10 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHneed advice on repair
Leading reported evidence
Replace leaky tubes recently
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Just replaced my leaky tubes recently with new o-rings as well.
Leading evidence: 'Replace leaky tubes recently' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace 6 tubes icw the 60k major service' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
As for you folks who used the marine draing plug to extract the tubes, I don't know how you guys do it because I was only able to extract one tube before the boat drain plug became damaged enough that it no longer works.....
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
FWIW, as one was leaking, I had the dealer replace all 6 tubes icw the 60K major service for my '99.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I *think* the 996.2 (3.6L engines) had its spark plug tubes changed so they are metal and can only be changed after significant disassembly, so if your car is the Mk 1 3.4L version then you can (fairly) easily change out the plastic spark plug tubes.
Replace plug tubes (which means redoing the valve covers)
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion · Original poster
My question is should I go ahead and replace the plug tubes (which means redoing the valve covers) on BOTH sides or just the side that is leaking?
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I *think* the 996.2 (3.6L engines) had its spark plug tubes changed so they are metal and can only be changed after significant disassembly, so if your car is the Mk 1 3.4L version then you can (fairly) easily change out the plastic spark plug tubes.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I *think* the 996.2 (3.6L engines) had its spark plug tubes changed so they are metal and can only be changed after significant disassembly, so if your car is the Mk 1 3.4L version then you can (fairly) easily change out the plastic spark plug tubes.
The parts aren't expensive, I bought the tubes, O-rings, and plugs for about $100, it will take you quite some time to get to the point of changing the tubes, so it makes sense to me to do all 6 while you are already there.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
As for you folks who used the marine draing plug to extract the tubes, I don't know how you guys do it because I was only able to extract one tube before the boat drain plug became damaged enough that it no longer works.....
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
10 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T052503Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I have a very wet driver's side valve cover. I'm not sure (yet) if it's the cover or a spark plug tube that is leaking. My question is should I go ahead and replace the plug tubes (which means redoing the valve covers) on BOTH sides or just the side that is leaking?
LV
Just remove the aluminum sheet cover for the ignition coil, you'll be able to see if the periphery of the spark plug tube/s is weeping. Hopefully its just the tubes. Just replaced my leaky tubes recently with new o-rings as well. Took me a while to figure out how to remove the tubes but eventually figure out an easy way to remove it. I looked for a big flat head screw driver then aim the the screw driver on the inner distal part of the tube and just simply pry it out. There was some gash on the tube from the screw driver but tube was intact with the both o rings still attached to the tube. Took me a out 5 to 10 secs to pry it out after the first one
Do yourself a big favor and do not use a screw driver to remove the plugs. If you do and crack the tube and a chip comes off in the engine you will be pulling off the cam covers to retrieve the piece(s) of plastic, and to to this you will need a cam hold down tool, etc.
Go to a marine store ( like West Marine) and get a t-handle drain plug which will expand into the tube and let you pull it out without breaking it.
OP,
What year is your 996? I *think* the 996.2 (3.6L engines) had its spark plug tubes changed so they are metal and can only be changed after significant disassembly, so if your car is the Mk 1 3.4L version then you can (fairly) easily change out the plastic spark plug tubes. I changed mine out and no longer have the passenger side leakage when I bought the car.
As for you folks who used the marine draing plug to extract the tubes, I don't know how you guys do it because I was only able to extract one tube before the boat drain plug became damaged enough that it no longer works.....
So I came up with my own contraption which cost me $2.00 inlcuding tax from Home Depot, basically a cast iron threaded plug and 3/8 fine pitch hex-head bolt threaded until it bottoms out to the unthreaded section.
I HAND thread the cast iron plug into the spark plug tube for 4 of the 6 cylinders, with reasonable caution you only need to engage the slightly tapered tube by about one thread, or less, and it will grab enough to allow you pulling the tube out without the risk of cracking the tube or leave debries behind, the small hex bolt allows me to turn the whole tool with a small wrench for the two cylinders where the bolts from the muffler bracket get in the way, I then pull on the small hex bolt with a ViseGrip, see pix below:
I would certainly suggest doing all 6, if one (or more) is leaking, how soon will the other ones start to leak as well? The parts aren't expensive, I bought the tubes, O-rings, and plugs for about $100, it will take you quite some time to get to the point of changing the tubes, so it makes sense to me to do all 6 while you are already there.
You could also change out the coil packs as well at the same time for the same reason/rationale above, however I decided to reuse the original coil packs as there were no signs of mis-fire or error codes, plus the coil packs cost a fair bit more than the rest of the parts.
FWIW, as one was leaking, I had the dealer replace all 6 tubes icw the 60K major service for my '99. Allocated cost for tubes+labor (before PCA discount) = $245. Now garage floor is dry as a bone.
relinuca
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
