Joined
·
41 Posts
A while back I changed my spark plugs for the first time and noticed some oil in cylinders #2 and #3. It wasn't an alarming amount and it was mostly up by the top of the plug and not at the bottom, so after a chat with my mechanic friend I decided it wasn't an emergency. I bought the valve cover gasket and spark plug o-rings from Rockauto, but they've been in a box because it's been 90+ degrees every day and I don't have a garage.
Unfortunately, this past week I've been noticing a weird smell while driving. It's faint and intermittent, but it smells like an old cigar someone left lit in the ashtray. I don't smoke, so I strongly suspect the valve cover itself may have busted a leak, or the spark well leaks have gotten worse. The only other thing I could imagine causing the smell is possibly the heat shield above the third cat touching down on the exhaust (the rattle is real, y'all) but I figure the gaskets need to be changed either way; one thing at a time.
I'd like to do this myself, but I wasn't able to find a how to. I might be using the wrong search terms. I know the valve cover needs to come off obviously and that seems simple enough on the GS, but one of the posts I found suggested replacing the spark o-rings is not simple and you need a rope to hold up the cylinders or something?
If there is a how-to, could someone point me at it? If not, if someone could run the process down for me I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm a noob mechanic (spark plugs and CAI install are the biggest jobs I've done) so the more detail I can get, the more confidence I'll have to do this on my own instead of phoning up my mechanic buddy. If anyone can help out I'd be very grateful.
Unfortunately, this past week I've been noticing a weird smell while driving. It's faint and intermittent, but it smells like an old cigar someone left lit in the ashtray. I don't smoke, so I strongly suspect the valve cover itself may have busted a leak, or the spark well leaks have gotten worse. The only other thing I could imagine causing the smell is possibly the heat shield above the third cat touching down on the exhaust (the rattle is real, y'all) but I figure the gaskets need to be changed either way; one thing at a time.
I'd like to do this myself, but I wasn't able to find a how to. I might be using the wrong search terms. I know the valve cover needs to come off obviously and that seems simple enough on the GS, but one of the posts I found suggested replacing the spark o-rings is not simple and you need a rope to hold up the cylinders or something?
If there is a how-to, could someone point me at it? If not, if someone could run the process down for me I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm a noob mechanic (spark plugs and CAI install are the biggest jobs I've done) so the more detail I can get, the more confidence I'll have to do this on my own instead of phoning up my mechanic buddy. If anyone can help out I'd be very grateful.