Small amounts of oil on a few of the spark plugs threads - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

gbu27 · 10-11-2015, 04:10 PM

I started pulling some of the car apart today for a cam swap and a bunch of other parts. When I pulled a few of the spark plugs out a few had light amounts of oil on the threads only, the insulator and tip were dry. I did some reading and it seems this shouldn't be a big deal, possible leak from valve cover gaskets or valve seals? Car is only at 6100 miles so I can't imagine it's something serious. Can anyone help with a few words to assure me I should t have anything to worry about? Or should I put it back together and take it to the dealership for warranty work before I kill the power train warranty? The 36k/3 year is already gone.

nighttowl · 10-11-2015, 04:35 PM

Most likely leaky valve cover.
Both sides, or just one side?

gbu27 · 10-11-2015, 05:03 PM

I think all of them on driver, and 2 on passenger side

nighttowl · 10-11-2015, 05:49 PM

was there signs of oil fouling or excessive carbon on any of the plugs?
If not, my thoughts are its leaky valve cover, or someone oiled the plugs on install.

check your valve cover bolts, make sure they are tightened enough.
its way too early to be valve seals, and plug would be black in color in possible signs of oil fouling.

gbu27 · 10-11-2015, 06:01 PM

Valve covers will be coming off and valve seals will be replaced with cam swap, I was also worried it could be piston rings. I'm not really sure if any of the plugs would be considered oil fouled or excessive carbon, what would be the signs? Like I said, electrodes looked good to me, I think at least one had a small black spot on the insulator.

10-11-2015, 04:10 PM	#1
gbu27 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NC Posts: 106	Small amounts of oil on a few of the spark plugs threads I started pulling some of the car apart today for a cam swap and a bunch of other parts. When I pulled a few of the spark plugs out a few had light amounts of oil on the threads only, the insulator and tip were dry. I did some reading and it seems this shouldn't be a big deal, possible leak from valve cover gaskets or valve seals? Car is only at 6100 miles so I can't imagine it's something serious. Can anyone help with a few words to assure me I should t have anything to worry about? Or should I put it back together and take it to the dealership for warranty work before I kill the power train warranty? The 36k/3 year is already gone.

10-11-2015, 04:35 PM	#2
nighttowl Sarcasm loading -------- Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX Posts: 1,806 View My Garage	Most likely leaky valve cover. Both sides, or just one side? __________________ "The salesman actually told me to stop getting it sideways during the test drive" 2018 MBM ZL1 1LE - Stock 2014 CRT ZL1 574 rwhp, 537 rwtq - SOLD 2010 IBM SS Camaro VVT L99 w/ TR6060 swap, 489 rwhp, 444 rwtq - SOLD

10-11-2015, 05:49 PM	#4
nighttowl Sarcasm loading -------- Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: TX Posts: 1,806 View My Garage	was there signs of oil fouling or excessive carbon on any of the plugs? If not, my thoughts are its leaky valve cover, or someone oiled the plugs on install. check your valve cover bolts, make sure they are tightened enough. its way too early to be valve seals, and plug would be black in color in possible signs of oil fouling. __________________ "The salesman actually told me to stop getting it sideways during the test drive" 2018 MBM ZL1 1LE - Stock 2014 CRT ZL1 574 rwhp, 537 rwtq - SOLD 2010 IBM SS Camaro VVT L99 w/ TR6060 swap, 489 rwhp, 444 rwtq - SOLD

10-11-2015, 05:03 PM	#3
gbu27 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NC Posts: 106	I think all of them on driver, and 2 on passenger side

10-11-2015, 06:01 PM	#5
gbu27 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NC Posts: 106	Valve covers will be coming off and valve seals will be replaced with cam swap, I was also worried it could be piston rings. I'm not really sure if any of the plugs would be considered oil fouled or excessive carbon, what would be the signs? Like I said, electrodes looked good to me, I think at least one had a small black spot on the insulator.