Oil on spark plugs

[Borg561]

So when I got my car almost a year ago, I knew the valve cover gasket was leaking a little bit and would need replacing. Went to change my plugs today as the car has had a rough idle for a minute or so after starting up and the CEL has been coming on and going off intermitently the last month or so. Numbering the cylinders 1-4 starting at the front, plug 1 had some oil on the threads but none on the insulator or electrode, plug 2 had oil on the insulator, threads and electrode, plugs 3 & 4 were totally clean.

Was going to pick up the parts for the valve cover gasket job, but was reading today that if there's oil on the electrode (and/or threads) it's probably something else. The car hasn't looked or smelled like it was burning oil (until the first minute or so it ran after putting in the new plugs, then it cleared up). Should I wait a month or so, pull the plugs and see how they look? Thoughts on what else it could be?

Justin

P.S. Today is my 1 year anniversary here. Love you guys (and gals). :-)

[wolferj-RIP]

Justin

happy anniversary!!! go have some great scotch tonight!

the oil is probably leaking from the gasket rings around the spark plugs. the oil on the threads was most likely from the ring when you pulled it... make sure you replace the rings when you replace the gasket...

[Philly]

a little oil on the plugs are totally normal.... when your chamber starts filling up with oil, time to change the gaskets... in the meantime, don't panic.

[Borg561]

Somebody remembered I'm a scotch drinker. Great scotch will be had at the end of the month (Whiskey Fest Chicago).

I was thinking/hoping that maybe the oil had just worked it's way past the gasket, and somehow worked its way down onto the threads, and electrode for plug 2. The fact that the car doesn't seem to burn oil hopefully confirms this. I'll pull the plugs at the end of the month and check them.

And the valve cover gasket won't be done until we consistently have some nice weather around here, especially on my days off. That probably won't be for another month or two. Too many ups and downs with the temperature and possibility for snow right now to do it.

Justin

[Platanos]

I too had oil in the spark plugs. Cylinders 2 and 3 are the worst. I couldn't even see the plugs after removing the insulator. The car was not burning any oil prior to me changing the plugs, but after I started the car after changing them it burned all the oil that dumped into the cylinder. The car has a hell of alot better throtle responce now.


What do I need to change to fix this problem? Vavle cover gasket and what other seals? Does anyone know of a DIY on the gaskets? I have never taken a valve cover off but I deffinately want to do this myself!!



Edit: I bought some E3 spark plugs with diamondfire technology instead of bosch or nkg.....Anyone tried the E3's yet??

[elchicano]

Justin I really wouldn't worry about it being something else. I too had the same thing back when I had the Ti. All you need to do is change the valve cover and the O rings. I believe there is a write up with everything you will need to change.

[elchicano]

Here you go.
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12007
Not sure if you have the m44 or m42? This write up is for an m44.

[Platanos]

Thanks!! I have an M42, it shouldn't be too different right?

[elchicano]

I don't think so. The only thing would prolly be the part numbers.

[UberWagen]

I had that same problem too. I put a new valve cover gasket and spark plug ring gaskets in and it fixed it. Oh, btw, DO NOT overtighten those bolts on the valve cover. I spun 3 bolts and had to put helicoils in all of them. Wasn't too happy. It's $11 per bolt and a PITA to put in those helicoils.

[familytruckster]

I just did this myself. It's not hard to do, I spent about an hour and a half swapping it. Pretty expensive valve cover replacement though. Think it was about 65 bucks for the gasket set- lots of parts.