So I changed my spark plugs today. When I pulled out the passenger-side plug closest to the firewall, the boot was covered in motor oil. I got my socket head in there and loosened the plug and when I pulled my socket out, it was covered in oil too. This is not good.

I don't know exactly what the problem is but I'm pretty sure there isn't supposed to be any oil in there . All other plugs were fine.

Can anyone provide any sort of insight into this? Thanks.

 

Take a look at that spark plug hole, see if the oil is seeping from its gasket. Your spark plug tube gasket is most likely leaking. You will need to replace it. Get a valve cover gasket set ( you are talking about the rear one right? Closest to the firewall) it will have 3 spark plug tube gaskets and a valve cover gasket. The rear one is a pain to do! you will have to remove your upper intake manifold to access it.

If it is not your gasket then you have big problems! How is the engine running?

 

So what you're saying is that the best case scenario involves removing the upper intake manifold. That's no joy ride either.

The car is running okay. There isn't any problem with the performance that I can detect. Acceleration is fine, power is fine and I have no CEL's.

Yes, I am talking about the ones in the rear, near the firewall.

I don't know how I'm going to be able to diagnose the problem as you've suggested. When you look downt hat hole, all you can see is hole. Once I pull the spark plug out, the oil drains into the cylinder and then I just see a dark hole with oil on the sides. How do I tell if it is the tube gasket that's leaking or if it is something more serious? What other problems might cause this?

Thanks for the input.

 

It sounds like it is probaly the gasket. If the car was running bad it could be bad rings or valves, or something else. Do a comression test if you can, but From what you described I would say it is just the spark plug tube gasket.