Oil in the spark plug area

[chana100red]

Hi Guys

Last year I had a continuous juddering while the 1.8 Automatic box was changing gears.  I felt I was driving this car on 1 cylinder.  So how did I fix it - Took off the head gasket and cleaned it up and put NEW gasket as instructed by a mechanic and cleaned everything up.  Also changed on of the spark plug leads.  I found the juddering stopped after replacing the spark plug lead. 

This year 2020 - Same issue is happening.  Could this be one of the other spark plug leads gone or something else?  Had a full service and MOT passed.  No issues with that.  Been ok since March 2020 until now.  Last week felt signs of juddering and knew this was not going to be good news!

Am looking to fix and sell privately as Air Con pipes are worn out so A/C does not blow out cold air. Compressor is ticking over nicely just pipes need replacing.  So good reason for me to sell this car and look at 2011-13 model Avensis.

Can anyone advice or help.

[Konrad C]

When the engine misfires or judders as you put it, does the EML come on? If so you should have a code stored. Do you own an OBD2 scanner? If so then you can read the code and confirm which cylinder is not firing properly. A cheap scanner should be sufficient.
You seem to know a little bit of mechanics since you tackled the head gasket, so you can do basic check. The engine has coil packs (you call the spark plug leads), so with the aid of on OBD2 scanner, you swap the misfiring coil pack with another good working coil pack, then see if the code changes and follows. That way you will know if it is the coil pack or faulty spark plug. 
Having said all the above, the title 'Oil in the spark plug area' may explain you issue. You did replace all the seals?

 http://www.japan-parts.eu/toyota/eu/2004/avensis/zzt251r-alpekw/3_273550_057_223W/tool-engine-fuel/1104_cylinder-head#11201B
 

[sproutdreamer]

Regarding the aircon pipes. If the cracks/leaks are in the metal piping(mine went under the battery) it is really easy to cut out the bad pipe section and re-fit new pipe section using enots type pipe fittings. I repaired mine with aluminium pipe from local car shop with aluminium pipe fittings, 8 or 10mm I think. Total cost about £5. If a rubber section has gone a visit to a local hydraulic supply shop will soon sort it out with a similar replacement section with bolt up hydraulic fittings. Aircon repairs are always a bit of a gamble but a car without aircon is worth a lot less and will be harder to sell, even an 04 model.