Right, last summer (2012), I replaced my spark plug seals and the cam cover gasket to fix a leak of oil into the spark plug wells.

Everything was fine until Christmas time 2012, when water got in the fuel, and one of my ignition coils went wrong. Pretty much a whole mess of things, and part of that process was removing oil from the spark plug wells again. I didn't think much of it since so much more had been wrong. I pretty much figured it was a really weird side effect.

Now, nearly 3 months later, I had a rough idle and decided to check the ignition coils and spark plug wells. All 6 had oil nearly covering the spark plugs. I did the best I could to get the oil out and clean the plugs.

What could have caused this other than the spark plug seals not sitting right? I'd like to know if there could be another culprit before I start to take the engine apart.

 

I would clean the valve cover very carefully and look for cracks around the seal seats. A heavy handed mechanic may have overtightened the cover bolts and damaged the cover.

 

Steven,

There is documented somewhere here that the covers get porous and oil in the wells other that seal problems is the result. I have never seen it, only what I have read.

The cover bolts are "shanked", so no matter how tight you do them it will NOT pull the cover any further down, only thing will be broken bolts.

The seals under the heads of the bolts SHOULD be replaced to return the "crush" to spec, OR, a simple fibre washer under each bolts head will also give slightly more crush to the seals.

I always use a smear of Hi-Temp RTV on the seals and cam cover gasket, and I have NO leaks.

 

Grant, just to confirm, you're saying I should replace the seals under the heads of the bolts, and not worry about the spark plug seals for the time being, or should I re-fit them, or potentially replace them (after having done this just a year ago)?

I guess I'll see if I can't find fresh seals for the bolts. Thanks!

Edit: to clarify, there is only oil leaking in the spark plug wells, nothing from the camshaft gasket on the outside.

 

I would be removing the cover.

Inspect what you did a year ago. I seriously doubt its the seals due to going so long with no issues, then recently oil in wells, and the cover has not been disturbed to cause that.

My seals and gasket and "old" like me, but a good time consuming clean with carby cleaner solvent, and really paying attention to the groove in the cover as that had a build of gunk in it, has NO leaks anywhere.

The plug well seals are usually not a big issue usually down here, but some RTV as a dressing smear will certainly seal them, obviously that area MUST be oil free for the RTV to work.

My bolt seals are a tad "not so good" so I slid a 1mm thick fibre washer over each bolt 3 years ago, and as I said NO leaks. My bolts are tightened to "just over firm" coz broken bolts is not fun, it reduces the drinking time allowed.