Dirty oil in Spark plug holes?

**bluecab** · 01-22-2009 12:33 PM

Doing a mid-winter oil change & decided to pull the coil packs and plugs for a look see. When i pulled the CPs there was oil in the plug recesses, worse all the way in the front plug near the oil fill, but also back farther where it would be hard for a sloppy tech to spill oil in there. The only one without oil is the rearmost plug.
I'm hoping the tech that did the 50k service just made a mess, but otherwise, does this mean anything? Car runs great, burns almost no oil, the only fault I've had was when I let it sit for 10 days while the weather was bad...

**dougyfresh** · 01-22-2009 01:11 PM

Your valve cover gasket could be leaking. It is common and the center section of the gasket (which goes around the spark plug holes) leaks oil onto the spark plugs.

This, in time, will contribute to mis-fires and blown out coil packs.

**Frey7190** · 01-24-2009 12:47 PM

YA its the valve covers.. super easy fix, mine had that.. keyword: had! goto ECS and pickup a set and the next time you do service on your car replace them

**ANCIENT** · 03-13-2009 11:15 AM

do you know the torque spec for the valve cover bolts?

**Molotov** · 03-13-2009 11:29 AM

11Nm

**ANCIENT** · 03-13-2009 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Molotov

11Nm

nice pic!

**ANCIENT** · 03-13-2009 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Molotov

11Nm

11Nm is that 100lb?

**Molotov** · 03-13-2009 02:57 PM

HELL NO hahah. 11 Nm = 8.113182 lb-ft

**A4B603** · 03-13-2009 03:08 PM

yup same thing happened 2 me the coilpacks weretaking a swim in oil. Lol

**jursch2211** · 03-13-2009 04:10 PM

how do you all clean that out? just pulled the valve cover and two spark plug recesses have oil in them.

**coasterjob** · 05-24-2011 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by jursch2211

how do you all clean that out? just pulled the valve cover and two spark plug recesses have oil in them.

I was advised by a tech at the dealer that it can be a symptom of a vacuum issue and to check/repair the crank ventilation system before replacing the gaskets...

**themadscientist** · 05-24-2011 12:50 PM

What? A malfunctioning pcv system won't lead to that. It's the spark plug tube seal section of the VC gasket. As far as getting the oil out, use the trigger part of a spray bottle and get whatever is left with a rag.

**coasterjob** · 05-24-2011 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by themadscientist

What? A malfunctioning pcv system won't lead to that. It's the spark plug tube seal section of the VC gasket. As far as getting the oil out, use the trigger part of a spray bottle and get whatever is left with a rag.

thanks! how big of a job is that? (the inner VC gasket)

**NetLogic** · 05-24-2011 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by themadscientist

What? A malfunctioning pcv system won't lead to that.

Yes it will. To much pressure can cause the gasket to go.

**NetLogic** · 05-24-2011 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by coasterjob

thanks! how big of a job is that? (the inner VC gasket)

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...e-Cover-Gasket

**jalcom1** · 05-24-2011 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by coasterjob

thanks! how big of a job is that? (the inner VC gasket)

It's a pretty easy job if you don't mind wrenching on your car. I just replaced my valve cover gasket and timing belt this past weekend. It took roughly an hour to replace the valve cover gasket.

**coasterjob** · 05-24-2011 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by NetLogic

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...e-Cover-Gasket

Originally Posted by jalcom1

It's a pretty easy job if you don't mind wrenching on your car. I just replaced my valve cover gasket and timing belt this past weekend. It took roughly an hour to replace the valve cover gasket.

Thank you both! I am going to attempt this weekend.