pulled 2 plugs from the rear bank yesterday just out of curiosity. ground strap doesn't seem to have a very easy or clean burn pattern to it and there's oil on the base of the threads.
i did expect sort of a dirty burn pattern after my oil separator failed a couple months ago and the car burnt through almost a quart of oil. i will be replacing plugs soon but wanted to get some opinions and verify there's no other funny business going on.
opinions welcome!



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Quote from: Colorado-SHOBro on April 06, 2018, 08:18:42 AM
pulled 2 plugs from the rear bank yesterday just out of curiosity. ground strap doesn't seem to have a very easy or clean burn pattern to it and there's oil on the base of the threads.
i did expect sort of a dirty burn pattern after my oil separator failed a couple months ago and the car burnt through almost a quart of oil. i will be replacing plugs soon but wanted to get some opinions and verify there's no other funny business going on.
opinions welcome!



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Spark plugs don't look like they need changed but there maybe something else going on like a blown head gasket oil on the threads look like my Subarus plugs.

How bad is the oil on the ground strap picture doesn't show much but I think might just have bad seals should be easy fix compared to bottom end.

Wonder if it would be feasible to do a compression test or leak down test to test the piston seal just to cover all bases before deciding to tear into it.

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The oil being at the top of the threads is the puzzling part.   But I dont think there is currently a problem.  Change away.

Did you happen to check the front bank spark plugs for comparison?  When exactly did you install the SP-542's ? Before or after the oil Sep issue! 
Sorry for all the questions just trying to help ya out.  Z

Minor valve cover gasket leak causing the oil on the top of the threads ?

The oil could of trickled down the spark plug wells after that PCV issue of a mess  left behind IMO!  Z
 

Quote from: ZSHO on April 06, 2018, 02:43:50 PM
Did you happen to check the front bank spark plugs for comparison?  When exactly did you install the SP-542's ? Before or after the oil Sep issue! 
Sorry for all the questions just trying to help ya out.  Z

no problem z!
the 542s were in there prior to the oil separator issue and have always ran like a dream.
i checked the front bank shortly after the separator issue and they were actually very clean but i'm thinking since the separator is on the rear bank there was more saturation and mixing in the rear cylinders. there was oil all over the engine bay in back as well from the vta bov.
even so i don't see that getting into the threads of the plugs externally. suppose it could have been pressured from inside the cylinder and seeped into the threads?


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Plugs look great. No problems

Quote from: Skydogs on April 06, 2018, 05:29:49 PM
Plugs look great. No problems

yeah not too concerned really just wanted some opinions to verify they looked ok. the burn pattern on the ground strap is a little funky looking but i suspect that's from the oil it burned.


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Quote from: Colorado-SHOBro on April 06, 2018, 05:26:36 PM

Quote from: ZSHO on April 06, 2018, 02:43:50 PM
Did you happen to check the front bank spark plugs for comparison?  When exactly did you install the SP-542's ? Before or after the oil Sep issue! 
Sorry for all the questions just trying to help ya out.  Z

no problem z!
the 542s were in there prior to the oil separator issue and have always ran like a dream.
i checked the front bank shortly after the separator issue and they were actually very clean but i'm thinking since the separator is on the rear bank there was more saturation and mixing in the rear cylinders. there was oil all over the engine bay in back as well from the vta bov.
even so i don't see that getting into the threads of the plugs externally. suppose it could have been pressured from inside the cylinder and seeped into the threads?


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I would change the plugs anyways and continue to monitor them @ every oil change interval.  Z

Quote from: ZSHO on April 06, 2018, 06:37:07 PM

Quote from: Colorado-SHOBro on April 06, 2018, 05:26:36 PM

Quote from: ZSHO on April 06, 2018, 02:43:50 PM
Did you happen to check the front bank spark plugs for comparison?  When exactly did you install the SP-542's ? Before or after the oil Sep issue! 
Sorry for all the questions just trying to help ya out.  Z

no problem z!
the 542s were in there prior to the oil separator issue and have always ran like a dream.
i checked the front bank shortly after the separator issue and they were actually very clean but i'm thinking since the separator is on the rear bank there was more saturation and mixing in the rear cylinders. there was oil all over the engine bay in back as well from the vta bov.
even so i don't see that getting into the threads of the plugs externally. suppose it could have been pressured from inside the cylinder and seeped into the threads?


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I would change the plugs anyways and continue to monitor them @ every oil change interval.  Z

yep that's the plan


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