Oil on spark plug electrode tip!!!

[Mark1984]

Hi All,

This is a second post to my first one when I was asking for help with a misfire, anyways I have pulled the spark plugs from the motor or notice that there is oil on the spark plug electrodes on the side that is misfiring (passenger side cylinders 1,3, and 4 ) this is what I believe is causing the misfire but what is causing the oil to get to the spark plug tip. Would it be possible wrong oil used as I just purchased the car recently it drove fine until this misfire issue. Should I change oil to see what happens or is the engine fouled. As always thanks for the help.

[Articus]

Do you mean the top or the bottom of the spark plug? In either, no it wouldn't be the oil. I'm pretty sure this is the valve cover gasket leaking and maybe loose spark plugs as well. Lucky for you all you would need to do is either replace the gaskets and/or tighten the spark plugs to factory torque which isn't that expensive should you choose to do it yourself. Nothing wrong with the engine. Just the old gasket is letting oil leak onto the spark plug area causing misfire. Good luck!

[Mark1984]

Sorry I thought that the electrode was the end that threads into the cylinder and not the end that contacts the coilpack, anyways the oil is on the end that threads into the cylinder.

[microracer24]

If the threads are soaked in oil its because the spark plug hole had oil in it. Most likely there is oil on the end of the coil as well. Common issue that can result in misfires. Replace your v/c gasket.

[JayDog747]

Yea! Hey 'dere!

In your previous post you said that you need to jump the car to get it started. Before you do anything else, get a new battery. If you can, clear the codes and see if they come back.

As for the oil on the electrodes, it's not the valve cover gaskets. There's a good chance you have scored cylinder walls. Did you have a compression test done prior to your purchase?

How many miles are on this B6?

[Mark1984]

Kilometers on car are 150000 km, what it looks like is the oil on the threads is leaking onto the tip. If the cylinder walls are scored what am I looking at for cost to fix and I will be doing a compression test shortly but with so little kilometers on car I hope the walls aren't scored.

[JayDog747]

Ah! Now that we know there is oil on the threads, it's the valve cover gaskets. Might as well change the spark plugs seeing as you're approaching the recommended interval for replacement.