QuestionSorry, I guess I was a little vague last time. Theres a clicking sound emanating from under the valve cover and oil was leaking out of the #3 spark plug. Someone who I thought was "in the know" told me it was nothing major, that the valves needed adjusting. I was told to procure some new plugs, some hi-temp silicone, and a valve cover gasket which I had to special order. Did I waste my money?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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I have the valve cover gasket, high-temp silicone, and plugs. What tools am I going to need? Thanks!
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Hi, Craig. The 1999 Accent (at least the U.S. model) has hydraulic lash adjusters. Hence, you won't be able to adjust the valves. Is there some problem with the car that made you think you needed to adjust the valves?
AnswerI find the idea of oil coming out of a spark plug to be quite odd. If there's enough oil in the combustion chamber for the oil to come out through a defective spark plug, your car should be running absolutely horridly. It's much more likely that the valve cover gasket is leaking and that the oil is settling in the number 3 plug hole. In that regard, I doubt you've wasted your money.
In regard to the noise, you'll want to check your exhaust manifold. In fact, if it's cracked, it may be warrantable under recall V03. In many instances, the sound from a manifold crack is similar to lifter noise.
If you do indeed have lifter noise, the number one cause on your engine is infrequent oil changes, causing the oiling holes in the rocker arm and rocker arm shafts to clog. If that's the case, you've got quite a cleaning project ahead of you.
To get the valve cover off, you'll need a ratchet, a 10mm socket, a medium length or longer extension, and a pair of pliers. It unbolts rather simply, and you'll only need to remove a couple hoses.
