Oil on plugs

brewerp93 · August 24, 2015, 07:03:10 PM

Hey so I finally got around to changing my plugs I did do it early around 70000 miles instead of the 100000 that they say they could go I have heard that this is just a cheap way of keeping your car running well, although while I was changing it I noticed a little oil build up on one of the plugs. I went back and double checked all of the rest to make sure that there wasn't any building up on them and there wasn't. I am just curious if anyone else has come across this issue and how they fixed the problem. It is such a small amount of oil that it isn't causing any problems at the moment I checked the oil levels and it doesn't look like it has budged so I know that it isn't burning much but I would prefer for there to be none there lol

BiGMaC · August 24, 2015, 07:15:25 PM

Oil is on the electrode/ground strap or outside of the cylinder?

brewerp93 · August 24, 2015, 07:20:30 PM

It was on the threads of the spark plug itself I was in a pinch for time so I wasn't able to look down in there and it was on one of the back cylinders so I really didn't have a whole lot of room to work with and look at it

BiGMaC · August 24, 2015, 07:38:57 PM

Quote from: brewerp93 on August 24, 2015, 07:20:30 PM
It was on the threads of the spark plug itself I was in a pinch for time so I wasn't able to look down in there and it was on one of the back cylinders so I really didn't have a whole lot of room to work with and look at it

Was it the one nearest the driver.?.. These cars have a historyof valve cover gasket leaks and of oil leaks into the spark plug wells...,especially that one. I was regapping my plugs at about 6K miles and found over an inch of oil in the plug well after I removed the coil and put the socket on. If the electrode looks good and is dry that would be my guess. Pretty easy fix.

brewerp93 · August 24, 2015, 10:22:19 PM

Lol thats exactly the one I looked it up and figured that it was going to be just a gasket fix but I just wanted to see if anyone else came across this and clearly you have. How much do I need to pull apart to get to the gasket? and do you know of any DIY videos or threads?

SHOdded · August 24, 2015, 10:34:00 PM

Most have had it fixed under warranty. No DIY threads out there yet as a result

If you don't have warranty, you might want to look into an online subscription at Mitchell/Alldata/Motorcraft/Chilton etc. or get manuals on DVD from EBay. Well worth the investment.

jmr061 · August 24, 2015, 10:52:31 PM

If it was leaking into the well, you would have noticed as the well would have been full of oil before you even took the spark plug out.

BiGMaC · August 25, 2015, 12:35:15 AM

Quote from: brewerp93 on August 24, 2015, 10:22:19 PM
Lol thats exactly the one I looked it up and figured that it was going to be just a gasket fix but I just wanted to see if anyone else came across this and clearly you have. How much do I need to pull apart to get to the gasket? and do you know of any DIY videos or threads?

Pretty much whatever you can see attached or in the way and at least disconnect enough of the hotpipes to move them out of the way... Also the valve cover gasket is a separate part from the spark plug well seal.
As far as the amount of oil... I guess that varies with the size of the leak and the tightness of the cool seal on the sp well... As I said, I had at least an inch... Those wells are about 4" deep.

ZSHO · August 25, 2015, 07:59:56 AM

It can be a pita to change the rear valve cover,first of all there not going to have it in stock so you might have to order it,then the valve cover does come with the gasket in place which is a good thing,then the hardest part is removing all the obsatacles out the way as BiGMaC mentioned like the COP,oil seperator,pcv,and hoses connected to it,intake charge pipe,purge valve solenoid and all hoses associated with it,then removing the valve cover and cleaning up all the silicone can be a pain,not to mention putting the exact amount of silicone when installing and not putting to much,then retorquing the bolts to oem specs and letting it cure,had mine performed under warranty a while back. Z

brewerp93 · August 25, 2015, 04:16:09 PM

Yeah well lucky for me I am still under warranty then lol that sounds like more hassle to do it myself and save a couple bucks than to just take it in...

SHOdded · August 25, 2015, 05:34:45 PM

Not having had a good experience with valve cover seals on the rear/firewall side bank on either the '95 SHO or the Edge, I would concur. If you can let it be the mechanic's headache. BUT do verify that all the wiring and hoses look correct IF you see a power drop or odd behavior after the car is returned to you. Sometimes they too forget to connect back some things.