I just finished changing my sparkplugs to the NGKs gapped at 0.050, but I left the stock wires. Now I just started the car up and I hear a knocking from my DS valve cover, can something plug related cause that? Also my oil started smoking (smoke coming out of filler tube) 2 mins after I started the car. The engine was still cold, so why would the oil smoke?

 

Double check that the wires are on the right plugs. Also look under the hood in the dark with the engine running and see if you have any arcing around the wires/plugs.

 

I don't have any arcing in the dark, but I want to make sure my plugs are firing. Can I just attach a plug to the wire and hold it outside the engine with my hands to check for spark? Will I get electricuted?

 

Hold it carefully, lol.. But also, you need to ground the plug, or it won't fire (gotta complete the circuit )

 

I will do that tomorrow. Also while searching the posts I came across this post by slopokrodriguez:

This seems to me more likely as I just changed the plugs but left the stock wires, and the adjustment may have damaged them. Is there a way to check the wires without buying new ones? Measure the resistnace maybe?

 

There's a big difference between a knock and a click. And, if the clicking where the wires shorting to the block or anything metal, it would be idling rough since when the short occurs, the plug doesn't fire.

If you remove the plug and move the wire to see the spark at the plug, you may disturb the spot that may have been shorting to ground. A good indicator that the plug is not firing is a xenon bulb that plugs inline from the plug wire to the plug. Only if the plug fires, will the light flash. A timing light will not show the problem unless the short to ground occurs before the spot the timing light is connected.

 

I just had the same problem, but mine was more of a miss... and the strange thing was the engine would only miss when it was under a load... get a friend to help you out, get in a dark garage, pop your hood, pull your e-brake and hold your brake at the same time, give it some gas, have someone listen as well as look for an arc.