Spark Plug Tube Seals - Quick Question

[Heckraiser]

In trying to drive in my new spark plug tube seals, I get the impression I'm not driving them in far enough. I can get them a little better than flush with the valve cover surface, but they don't seem to want to go any further than that. I wasn't paying too much attention when I pried the old ones out, but seems like they were pressed down all the way There appears to be about a 1/8" gap between the seal and the surface below.

I don't have the SST described in the manual, but I do have a press tool that's about the right size. I've already smashed one seal trying to get it down any further.

Thoughts? Is that as far as they go?

 

[NLXTACY]

Yeah just flush like that. In fact you can verify by the lines on the spark plug tubes sticking out of the head. If you drove them too far in they seal might not land on the tube and that would be very bad.

 

[Heckraiser]

Interesting. That actually points towards a theory I had bouncing around in my head. The seals I pulled out were actually in really good shape, but I had a crapload of oil in my spark plug tubes the last time I changed my plugs. Perhaps the PO drove them down too far and that's why I'm losing so much oil in that area?

 

[NLXTACY]

Interesting. That actually points towards a theory I had bouncing around in my head. The seals I pulled out were actually in really good shape, but I had a crapload of oil in my spark plug tubes the last time I changed my plugs. Perhaps the PO drove them down too far and that's why I'm losing so much oil in that area?

Very likely