Why are my spark plugs still turning white?

PROLLINS

MEMBER
2001 SATURN SL2
168,000 MILES

When I bought the car the dealer said I needed to get the oil changed. So I decided to get a full tune up instead. When we started the tune up and took out the spark plugs they were dripping oil and were white tipped. The guy said that my oil plugs needed to be replaced. Another mechanic said I needed my valve covers and oil seals replaced which comes automatically with a tune up. After those things were replaced the mechanic told me that the spark plugs are still turning white again and I noticed that the car is still making a noise and my thermostat doesnt go to the halfway mark.

2 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

If its white ashes on the plug -you have poor oil control-check engine compression

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Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 AT 11:57 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

If the side of the plug that the spark plug wire goes on is soaked in oil then you need the valve cover gasket replaced. Which includes the gasket that keeps the oil from running down into the spark plug wells. The compression rings have nothing to do with oil burning. The oil rings do which are bellow the compression rings. Doing a compression test will not tell you the condition of the oil rings since oil rings have nothing to do with compression.A compression test will only you how the compression rings valves etc are sealing. As far as the temp gauge not getting to half way you ethier have a bad thermostat or a bad coolant temp sensor. The coolant temp sensor have a high failure rate on those cars. Also inspect the inside of the coolant temp sensor connector if the terminals are blue or green instead of silver you will have to replace the connector also. It wouldnt be a bad idea to replace the thermostat and coolant temp sensor. What type of spark plug did you have installed?Hopefully not a platnuim plug?