so im in the process of changing my plugs so far ive just changes the first two on the driver side both of them were full of oil. to the point where they were dripping. im quite concerned. i feel with this happening my car should run horrible, idle rough, knock, smoke, low oil pressure... something but it runs and drives just fine. has good power for nearly having 185,000 miles. could this be caused from a vacuum line, a hose, or a sensor? or is just mechanical failure?

 

This may sound ignorant, but do you mean on the electrodes or the tops of the plugs? If on the tops it means the valve cover seals must be replaced. If on the electrodes, I'm as amazed as you.

 

im talking inside the spark plug hole where you would the socket to pull the plugs. on the bottom of the plug it self is dry just fowled out.

 

I have no idea why your car runs okay, but I'd suggest replacing the cam cover gaskets and the spark plug bosses.

 

after looking and putting more thought. i fairly certain i just need valve cover gaskets. it just threw me for a loop when i seen that much oil sitting on top of my spark plugs.

 

I think you probably have the AJ26 engine and will have to buy the gaskets from a Jag supplier. If your VVT solenoids extend from the timing cover as opposed to the valve cover that will confirm it. With that many miles I hope your secondary tensioners have been changed, but if so, were the correct gaskets used. The spark plug seals should be three hole, two plugs and a cover bolt.

 

It's just the cam cover gaskets leaking oil down into the spark plug wells-make sure you clean the gasket channels & recesses in the cam cover thoroughly before fitting the new gaskets-any dirt particles left in the cam cover grooves will stop the gaskets from seating flush & may cause further leaks...

 

Same happened to me. Oil all over the plugs but was running fine.

 

Removing the valve covers and replacing the gaskets fixes it. Good time to do the
tensioners. If you don't have the time or $$, you can use a syringe to clean the
oil out and spray the coil boot off with contact cleaner. That is a short term fix.
At some point it will short out and misfire. I had the same problem with 182,000 miles on the car. I have been told that the spark plugs seals were undersized.