A Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement cost in Kingsport in 2024

The average cost for a spark plug tube seal - valve cover with CarAdvise is $54 and the range is generally between $20 and $205.

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AVERAGE COST IN Kingsport

A Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement costs by shop in Kingsport.

CarAdvise Customers save an average of $11 on A Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement.

POPULAR VEHICLES

Average cost of A Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement for popular vehicle models in Kingsport:

Car Model

Avg. cost

$50

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THE IMPORTANCE OF A Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement

What is a spark plug tube seal and how does it work?

Internal combustion engines, such as those found in most cars, trucks, and SUVs, rely on spark plugs to set off combustion inside each of its cylinders. On some engines, the spark plugs reach the cylinders through passageways that extend through the valve cover. When this is the case, the passageways need to be sealed so that oil cannot escape the engine and contaminants cannot find their way inside.
A spark plug tube is a device that is pressed or threaded into the cylinder head. When the valve cover is in place, the tubes create passageways into each cylinder for the spark plugs to mount. The tubes are each sealed with gaskets, the spark plug tube seals, that are pressed into the valve cover around the openings for the spark plug tubes. On some valve covers, the tube seals can be removed and replaced, whereas on others, the entire valve cover must be replaced if the seals go bad.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

How do I know if my engine needs new spark plug tube seals?

When the spark plug tube seals fail, engine oil is able to enter the passageways and fill up where the spark plugs are mounted. This can cause an engine misfire or keep your engine from starting in the first place. Your check engine light would likely come on in that case as well. If you are driving, your engine could stall or fail to produce power. At the very least, fuel economy could suffer.

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FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION

How does a technician perform A Spark Plug Tube Seal Replacement ?

The spark plug tube seals on some engines are not replaceable apart from the valve cover into which they are pressed. On engines with serviceable spark plug tube seals, a technician must first remove the top engine cover and any other components - shields, guards, cables, emission control tubes, and the like - that prevent access to the valve cover(s). Then the valve cover needs to be removed carefully to prevent damage to the intake manifold or the mounting flange on the valve cover.
Once the valve cover has been removed, the seals are carefully pried out without damaging the seal seats. Typically, there are three to four seals in each valve cover. The new seals are lubricated and pressed into the valve cover in the proper orientation. The spark plug tubes are cleaned of any oil that intruded inside and the valve cover and other components are reinstalled and torqued to manufacturer’s specifications. Finally, the engine is started and checked for leaks.

Other Questions Customers Ask

Do you need to replace spark plug tube seals?
Spark plug tube seals, should your engine be fitted with the components, should not need replacement unless, for some reason, they fail to prevent oil from entering the spark plug passageways. Most of the time, spark plug tube seals should last upwards of 100K miles. On some vehicles, if the spark plug tube seals go bad, the entire valve cover must be replaced since the seals are not serviceable. On many engines, though, the seals can be replaced when they fail.
Is it normal to have oil on spark plugs?
No. Oil on the spark plugs in a four-cycle engine, such as that in a car, truck, or SUV, is not normal. The only way for oil to get on the spark plugs is if there is engine oil intrusion into the combustion chamber, such as through bad spark plug tube seals.
Can a bad PCV valve cause oil on the spark plugs?
Yes. Another way that oil can get on your spark plugs is when excess pressure is allowed to build up inside the engine crankcase where most of the oil is present. Combustion gases that escape along the sides of the pistons can cause this excess pressure. The job of the PCV, or positive crankcase ventilation valve, is to mitigate this pressure. If the PCV valve fails and pressure builds up, some of the oil can make its way back into the combustion chamber and foul the spark plugs.

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