Howdy folks.

Back in May I decided to change my own spark plugs and found oil on the
spark plug boots. After much discussion, I decided that my valve cover
gasket was probably the culprit, but since nobody seemed panicky about
it I decided to let it ride for a while and see if the engine
performance suffered. I was thinking maybe I could get to my timing
belt change and get it done then.

That was about 20,000 kms ago.

Tonight I decided to pull out the spark plug boots again just to have a
look and I found them to be bone dry.

The only other thing that I can think of to relate to this is that
about the same time that I changed the spark plugs I started getting
hesitation problems upon starting out in the mornings. This problem
gradually disappeared, particularly after the dealership greased the
wire connections, but I can't help but wonder if the two are related.
My hesitation problems are all but gone, and the oil on the spark plug
boots is also gone. Hmmm.

I say almost gone because I still sense a bit of power surging at
times, and it appears to be always just after a fill-up. I find this
very illogical. Maybe the fuel pump can't handle a full tank of gas?

Anyway, I feel better knowing things appear to be back to normal, but
it doesn't explain what I found!

Cheers,
Chicobiker
2003 OBS
125,000kms (80k miles)

Since the Outback and Outback Sport models are designed to go into the
wilderness where a mechanical breakdown can leave you stranded, Subaru
introduced a self regeneration feature on these models. This allows the
car to literally repair itself over time.





.... yeah... I wish :-D

On a serious note, a similar thing happened on my Moms Corolla. It was
burning oil pretty bad, smoking and fouling spark plugs. After an oil
change and a bottle of injector/fuel system cleaner the problem
completely disappeared. I think that maybe a piston ring got unseated
somehow or something... or was sticking... hell I have no idea.

--Dmitriy

Chicobiker wrote:
> Howdy folks.
>
> Back in May I decided to change my own spark plugs and found oil on the
> spark plug boots. After much discussion, I decided that my valve cover
> gasket was probably the culprit, but since nobody seemed panicky about
> it I decided to let it ride for a while and see if the engine
> performance suffered. I was thinking maybe I could get to my timing
> belt change and get it done then.
>
> That was about 20,000 kms ago.
>
> Tonight I decided to pull out the spark plug boots again just to have a
> look and I found them to be bone dry.
>
> The only other thing that I can think of to relate to this is that
> about the same time that I changed the spark plugs I started getting
> hesitation problems upon starting out in the mornings. This problem
> gradually disappeared, particularly after the dealership greased the
> wire connections, but I can't help but wonder if the two are related.
> My hesitation problems are all but gone, and the oil on the spark plug
> boots is also gone. Hmmm.
>
> I say almost gone because I still sense a bit of power surging at
> times, and it appears to be always just after a fill-up. I find this
> very illogical. Maybe the fuel pump can't handle a full tank of gas?
>
> Anyway, I feel better knowing things appear to be back to normal, but
> it doesn't explain what I found!
>
> Cheers,
> Chicobiker
> 2003 OBS
> 125,000kms (80k miles)

Did you by any chance consider that maybe in changing the oil some was
spilled onto the plug area?