a little leak

[frankensteinZ]

Hey I checked out my spark plugs yesterday and saw that the # 5 spark plug is leaking oil around where the spark plug goes into the block what is this a sign of?

Frankenstein Z

[Smokey]

Pull the plug out and see the condition. If it looks like it is coated with burnt oil, then you have a ring problem. If the tip is normal with just a little carbon on it, put it back in and make sure it is torqued down properly, to seat the gasket/washer. Depending on how long they have been in, now might be a good time to pull them all and check their condition and replace them with new.

[frankensteinZ]

I have them ordered and am waiting to put new ones in. When I took them out they just look like they had gotten really hot but I think that was because I had an overheating problem a while back. I have torqued down the plugs good but still got this leak.

Frankenstein Z

[59ghia]

Possible its coming from the valve cover gasket? I've seen it more then once, oil kind of gathers around there.

Good luck

Dave

[frankensteinZ]

I don't believe so. I dont see any leaks on the valve cover gasket and I just put one on not to long ago.

Frankenstein Z

[Royce]

It must be the valve cover gasket. If you are leaking oil out of your spark plug hole than you are filling a cylinder(s) with oil. I would think there would be a rather obvious cloud of blue smoke coming out of your tailpipe whenever the engine is running. Remove the valve cover, clean up cover and head surfaces, use gasket sealer to attach gasket to the cover. Put it back on and tighten the bolts evenly, use a torque wrench if you must. They don't need to be particularly tight, probably only about 10 ft. lbs. (check your manual to be sure!) But tightening them evenly will give you much better of a seal.

Hope it helps!

[tanny]

Don't really see how oil could be comeing out of a spark plug. Seems like it would have to be the valve cover gasket. Oil did accumulate around a couple of my plugs once, but it turned out to be from my fuel pump spewing oil out a little breather hole on the pump and the fan blowing the dripping oil back onto the plugs. Other than those possibilities, is it possible for the head to crack into the oil gallery and leak to the plug area? Hopefully that can't happen. Sounds like Rocye and the others have good advice. Good luck.

[Mudge]

If you overheated you could have blown a headgasket, it will progressively get worse if this is the case. I'd check the oil if I were you, hopefully you are ok but better safe than sorry.

[frankensteinZ]

I have other signs that I could have a head gasket problem, so that could be a possibility. I will try to redue putting on the valve cover, its worth a shot. Thanks so much for the input.

Frankenstein Z

[Mudge]

It could even just be valve stem seal, but if you honestly overheated it (in the red) then yeah, it could be a headgasket

[Royce]

Sorry to disagree but I still don't see this happening. If fluid can make it out through the spark plug hole than there would be a sever loss of compression in that cylinder from the fuel/air getting forced out the spark plug hole during normal engine operation. This would indicate a bad plug, a cracked head or at least a head damaged around the spark plug hole. I still put my money on the valve cover gasket or maybe oil following the spark plug wire!

Hope it is helpful!

[frankensteinZ]

Alright thanks for the help I will try refitting the valve cover.

Frankenstein Z