2000 Camaro SS

When I put in my spark plugs I tighten them very lightly. I use very little pressure. Would this be a reason I have some oil blow by that goes up into the threads? I have the same problem as this post as far as the oil on the threads go.
https://ls1tech.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ulti...=006656#000002

I also shoot nitrous I'm wondering if I am getting blow by if there is HP being lost there also. What do you think?

Bad1le

Rings are prolly shot, not an uncommon problem <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
AJ

wizkid

iTrader: (3)

Hard to gauge by those pictures. Mine have a just a little fuel/oil (something) on them when I change them but nothing I fret over.

Do you consider it to be a lot of oil on them?

Moving this to the internal section where you can get some better responses to this.

Eric

2000 Camaro SS

The photos are another persons plugs from his car. We both have the same problem of an oily residue on the threads.

2000 Camaro SS

For the most part my real question is this... how tight should the spark plugs be? Can they be to loose and have blow be from cylinder pressure?

jgkinsofla

GM service manual states:

Spark Plug (With New Cylinder Head Installation) - 20 Nm

Spark Plug (Subsequent Installation) - 15 Nm

Nm of course, standing for Meter-Newtons! Huh?

20 Nm converts to 176.8 in-lbs, or 14.73 ft-lbs

15 Nm converts to 132.64 in-lbs, or 11.05 ft-lbs

It sounds like your getting oil up past the number 2 piston rings though - GM has a tech service bulletin concerning that.

Basically, it stated that if you run high rpms, you're going to consume oil faster. And, there's some guidelines they use to determine if it's excessive or not - like, more than 1 quart every 2000 miles, I think.

2000 Camaro SS

Thanks a lot for the very informative answer! This is the first time I ran it up past 6400 RPM's (Not stock parts) If there is oil coming past the rings I never have been able to realize it by checking the oil. I end up changing the oil in about 100 to 500 miles or so. The car is strip use mostly. Thanks for the answer I think it can wait until I install forged part this winter.
P.S.
I'm thinking I need to tighten the plugs a little tighter as I know they are get being tightened that tight to begin with.

jgkinsofla

Sounds like a game plan - make sure they're properly torqued, and see what happens. I just see this problem often on the bulletin boards (oil consumption), and GM put out a TSB on it, so I figured it was worth mentioning. Good Luck!

Here's the Tech Service Bulletin:

Bulletin No.: 01-06-01-023

Date: October, 2001

Subject: Higher Than Expected Oil Consumption
(Replace Rings)

Models:
1999-2001 Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette
1999-2001 Pontiac Firebird
with 5.7L Engine (VINs G, S - RPOs LS1, LS6)

Condition: Some owners may comment on higher than expected oil consumption. When checked, the oil consumption could be in the range of 400-600 miles per quart (700-1000 km/L).

Cause: The cause for this condition may be an interaction between the piston rings and the cylinder bore in vehicles that are operated at higher RPMs - typically manual transmission vehicles driven in a manner where the engine is frequently or consistently operating at greater than 3200 RPM.

Correction: A new set of piston rings is currently available through GMSPO. The new rings are part of a complete piston ring kit. Install only the number 2 compression ring and the oil expander ring from the piston ring kit. All other rings in the piston ring kit should be discarded. The original number 1 compression ring and the oil ring rails should be re-used in their original positions on the piston. All pistons should be used in the same cylinder bore.

Important: Do not dress or hone the cylinder bore. Nothing should be done to change the bore finish for this condition. Changing the bore finish may aggravate the condition.

2000 Camaro SS

It sounds like GM wants to do little as possible so it cost the least to fix. How many people install rings with out hone or bore to the cylender walls? I'm thinking I'l install all new rings and errr auh pistions to while I'm there I'll brake the back anf get it bored out to. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Fulton 1

iTrader: (9)

Dumb question, but are you sure this isn't simply a dab of oil that was applied to the threads during installation? Some folks (like me) use anti-seize, but I've also seen people use a drop of motor oil on the threads when installing new plugs. Just a thought.

2000 Camaro SS

Yuper I'm sure as I'm the person that changes the plugs. After a closer look I'm leaning to it having been gas and carbon build up from when i installed the new injectors.

jgkinsofla

Here's another excerpt from a TSB - I found this pathetic:

Bulletin No.: 01-06-01-011

Date: March, 2001

Subject: Information on Engine Oil Consumption Guidelines

Models:All 1996-2001 Passenger Cars and Gasoline Powered Light Duty Trucks Under 8500 LB GVW

Oil Consumption: The accepted rate of oil consumption for engines used in the vehicles referenced is 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 3200 km (2000 mi). This rate only applies to personal use vehicles, under warranty, maintained in accordance with the appropriate maintenance schedule, with less than 58,000 km (36,000 mi), or 80,450 km (50,000 mi) for Cadillac, driven at legal speeds in an unloaded (for trucks) condition.

OKAY, this statement has pretty much eliminated EVERYONE IN THE FREE WORLD!!!

Further down, it says this -

Measurement of Oil Consumption

2. Verify that the engine is at normal operating temperature (see Owner's Manual or Service Manual).

So, I guess everyone who has installed a lower thermostat is SOL!

I love my Camaro, BUT I HATE GM!

kettle3837

How do i change the spark plugs on my 2001 camaro z28

ls1 1990 VN

You opened a 10 year old thread for that!!!

OK, just seen you're a newby...use the search tab up top of the page.

crainholio

iTrader: (2)

It's entirely possible the search tab is how he found this 10 year-old thread.

I just did a search in the Generation III External Engine area and found quite a few good ones, including this thread on accessing plugs 6 & 8:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ug-change.html

JoshuaGrooms83

iTrader: (2)

lol well to help with the how part... get long tube hearders lol makes it 10x easier lol

but in all seriousness, if oyu have AIR and EGR, unbolt those, remose the wires (obviously) and take off your coils. if your an 98, just take off the first 2 or so. shuold have enough room for that. one of the few benifits of having a 98 ls1 lol not many lol

get as many as you can from the top. all but the last on on the passenger side can be gotten by the top. this one needs to be had by the bottom, unless you have small hands.
like i said headers makes it easier lol
just be prepared to spend an hour or so doing it.