Hi guys, I have this 2004 Acura TL that is studdering/jerking at slow speeds. The situation is exactly what would happen if one spark plug or an ignition coil has gone bad. From my observation, I think the intake manifold gasket has gone bad and is leaking oil to a hot part of the engine as seen in the video that it burning the oil and making it smoke. I didn't wipe up the oil in the video so its obvious to see. It barely leaks, the leak itself is not as bad as it seems.

So my next move is to replace the intake manifold gasket and do a valve adjustment. What do you guys think?

Thank you for any advice. I will start this task today or tomorrow.

 

thats oil burning

 

Leaky valve cover gasket, quite a common problem. Is leaking oil on to the hot precat.

 

Is that what its called? Pre catalic converter?

Yes, that is my opinion. I think the oil is leaking from the lose old gasket from where the intake manifold is down to the "precat" as you called it. Then the oil burns on there. Unless there is a way the "precat" is leaking oil as well or is capable of burning smoke in some other way.

 

Another question I have had in my mind is that if fixing the leak will solve the engine jerking.

 

Highly unlikely.

 

When I say intake manifold, I think I mean the valve cover. Sorry for the noob talk.

 

Two separate issues (smoke/leak and jerking) but that much smoke means it's worse than YOU think--that's a lot.
Will need a lot more info to address the jerking.

 

Ok, the smoke is gone. Turns out there was a some oil buildup on the precat and once I sprayed a can of brake cleaner, all was solved.

I am still unable to fix the random misfire on the cylinders that create jerking/stutter, only noticeable when idle or parked. Even though I noticed there are some minor cracks on the ignition coils. I tested them out by pulling each cable out. The engine did get jumpy on each one. Doesn't this mean that the spark plugs and ignition coils aren't the problem? Anyone with experience on multiple/random misfire that isn't related to one particular coil or spark plug?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

I forgot to mention, I did the valve adjustment, change the valve gaskets and change the engine oil to fix the smoke/leak oil issue. The engine does run smoother but the jerking is still just as strong.