I changed out my sparkplugs two days ago. All of my plugs looked the same, when I compared them to the picture in my Haynes manual they all showed normal wear except for one. The plug nearest the firewall on the passenger side(furthest from the driver) had some oil on it. The oil was concentrated around the bottom of the white porcelein part, the part that you put the socket on to bolt it down, and the threads of the plug. The oil was not on the part where the plug makes the spark (the electrode), this part looked identical to all of my other used plugs. The picture of the plug with "oil deposits" on the Haynes manual shows the plug completely covered with oil, even the electrode. Is this a sign of trouble? Might I need to replace worn valve guides or piston rings?

I went to a friends house last night and spoke with a Harley Davidson mechanic who was a friend of his, he also use to work on cars, and he told me that this sometimes happens if the plug was not tightened properly , he called it blowby I think, but he said it should be ok. He said if the electrode was not covered with oil, or had oil deposits it was ok, I just want to check with you guys and see if this is correct.

The Haynes manual states that having a plug with oil deposits will cause the car to have hard starting, misfiring, and hesitation, non of which apply to my Max. Also some of the plugs were unscrewed with not much effort at all, as if they were loose. Any insight will be appreciated, thanks.

 

i wouldn't worry about it as long as YOU put them in there at 14-16 ft tq.

 

if you replaced it correctly with brand new plugs, nothing to worry about