oil in spark plug resevior

darylw · 12-02-2005, 02:47 AM

I have changed my plugs twice on my 1997 SL2 and each time I pull the plug wire from the fourth cylinder, I notice oil on the end (a lot of oil). Upon further inspection with a flashlight, I discovered about an inch or so of oil at the bottom of the sparkplug chamber. I soak up the oil with a rag and clean the plug and plug wire and everything seems to run fine, but within a short period, oil seeps back into the chamber. Am I looking at a bad head gasket? or maybe just the valve cover gasket?
How would I know which one?
The plug wire seems to fit snug enough in the sparg plug hole to keep the oil from affecting the firing of the spark plug, unless I pull the plug wire and the oil then coats the plug. Without cleaning up the plug and wire, it would surely be bad.
Any advice on whether a head gasket or valve-cover gasket is the key? If so, It looks like a big job in my Chilton's manual and wondering if anyone has attemped this on their own. If so, talk me into making the repair myself, or talk me out of it.

Thanks
Daryl

**Ssicarman** · 12-02-2005, 03:31 AM

Welcome to the Board.

With oil in the spark plug well it would be the valve cover gasket leaking. Replace the gasket and you will stop the leak. For 97 you will need a "rubber" type of gasket rather than a RTV gasket. It is a fairly easy DIY repair. Make sure that when you do it that you clean the sealing surfaces with a non residue cleaner like brake clean. Alos use a dab of RTV om the head to timing cover joint. You will see it whenyou remove the VC.

scottyr94 · 12-02-2005, 08:34 PM

For sure the valve cover gasket. One of the little rings that seals around the spark plug holes is leaking. Like said before me, get the rubber gasket, and I would also put a small bead of rtv on everything just to ensure it seals up good(don't just use rtv). I had the same problem, and when I replaced the gasket, it then leaked out on the firewall side, so I took it back off and cleaned it all up good again and ran a thin bead of rtv all the way around and it hasn't leaked yet. I recommend the grey stuff, I just like it.