Oil on spark plugs, should I be worried. Picture inside.

[acarmody]

So changing my oil, filter and plugs today, I found some oil on the old plugs, mainly just the 3 and 4 plugs. I this anything to worry about? I change my plugs every service, overkill, maybe, but I do, so plugs are only 10k old.

I don't think it would be oil from past the rings as the pistons and rings are only 2 years old, but still......

Also noticed a white powdery build-up (can just see in photo), on the drivers side plugs, but not on the passenger side plugs, weird.

I also heard a fairly decent tapping sound coming from the driver side head, when I ran the engine with the filler cap off. Sounded like the 4th rocker area, didn't sound like it was slightly muffled so don't THINK the lifter.

[Tim Smtih]

Sorry mate my eyes aren't great so i can't tell you off hand, but there are pic guides in some service manuals that can tell you if there's any issues. But from what i can see it doesn't look bad, a slight brown colour is fine, carbon build up or burnt plugs could be a sign of trouble. Wait here it is......

http://www.aa1car.com/library/reading_spark_plugs.jpg

[Brett_jjj]

They dont look too bad really. Number 3 might be a bit darker than the others though. Make sure to replace the plug leads evry 12 months to keep the ignition system running at its best, as these plug leads break down, and cause the plugs to not fire at their best. With the voltages these ignition systems run these days, plug leads dont last very long anyway. Ive found that the standard leads are just as good as the more expensive ones, and will only last about the same time too. The 3 ignition coils can also cause similar problems once they get old. Also plugs that arent tightened up properly can go like these shown in the pic, so make sure the plugs are tightened to the correct recommended tension of 15 -25 Nm.

[Voodoo_SV6]

The white powder on the outside can be from water. Do you degrease/hose/pressure clean your engine? Is just minor corrosion and nothing to worry about if the contact to the leads are still in good shape.

Generally a little oil on the plug is not an issue, especially if you are not blowing smoke out the back and your oil level is not dropping

[acarmody]

They dont look too bad really. Number 3 might be a bit darker than the others though. Make sure to replace the plug leads evry 12 months to keep the ignition system running at its best, as these plug leads break down, and cause the plugs to not fire at their best. With the voltages these ignition systems run these days, plug leads dont last very long anyway. Ive found that the standard leads are just as good as the more expensive ones, and will only last about the same time too. The 3 ignition coils can also cause similar problems once they get old. Also plugs that arent tightened up properly can go like these shown in the pic, so make sure the plugs are tightened to the correct recommended tension of 15 -25 Nm.

Leads are only a few months old, genuine Holden leads. Yep I tighten them up hand tight, than a tweak with the socket bar.

The white powder on the outside can be from water. Do you degrease/hose/pressure clean your engine? Is just minor corrosion and nothing to worry about if the contact to the leads are still in good shape.

Generally a little oil on the plug is not an issue, especially if you are not blowing smoke out the back and your oil level is not dropping

Unfortunately it is losing oil, and it does blow a little smoke on start-up

But thanks for reminding me of the degreaser can cause that minor corrosion, tranny line burst a few weeks back and after the repairs were finished they degreased the engine, but mainly the drivers side where the fire was.



I'm thinking I may have some failing valve stem seals, even though they are only 2 years old, lucky I have the spares and parts to change them. May have a crack at the 3 and 4 pistons rockers. But first I may hook my air compressor up to the spark plug socket and see.

[m1lky]

The ones with oil on them look like its on the thread to me, perhaps your rocker cover is leaking?

The small amount of white is normal

[edals]

Nothing to worry about mate. I have pulled plugs out of 4 different commodores and they all look similar to yours. Same with the white

[acarmody]

Cool, thanks guys.