Oily Spark Plugs

I'm changing my sparkplugs for the first time right now, and they're covered in oil. Is this normal? I had to change the gasket for the engine cover a while back because it was leaking oil into the engine bay. I just don't want to break anything.

All help is greatly appreciated.

An update:

In 2 of the holes where I pulled the cables out, there was standing oil, maybe an inch high. I pulled the plugs and that stuff drained into the engine. When I started the car is smoked like crazy, so I drove it to a remote area and ran it until it didn't smoke anymore. It seems to be running better now than it did before changing the plugs. Is there anything I should do now?

Thanks.

An update:

In 2 of the holes where I pulled the cables out, there was standing oil, maybe an inch high. I pulled the plugs and that stuff drained into the engine. When I started the car is smoked like crazy, so I drove it to a remote area and ran it until it didn't smoke anymore. It seems to be running better now than it did before changing the plugs. Is there anything I should do now?

Thanks.

Like I tell everybody else...."think logically". There's only ONE way for that oil to get in there....bad spark plug gaskets. Get new ones.

Yeah, if it got there once, it will get there again..And new plugs usually will make an old engine run a little better..

if you dont know what they are talking about. they are the rubber rings on the bottom of your valve cover. well mine stick there anyway. just take the valve cover off again and check for rubber rings around the spark plug area. if you dont have them buy them. you will need these. and like they said if it got there before and you did nothing but change the plugs. i say you get on that right now.

I'll check them again tomorrow. I think I saw what you're talking about, and the rubber looked good. Thanks for the advice, I would much rather fix it than have it break.

I'll check them again tomorrow. I think I saw what you're talking about, and the rubber looked good. Thanks for the advice, I would much rather fix it than have it break.

That's a bold statement to say they "look good". It's hard to tell when a rubber seal is bad, by simply looking at it. Sometimes they can appear perfectly new, but leak quite bad.

How do I check it more than just by looking at it? Is this seal the same one as the valve cover gasket? Because I replaced the valve cover gasket like a year ago.

How do I check it more than just by looking at it? Is this seal the same one as the valve cover gasket? Because I replaced the valve cover gasket like a year ago.

Dude...there's no checking needed. You have oil in your spark plug tubes...then they're bad! It's not the valve cover gasket...but it is usually included in that set. It's just 4 rubber circles.

ah. so that's why i burn oil. i was fearing it was a head gasket.

yeah they are bad or you just forgot to put them back on. dont feel stupid. i do stuff like that just fix it asap and your good.

Ya know the thought of oil and spark never really appealed to me...mmm external combustion