So i went in to my local garage today just to get the plugs checked out, we only checked out the front 3, one of them had a lot of dried up oil all over it. While the other 2 looked worn but still OK, no oil on them they were dry. The car has 120k miles on stock plugs? I know its time for changing but what does havin oil on the plug mean?

 

its most likely not oil

 

just burn off from the plugs being looser than normal

 

when the spark plugs wear out- as yours are at 120, the center electrode wears down, making a larger gap and weaker spark.
That would allow buildup of carbon and combustion byproduct onthe end

If it was actually WET with oil, the tech needs to do a cylinder leakdown test of the valves and pistons to find out whats gone bad.

Use NGK Iridium IX in the gen2, best plugs for it

 

good plug color is light tan to slightly grey, that shows good burning rate

 

Both were grey in color, looked almost new to me. Just one looked all crudded up and old and had dry crudded oil on the top of it.

 

might not be crudded up oil....

 

I cant really go wrong changing them the garage wants $100 to put new ones in they are using the same as OEM. NGK plat. at 10$ a piece and want 40$ for labor.

 

sounds more like carbon build up and installing the plugs is really something you can do yourself with any general tool kit

 

tell them you want the newer style NGK IRIDIUM IX plugs- under 7 bucks each at most parts stores- so thats about 50 bucks
Labor is 1 to 1.5 hours depending if you have done it before and know the tricks.
Make sure they are familiar with the TL so they dont damage the coils---fragile!!

Not everyone has the proper tools or a place to work on their car or the time, easy as it is to others in the group, not all are so inclined --
lets be glad a shop is taking care of the car- thats all that matters- keeping the car right!

 

seafoam it first!!!

 

I gonna change my plugs of my 02 TL-P soon .
01tl4tl ...any special attention to the coils that I should care ...

 

treat them like light bulbs- fragile inside
Use a towel to set the coil on as you work thru the job, something suportive and soft like a small bath towel or some bubble wrap.

Its overkill safety, but I dislike damaging parts I need~

a small amount of plug anti-sieze is needed on the threads and a piece of vac tubing makes getting the plug started much easier
Check the diy for tips like a 3 and 6 inch socket extensions- so you have to assemble the tool as you put in into the rear spark plug holes- not much room to work!
Work on plugs with engine overnight cold!

 

Use extended spark plug socket- easier.

 

I only have a normal spark plug socket and have to figure the average person does too.
Using that with the 2 sizes of extensions makes easy work of it
Limited hand-tool clearance for the rear plugs

 

Thanks boys for the tips. I bought my Ngk Iridium plugs a year ago but hesitate to change them 'cause never have any experience with coils removing ...and the engine start and run fine ( 02 tl-p with 90k miles ) only mileage is a bit low so maybe fine sometime to do the job next week-end.
I have been changing plugs on Civic , Accord , Prelude and Legend before ...so hope
there will be no surpise .