Oil in spark plug close to driver side

[mipinc]

Hi, I was replacing the spark plugs of my 02 I35 when I found thread of spark plug closes to driver side completely soaked in brown oil. This was just a routine maintenance at 114k miles and nothing was wrong with the car. What does this mean and how can I fix the problem? Does it mean that the valve gasket is leaking?

Thanks,

MP

[Presscott707]

Welcome to Nicoyour spark plug gasket are bad. yea you are going to have to change the valve cover gaskets but its not hard. You can get the the full valve cover gasket kit that comes with the spark plug gasket from just about any parts store.

[mipinc]

Thanks for the advise, but it seems like the spark plug O ring is a part of the cover and not a gasket? I called many auto part stores and none had the valve cover gasket with spark plug O rings. On the other side, I also checked my oil level and it was exactly at the H mark. Could this cause the oil to go in spark plug tube? I also switched to synthetic oil and for couple of weeks I got the oil burning smell when I park after driving on the highway. But it was about four weeks ago and last two weeks there was no smell.

[lightsout]

gasket?.....piston ring?.....plug O Ring?......i've got noooo idea!!

good luck man...but probably something simple!!

[Mike G]

Was there any oil sitting in the spark plug hole before you removed the plug? How does the center electrode of the plug look? --Mike

[Presscott707]

you can buy the full valve cover gasket kit with the spark plug o- rings from autopartswarehouse.com.

[mipinc]

I am not sure if it was sitting in the plug tube but the center look normal with no oil. All threads were covered in oil so that could mean the oil was in the tube before. I checked with the dealer and he told me that pulgs does not have individual gasket as it is part of the valve cover.

[mipinc]

the subban infiniti dealer in Novi, Mi told me yesterday that the plug gasket is art of the valve cover and I will need to buy the whole cover to relace the existing plug gasket. It does look like a had plastic that is weither one piece or is a glued to the valve cover. The older models does have gasket for the plugs.