oil on the spark plugs

[sethcat]

late last year my 91 240 was running fine, but every now and then it would get really rough and would lose all power. it also smelled like it was burning oil. i took out the spark plugs and they were black with carbon and had oil on them. i took it to midas and they ran a diagnostic and said it wasnt the head gasket. so i just replaced the plugs so i could use my car(daily driver). after a while the problem came back and then it wouldnt start. i had to take it to a garage and they said the engine was flooded (from trying to start it alot) and they cleaned the plugs and the throttle body. when i got my car back, it started fine, but it sounds like a lawnmower and has absolutely no power at all. does anybody have any idea whats going on with my car? i checked the plugs again and they dont have carbon on them, but there is oil.

thanks

[slipnfall]

Is there oil on just the tips of the plugs, or is it on the end of your spark plug wires as well? There is a rubber seal which isolates the spark plug wells from the 'cam-shaft area'. Mine went out on my Honda last year, and it would smoke like crazy on startup(oil would seep down into chamber, the burn off).

That wouldn't explain a _huge_ loss in power, so it would be wise to do a compression/leakdown test ASAP to be sure you don't have bigger problems.

[sethcat]

there is not oil on the wires, tips of the plugs are ok (right now). there is oil on the threads of the plug, and im sure, if i dont do anything soon, the oil will get to the tips. when i took it to midas, they said the compression was fine. i dont know if that is still true though, cause that was in november or december.

[slipnfall]

Just to clarify, all the plugs look the same? It's not just one or two like this?

[sethcat]

yes. yes they do

[slipnfall]

Hmmm, well I'm sorry that I can't think of anything, I really only offer advise from experiance. Those spark plug gaskets could be bad like I said, but it's unlikely that *all* them went at once. There are some really sharp people here, hopefully someone else can help.

Regards,-Slip

[Bluefire]

What kind of diagnostic did they run? You should get a leakdown test done and make sure the headgasket isn't blown

[sethcat]

im looking at the reciept and it says compression check and fuel system check. the guy told me that it was not the head gasket though. i dont know how he knew or found out. where is a good place to go to get a leak down test?