With 75K miles on my 2001 VDP, I decided today to put in some new plugs I had bought recently. So far, each of the spark plug cavities has what I consider to be an astonishing amount of engine oil. Maybe 1 or 2 tablespoons. I am cleaning it out as I go, but it is time consuming to do so.

I presume that new valve cover gaskets are overdue? It's a good thing that engine oil is (evidently) a pretty good insulator.

Is this typical?

 

Yes, it's typical. It's time to do v/c gaskets and spark plug boss seals.

 

The easiest way to clean out the oil is to cover the spark plug hole with a rag and use an air blower to instantly blow the oil into the rag. My first time I used the turkey baster and a straw to draw out the oil but got caught. I now have a turkey baster in my Jaguar tool kit.

 

Har! How did the turkey taste afterwards? I don't have any shop air (since I have no shop) but I did it the slow way stuffing absorbant towels down into the cavities.

 

I got caught because the baster smelled funny even though I washed it out thoroughly, but obviously not thoroughly enough.