On Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:36:24 -0800, Charles Packer wrote:

If you're lucky, it means the gasket on the bottom of the spark plug
wasn't quite seated correctly, or some oil spilled on it while you were
adding/changing oil.

If you're not lucky, it means the rings are going and a rebuild might soon
be in order.

After reading the many threads here about how to change
spark plugs, I thought I was prepared for anything when
I lifted aside the windshield washer tank and air intake
of our Forester (2001, 125K miles) and chose as the first
plug to replace the forward one on the passenger side.
When I plucked off the connecter, some oil spilled out.
It came from what appeared to be a small space between
the end of the spark plug well and the engine cover.
Some of it trickled down into the spark plug well.
This didn't seem right, so I cleaned it out as best
I could and put everything back together pending
consultation with the experts here. Can't recall anybody
here saying anything about encountering oil when
removing spark plug connectors. What does it mean?

--
Charles Packer
http://cpacker.org/whatnews
mail

On Nov 1, 9:45 pm, Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B <Tru... (AT) e86 (DOT) GTS> wrote:
Let me clarify: the oil didn't come up from where
the spark plug sits at the bottom of its well. That is,
it didn't leak from around the spark plug gasket. It came
from _above_ the spark plug, at the top of its well
where it meets with the piece of metal that is
bolted in place over the cylinders. (It's called
the valve cover, I think.)

--
Charles Packer
http://cpacker.org/whatnews
mailboxATcpacker.org

On Mon, 2 Nov 2009 03:21:48 -0800 (PST), Charles Packer
<mailbox (AT) cpacker (DOT) org> wrote:

You need to replace the valve cover gaskets. The seal around the spark
plug well is leaking. This is not that big a deal and the parts aren't
that expensive. It's a driveway DIY if you have the tools and
mechanical ability, otherwise it's couple of hours labor at a shop.

Charles Packer <mailbox (AT) cpacker (DOT) org> writes:

I had oil discovered in spark plug wells and was told I needed a new
valve cover gasket to correct it.

Then again, this particular mechanic turned out to be less than
honest, so take this with a grain of salt.


--
Todd H.
2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4
Chicago, Illinois USA

On Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:21:48 -0800, Charles Packer wrote:


OK! See Mulder's comment.

I did this only on an '88 Supra, and that was a chore only because the
intake (air) runs over the top of the valve covers...you have to remove
all the air passages to get to them.

This should be a piece of cake.

On Nov 1, 10:36*pm, Charles Packer <mail... (AT) cpacker (DOT) org> wrote:
I replaced my spark plugs and found oil in the same place a long time
ago. It might have been at 100k kms or 150k kms. I have a 2003 OBS.
I never did anything about it, and the next time I replaced the plugs,
no oil.

I'm due for another spark plug change so I'll post my results.

Chicobiker

On Nov 3, 6:36 am, Chicobiker <chicobi... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

I'm tempted to do as you did and just replace
the plugs. It just occurred to me -- duh -- that I
can at least pull the plug connectors of all four
plugs far enough out to inspect the situation without
removing all that other harware that you have to
remove to do a complete plug job.

At any rate, somebody sent me this page that has
well-photographed instructions for the job:
http://tinyurl.com/yaga5uc

--
Charles Packer
http://cpacker.org/whatnews
mailboxATcpacker.org