Oil leaking from spark plugs - any ideas?

[tschanrm]

So about a week ago I started noticing a small bit of oil leaking from the two spark plug boots (the two middle spark plugs). To give a better explanation, the top of the plug boots look wet with oil, with a bit of oil surrounging the boots on the engine head. Anyone have any ideas on what's going on? There's no CEL, so I'm wondering if I can just try to tighten the plugs a bit...

Oh, and after a bit there's a faint burning smell of oil that will come through the air vents, although I think thats just the oil burning on the engine head.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

If your talking about down in the valve cover where the plug is screwed into the head then 1st guess would be tighten the valve cover bolts or get a new valve cover gasket set if it continues to leak. If your talking about on top of the valve cover where the plug boot seals off the hole then 1st guess would be the pcv grommet or hose. Dry it all off, drive some more & trace back where it is running from & being blown to find source.

 

[tschanrm]

If your talking about down in the valve cover where the plug is screwed into the head then 1st guess would be tighten the valve cover bolts or get a new valve cover gasket set if it continues to leak. If your talking about on top of the valve cover where the plug boot seals off the hole then 1st guess would be the pcv grommet or hose. Dry it all off, drive some more & trace back where it is running from & being blown to find source.

Thanks, I'll take a look and let you know.

 

[tschanrm]

So when I pulled the spark plug boots, it was basically dry on the inside. When taking them off though, I noticed where the problem is, loose cylinder head cover bolts. The four in the front and the middle bolt on top were are very loose. Loose enough to re-tighten by hand! Is it just a fluke due to age (car has 115K on it), or is this a smoking gun and I have a deeper problem on my hands?

 

[bucksatan]

So the valve cover was loose? That is odd. Have you done anything to it in the past, removed it for any reason or removed anything attached to it?

 

[sephiroth]

So when I pulled the spark plug boots, it was basically dry on the inside. When taking them off though, I noticed where the problem is, loose cylinder head cover bolts. The four in the front and the middle bolt on top were are very loose. Loose enough to re-tighten by hand! Is it just a fluke due to age (car has 115K on it), or is this a smoking gun and I have a deeper problem on my hands?

I wouldn't look into it hard. Tighten, check for leaks again. If it's still leaking, replace the valve cover gasket as suggested, problem solved. If there's oil on the top of the boot though, it's more likely a PVC vavle and gasket issue, which is also easy to replace.

 

[mp5streetracer]

yeah dude you are going to prbebly need to get a new head gasket cause if you look at a picture of one you will see that there are gaskets that surround the sparkplugs. look at the a picture of it and you will see what i am talking about.

 

[Guvner]

^you mean valve cover gasket.....right

 

[mrcarson2]

Yeah, I had the same problem with my MX-3, had the valve cover gasket replaced and it fixed the problem. BTW, just traded the MX for a P5 today!

 

[bgibb68]

cangrats on the new p5's guys...you'll love 'em.....and i actually had the same prob with my valve cover....

 

[Tifun]

I wouldn't look into it hard. Tighten, check for leaks again.

Agreed, probably just a coincidence. We have 130xxx miles and no leaks or oil burning anywhere. Mobil 1 since the day we bought it new.