Oil found in spark plugs is often the result of common faulty engine parts in your vehicle. While various factors can be the culprit for oily spark plugs, it is susceptible to being overlooked if you do not directly find them yourself.
However, suppose you happen to find oil in your spark plugs. In that case, you should address the issue immediately to avoid further damage to your vehicle. It is important to remember that your vehicle’s ignition should not have any problem if your spark plugs are in good condition.
If you do suspect an issue with your spark plugs, there are various ways you can begin to troubleshoot the problem.
A practical step to follow when resolving the issue of oily spark plugs would be to address the root cause of the oil leakage. That said, here are the potential causes as to why you might find oil on your spark plugs:
Causes of Oil in Spark Plugs
1. Damaged piston
Your vehicle’s piston sits in the engine’s cylinder block. Its purpose is to convert the fuel into usable energy that will enable your car to run. Often, the main culprit for a damaged piston is excessive heat. The piston may crack when too much is present, and the oil can leak onto the spark plug.
The easiest fix to this issue would be to have a mechanic look at your engine and see whether or not the piston needs repair or replacement.
2. Piston compression rings
Piston compression rings lie in the first grooves of the piston. The purpose of the compression rings is to send the heat away from the piston to the cooled cylinder block of the engine to prevent excessive oil from burning inside the combustion chamber.
Common symptoms easily detected when your vehicle’s piston rings are damaged are low power and acceleration or white/gray exhaust smoke. Similarly, damaged piston compression rings cannot prevent oil leakage from the piston onto the spark plugs.
3. Leakage of valve cover gasket
The valve cover gasket of your vehicle sits between the engine and the valve cover. Its purpose is to keep the oil from leaking outside.
Similar to the piston, the valve cover gasket of an engine is prone to damage when excessive heat is present. Often, the valve cover gasket is also susceptible to cracking over time. When your vehicle’s valve cover gasket starts to leak, your engine may lose oil which can cause further and permanent damage when not properly addressed.
Similarly, suppose the valve cover gasket has cracked open. In that case, you are exposing your engine to external pollutants, which can cause severe impairments to your vehicle. The easiest fix to this issue is to have a mechanic inspect and, if necessary, replace your vehicle’s valve cover gasket.
4. Worn valve guides
The purpose of an engine’s valve guide is to support the internal combustion engine by helping the engine valves align properly to allow air inside and eliminate post-combustion exhaust from the cylinder.
Worn valve guides often result in smoke when you engage your engine’s brakes. In this event, the proper fix is simply replacing the valve cover guides to avoid further damage. Regular maintenance of valve guides is essential for your engine to function properly.
5. Leaky O-ring seal
O-rings in an engine lie underneath the spark plug tubes, where it protects the spark plug wells. It acts as a seal to protect fluid and air from combining. When your vehicle’s O-ring is damaged, it can leak oil into the spark plug, which would immediately need replacing.
Aside from oil leakage, other symptoms of a faulty O-ring seal in an engine are a shortage of wiring and a vacuum leak. Failure to repair or replace a faulty O-ring can cause a vehicle to run on reduced acceleration and power.
6. Using unrecommended oil
A big part of vehicle maintenance is making sure that you are filling your engine with the recommended motor oil. Typically, vehicle manufacturers provide a viscosity rating that dictates how much your engine’s oil can flow at different temperatures. If not followed, you may notice common symptoms of damage as a result.
Some signs that you may have used the wrong oil for your engine are hearing crackling noises from the engine, the scent of burnt oil, and oil leakage that can seep into your spark plugs. As a general rule of thumb, a mechanic should check your engine’s oil if you notice that your vehicle is not running smoothly.
7. Faulty head gasket
Your vehicle’s head gasket sits between the cylinder head and the engine block. Its purpose is to allow the coolant and oil to cool and lubricate your engine. By extension, the head gasket acts as the seal to prevent the pressure coming from the spark plug from entering outside the combustion chamber.
Like other engine parts, the head gasket is susceptible to excessive heat, which can cause it to crack. When this happens, your engine can overheat, exhaust smoke, or you can lose your vehicle’s overall running power. Depending on the damage, your vehicle’s head gasket may need to be repaired or replaced by a mechanic.
8. Crankcase ventilation
The crankcase ventilation sits on your engine’s valve cover or cylinder head. Its purpose is to remove the excess gasses from the crankcase to prevent them from combining with the oil vapors.
Suppose an engine’s crankcase ventilation is damaged. In that case, it may lead to overpressure within the crankcase, which can further cause oil to leak into your spark plugs.
Some common symptoms of broken crankcase ventilation are the check engine light signal in your car, rough idling, and increased oil consumption and leaking. If you suspect something is wrong with your crankcase ventilation, the best course of action would be to have it checked by a mechanic.
How to Get Oil Out of Spark Plug Wells
If you’ve found oil in your spark plug wells, one option is to remove the oily spark plugs from the wells and clean them out with a dry cloth or paper towel. You can also use a little bit of brake cleaner to hasten the process. Alternatively, you can use a vacuum with a hose attachment or a compressed air stick for a more thorough cleanse.
That said, the act of cleansing the oil from your engine’s spark plug wells will not directly solve the problem. This easy fix may not prevent further problems from occurring in the future. Most mechanics recommend purchasing new spark plugs for a safer and more cost-efficient choice.
Expert Tip: Since sparks plugs need replacing regardless of external damage over time, investing in a new set is better than the risk of potential damage to your engine.
Can You Drive With Oil On Your Spark Plugs?
If you have found oil on your spark plugs but cannot have it checked at once, it is advised not to drive your car without resolving the issue. While it is possible to drive with oily spark plugs, letting your engine run while there is still oil in your spark plugs may cause further damage to your vehicle.
For instance, oily spark plugs can cause an engine to misfire. When this happens, the spark plugs cannot supply the necessary ignition for your vehicle to run properly.
Other telltale signs of an oily spark plug could also be a drastic increase in oil and fuel consumption as well as blue exhaust smoke suddenly coming out of your exhaust pipe. A piece of advice is to figure out the root cause of oil leakage on your spark plug and have it fixed to ensure your vehicle runs smoothly.
Can you Clean and Reuse Spark Plugs?
Getting oil out of spark plug wells is not the same as cleaning and reusing spark plugs. While technically, a cleaned-out spark plug can still function and allow your car to run, a more practical choice is to replace them for optimum performance. Like other engine parts, spark plugs can get worn out over time, even if they do not come into contact with oil.
Since spark plugs work to supply the ignition for your vehicle to run, the threads must be sharp enough to provide a responsive spark. In vehicles with worn-out spark plugs, the engine may take time to turn on or, in some cases, will not start. Likewise, risking leftover oil from used and inaccurately cleaned spark plugs can also pose a risk of repeating the same issue.
Conclusion
A recommendation is to replace worn-out spark plugs to achieve optimum engine performance. Finding oil on your spark plug is a problem that can be easily fixed with the help of troubleshooting and replacing worn-out engine parts that may cause the oil leakage.
Like any engine part, spark plugs can wear out over time. Therefore, regular maintenance and monitoring of your car’s performance and exterior is a good exercise in ensuring that your vehicle runs at its optimum pace.
If you have any further questions or clarifications, please feel free to comment; we will get back to you in a short while!