I have a very odd intermittent oil leak in my 2000 Neon. I haven't seen oil anywhere in the garage, parking lot or on/under the car but the leak is persistent. Car hasn't been smoking either. I've been told this is common on Neons. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm losing anywhere from one to three quarts at a time. I also have been having overheating issues with the A/C on re-circulate (makes the coolant dump) Anything I can do on my own is great. I'm too cheap to pay someone if I can do it myself. Oh, and while I'm at it... just bought new plugs and wires. Any suggestions for not screwing it up when I change them out?
neonmomtx
09-18-2007, 01:52 PM
update... So I proceeded to change the plugs and wires. Found oil in the boot and covering the spark plugs (only 3rd and 4th) The last tube was horribly bent... not sure what happened to it but I'm wondering if this is a bad thing (duh) Please help!!!
alaskaneon
09-18-2007, 02:27 PM
I'm stepping out on a limb here, but it sounds like you might have ring probs on 3 & 4 or the plugs weren't firing at all. Does the car run roughly and sluggishly like it is misfireing? What I do know, just like you is that there shouldn't be oil in your boot and on plugs. The last boot bent might not have been making contact with the plug at all and not firing at all. What i'd do is change out your plugs and wires with new and run it for a tank of gas. Pull your plugs and check your boots and see if you have the same problem.
neonmomtx
09-18-2007, 02:32 PM
I did change the plugs and wires, and I was elated when the car actually started! I am going to run some octane booster to clean the engine out a bit as well and I'll go from there. Thanks!
alaskaneon
09-18-2007, 02:45 PM
If your problem goes away, you would be wise to pull your fuel rail and clean your injectors. I'm sure 3 & 4 are nasty. Skip injector cleanor in your tank, pull them and clean them good. Welcome to DT!
neonmomtx
09-18-2007, 02:48 PM
Well that sounds like a great idea... and I'm sure you could enlighten me a bit as to how I might go about doing so? :)
alaskaneon
09-18-2007, 09:12 PM
sure, go to the car parts store and buy a chilton or hanes manuel for your car, all the instructions and pictures you need to do the job.
Basically, here's what you do: pull that plastic 2.0liter badge thingy off, disconnect your fuel line from the rail and the electrical connector. pull the fuel rail bolts and then very carefully pull the fuel rail and injectors out of the intake manifold, just like pulling the boot off a spark plug. Just that simple. Have fun!
neonmomtx
09-18-2007, 09:20 PM
Chilton manual??!! I know I said somewhere up there I'm cheap... lol. Just kidding, I think it is about time for me to go buy one for my car. But thank you very much for the instructions. The car is still hesitating a bit even after I changed the plugs but I am sure that has something to do with the plug situation.
alaskaneon
09-18-2007, 10:10 PM
you are welcome. from your name if I read that right, you are a mom that owns a neon in Texas? yes?
donald7150
09-18-2007, 11:22 PM
My neon seems to get oil on the top of one of the plugs (or bottom, not on the electrode or any part of the plug thats in the combustion chamber) and the boot. I think my spark plug well seals are bad (seal between the spark plug tube and the valve cover)
rice_eater
09-19-2007, 01:29 AM
My neon seems to get oil on the top of one of the plugs (or bottom, not on the electrode or any part of the plug thats in the combustion chamber) and the boot. I think my spark plug well seals are bad (seal between the spark plug tube and the valve cover)
You would be correct in thinking that. Torquing down the valve cover may solve your problem without having to replace the seals... worked for me. Just don't over tighten it and strip it out.
rice_eater
09-19-2007, 01:38 AM
In response to the first three posts...
I disagree Alaska (about the bad rings). I believe the oil was said to be on the topside of the plug, near the boot, not on the electrode. This would signal leaking o-rings between the spark plug cylinder and valve cover (see above post). Not a big deal, but not hard to fix either.
neonmomtx - what do you mean when you say "The last tube was horribly bent"? Are you referring the the spark plug cylinder or the top portion of the sparkplug? And how do you know your neon is leaking oil if you are not finding any oil drips or puddles? 1-3 quarts is A LOT of oil to lose without finding puddles where you park... That is also a very large amount to burn without noticing smoke in the exhaust. I'm assuming you're losing the 1-3 quarts between oil changes (a 3month/3000mile interval)?
