to replace them. Make sure you get OEM stuff. The next time I will replace mine I suppose.

 

If you tq'd the cover down with the seal not in the right place chances are you damaged the seal. Made this mistake, make sure the seals are over the tube as in the tube should go through the seal like 1mm.

 

I just had Honda do the VCG so I'm assuming they would have put in new tube seals as well? If they did and didn't do it correctly, I should get a refund/get them to fix it.. Or I'll do it myself when the new ones come just to make sure it's done right. Thanks for the input.

 

Hey guys thanks for the help. I ended up just replacing the spark plug tube seals. Seemed to have fixed the problem. If anyone else is having issues with their spark plug tube seal installation, MAKE SURE YOU INSTALL THEM CORRECTLY...I tried for nearly 30 minutes, then referred back to Billman and found that I was installing them upside down just double check before you try to force those little guys on.

 

There's only one right way to put in the seals, with the valve cover upside down, so that you are looking inside it. You should see the smooth round part, not the grooved lip.