Oil Around Spark Plug

74spider.com · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2003, 10:50 PM

i have a chance to pick up an 86 spider pretty cheap. the guy said it has always leaked oil and when he showed me where from i was sorta shocked. the oil was all around the 1st spark plug and he said for the 20k miles he drove the car it was always like that. does that mean serious engine work down the road or something simple? any help would be awesome.

il_formaggio · #2 (**permalink**) 12-06-2003, 05:16 AM

Could just be a leaky cam cover gasket or the oil filler cap seal is bad.

DaveC · #3 (**permalink**) 12-06-2003, 10:27 AM

The "Alfa Romeo Owners Bible" mentions this problem. It's almost always a leaking Oil Filler Cap.

**smestas** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-06-2003, 11:41 AM

Sounds like a deal Todd.

Buy the car and a new oil cap!

**Sniady** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-2003, 06:58 PM

It's probably excessive oil in the plug. When I pour oil into my motor i usually spill a few drops on the edges, and the oil pours down and collects oil in the plug space.

It's probably the owner spilling to much oil.

67GTV · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2003, 01:32 AM

My valve cover gasket was leaking oil and a small amount would collect in the #1 spark plug well. I completely forgot about this until reading this thread. One day while warming up the engine, I was about to soak up the plug well oil when I noticed bubbles around the spark plug threads! Could this mean that my head has worn spark plug threads? I pulled the plug, cleaned its threads and tried to carefully clean the threads on the head.

I have since replaced the valve cover gasket and no longer have oil leaking, from there at least. So I no longer see these bubbles. I'd have to try pouring a few drops in the well to see if the bubbles still appear.

BTW Sniady, wrap a rag around the oil filler neck when adding oil. It'll usually catch any spills.