Oil and Spark Plugs

[Hijinx]

As the title says, I found some oil on my spark plugs. Not on the electrodes, but in the well. Explains why I have random negative corrections. Has anyone had to replace their valve cover gasket?

 

[dyn085]

No, but oil outside of your plugs shouldn't be leading to negative corrections.

 

[Hijinx]

If a little oil got into the cylinder it wouldn't cause knock?

 

[dyn085]

It would in theory, but I just don't see it being a possibility as you would probably have to be losing a lot of oil that way. Most of the time when people have oil there they find their plugs to be perfectly normal when removed.

 

[rexdriver85]

The oil would have to make it down past the spark plug threads and that's pretty unlikely.

 

[Hijinx]

It would in theory, but I just don't see it being a possibility as you would probably have to be losing a lot of oil that way. Most of the time when people have oil there they find their plugs to be perfectly normal when removed.

Yeah, the plugs were fine and my oil level is normal as well. What would you suggest? I dive in and change the gasket out, or just keep an eye on it?

 

[dyn085]

Yeah, the plugs were fine and my oil level is normal as well. What would you suggest? I dive in and change the gasket out, or just keep an eye on it?

I would probably just keep an eye on it personally, under the assumption that it's not completely flooded with oil. The Mk3 Focus had the same issue on a bunch of cars and people would go have it replaced under warranty just to have the issue resurface, so it mostly just became tail-chasing. I had the issue with mine but it was negligible so I just cleaned it more often.

 

[Hijinx]

I would probably just keep an eye on it personally, under the assumption that it's not completely flooded with oil. The Mk3 Focus had the same issue on a bunch of cars and people would go have it replaced under warranty just to have the issue resurface, so it mostly just became tail-chasing. I had the issue with mine but it was negligible so I just cleaned it more often.

Understood. Thanks for the input.