I pulled plugs out of 6 and 7 and found oil on the threads, none in the spark plug well? Car runs OK, no smoke. Any ideas, hopefully nothing major...

 

Maybe a drip of oil in the well before removing them??? Don't seweat the small stuff!

 

Seems like the entire thread surface had oil on it, does that seem normal?
I'm getting ready to pull a few more......

Thanks

 

Oil seeping past the cam cover ("valve" cover) gasket can be drawn down the spark plug threads by capillary action. Perhaps your gasket isn't leaking at a sufficient rate to leave a pool of oil in the plug well? You might pull a plug from the other bank for comparison.

Cheers,

Don

 

Thanks guys, pulled the other 6 and the oil is in the plug wells. Seems as I pulled them out they were passing through the standing oil causing the appearance of oil on the threads. Putting in new plugs for now and ordered a new gasket set with the o-rings

Thanks again!

 

While you have those cam covers off, you might take a look at your secondary tensioners, plastic or metal.

 

I am planning on upgrading while I'm in there....
Thanks

 

Common enough problem as the miles stack up ;o)
Engine oil seepage from the cam cover spark plug well seals.

When cleaning up the whole area,use carb cleaner and spray down into plug well....with plugs out and either blow dry with air or, wipe excess out with cloth on a wooden dowel.
When replacing plugs, add a dap of nickel anti-seize on the lower half of the plug threads for 180 deg. with a small paint brush and torque to 20lbs/ft.

You are going to replace cam cover seals anyway so, make sure mounting surfaces are clean and dry.
Spray carb cleaner on mounting surfaces....DO NOT use any sealant!
These are a 'compression' type seals....making sue they sit properly in the grooves in the cam covers.
you can hold them in place with a small dab of pet. jelly.

The only place a small dap of sealnt is used is over the joint between front of cylinder head and timing cover...a bead about 3mmx12mm is all.
Don't overtighten the cam cover screws!....8nm.
Work in criss-cross patern starting from centre screws.

While you have cam covers off, it pays to check and clean the breather
baffles in both covers...these are often over looked.