This is about the 2001 Dakota in my signature. I believe it has leaky valve covers. I can also see some oil collecting around a couple of the spark plug heat shields. I have not yet pulled a boot off to check, but will be fixing the problems this weekend. I just read on another site that if oil collects around a spark plug like that it can cause the plug to not dissipate heat correctly and the plug will be damaged, thus needing to be replaced. Here is the link to what I read:
http://www.autohub360.com/index.php/how-to-diagnose-a-leaking-valve-cover-gasket-1820/
I am wondering if there is any truth to that or can I just remove the plugs, clean them off, re-gap and re-install and still be OK? If it needs it I will replace the plugs and wires along with the valve cover gaskets, but I wanted your opinions here first.
This past Sunday my truck would not start. I had to try it a few times and it finally did start but ran rough until I goosed the throttle and held it at about 1500 RPM for a few seconds. Then it started and ran fine and has been OK since then. I wonder if there really is oil collecting on the plugs that caused that misfire? I had no CEL codes stored from it, the truck just would not start.
I also read online that a leaky valve cover gasket will sometimes cause idle problems because it will mimic a vacuum leak. Some of you here may remember not long ago I had an odd idle problem that I posted about, it acted like a vacuum leak but I replaced the Idle Air Control Valve and Throttle Position Sensor and have had no trouble with the idle since, other than a couple times in the last couple of weeks the truck had a rough idle for a few seconds when I started it after it sat overnight. It always revved and came up to normal cold idle though, until this no-start problem on Sunday.
Thanks for your help here. Sorry for the long post.
http://www.autohub360.com/index.php/how-to-diagnose-a-leaking-valve-cover-gasket-1820/
I am wondering if there is any truth to that or can I just remove the plugs, clean them off, re-gap and re-install and still be OK? If it needs it I will replace the plugs and wires along with the valve cover gaskets, but I wanted your opinions here first.
This past Sunday my truck would not start. I had to try it a few times and it finally did start but ran rough until I goosed the throttle and held it at about 1500 RPM for a few seconds. Then it started and ran fine and has been OK since then. I wonder if there really is oil collecting on the plugs that caused that misfire? I had no CEL codes stored from it, the truck just would not start.
I also read online that a leaky valve cover gasket will sometimes cause idle problems because it will mimic a vacuum leak. Some of you here may remember not long ago I had an odd idle problem that I posted about, it acted like a vacuum leak but I replaced the Idle Air Control Valve and Throttle Position Sensor and have had no trouble with the idle since, other than a couple times in the last couple of weeks the truck had a rough idle for a few seconds when I started it after it sat overnight. It always revved and came up to normal cold idle though, until this no-start problem on Sunday.
Thanks for your help here. Sorry for the long post.