Found oil on the spark plugs!!!

Zachpins34

Zachpins34

New member
When changing my spark plugs on friday, there was a bunch of oil on 2 or 3 of the spark plugs. The oil was on the threads of the spark plugs, not below. By research, I found it is usually the valve cover gaskets. Looks like I'll have to spend a day replacing them. Is there anything else it could be? I just did an oil change a couple weeks ago using mobil one high milage synthetic, maybe its not used to the thin oil? Or it could have been leaking for years, who knows?!

And I just put the brand new plugs and wires in on friday, do you guys think they will be ok to still use after I get the new valve cover gaskets on? (assuming thats what the problem is) Being that a tiny bit of oil might be leaking on them now.....Any help/tips are appreciated.
 
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Id say its the gaskets around your spark plug wells. Sorry for my terrible termination. I know when i changed my valve cover gasket, they went ahead and changed the spark plug gaskets too. Sorry if that didnt help at all!
 
How did you discover this? Spark plug change? Inspecting things? It's probably the O gasket in the plug well.
 
RonMAIDEN said:
How did you discover this? Spark plug change? Inspecting things? It's probably the O gasket in the plug well.
Click to expand...

Yea I discovered it last friday when changing my spark plugs and wires. Oil was on a few of the old spark plugs.

kman55 said:
Id say its the gaskets around your spark plug wells. Sorry for my terrible termination. I know when i changed my valve cover gasket, they went ahead and changed the spark plug gaskets too. Sorry if that didnt help at all!
Click to expand...

No that helps lol, didnt know there is a separate gasket for the spark plug wells. Im guessing if I do that, I might as well do the valve cover gasket too anyway since Id have to remove that to get to it right?

A.Wilson013 said:
Check this link out...

Spark Plug Analysis
Click to expand...

Thanks, but the oil was on the threads, not on the electrode of the spark plugs
 
Are your valve cover gaskets leaking on the outside?

If they are, go ahead and replace them.

If it is not, Don't worry about it. It will probably take many miles for the tubes to fill back up again with oil.

Oil won' burn (at those temps), it won't conduct electricity so arching won't happen. So if you had never changed the plugs, you would have never known....
 
Singtoe said:
Are your valve cover gaskets leaking on the outside?

If they are, go ahead and replace them.

If it is not, Don't worry about it. It will probably take many miles for the tubes to fill back up again with oil.

Oil won' burn (at those temps), it won't conduct electricity so arching won't happen. So if you had never changed the plugs, you would have never known....
Click to expand...

I haven't checked if they are leaking on the outside, but I will tomorrow for sure. My guess is that they are not, because I didn't notice any oil anywhere else when changing the plugs.

Yea huh, that's true. It was running fine with the plugs on them w/ oil on the threads. I guess I'll just double check to make sure the gasket isnt leaking on the outside, and if not, leave it alone.

THanks!
 
Loose valve cover bolts causing oil leak

This post is late, but it's your grommet seals above the plugs that are leaking. Your valve covers are starting to leak, along with your grommet seals. These engines are notorious for valve cover oil leaks 'cause they are aluminum. Sounds like you caught it right away, but check your valve cover bolts. They come loose over time. May not need to change your valve cover seal if you catch it right away, but I bet some if not all of your bolts are loose. By the way, your plugs will wear out quickly if leak not fixed. Also, not related to this issue, but clean your mass airflow sensor. Don't get suckered into buying a new one. These last a long time (mine has 233k miles). It takes 5 minutes and helps your mpg & keeps engine light from coming on. It's right behind the air filter box. You tube video will explain.
 
cjupcf said:
This post is late, but it's your grommet seals above the plugs that are leaking. Your valve covers are starting to leak, along with your grommet seals. These engines are notorious for valve cover oil leaks 'cause they are aluminum. Sounds like you caught it right away, but check your valve cover bolts. They come loose over time. May not need to change your valve cover seal if you catch it right away, but I bet some if not all of your bolts are loose. By the way, your plugs will wear out quickly if leak not fixed. Also, not related to this issue, but clean your mass airflow sensor. Don't get suckered into buying a new one. These last a long time (mine has 233k miles). It takes 5 minutes and helps your mpg & keeps engine light from coming on. It's right behind the air filter box. You tube video will explain.
Click to expand...

4 years late.
 
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