Replacing my plugs last night and the #6 plug was dripping in oil. The electrode side appeared to be soaking in oil, no sign of burning of any kind. All the other plugs were fine looking. They were on for about 6k miles.
I put a catch-can in last week connecting the passenger side PCV valve / lower plenum. I haven't had any performance issues, other than a couple of misfires which brought on the plug change. There has been a slight oil leak in the last few weeks, but nothing major. Which leads me to my questions:
1. What does the oily plug mean? Blown ring somewhere?
2. Will the oil in the 2/4/6 cylinders get cleared out if the catch can does not run on that side?
3. Should I not drive the car?

 

Likely a bad valve cover gasket. Havent done them on the Z but I dont see it being too difficult of a job.

 

yep, valve cover gasket most likely, let me know if you need help replacing it, I could use some SEMA tickets

http://www.courtesyparts.com/Merchan...de=13270-Z3302

while were in there, might as well replace the others on the way down too.

 

well which side of the plug is oily, the top where the coil plugs in or the bottom side that is in the engine....


edit, i reread what you wrote, i am thinking possibly a bad ring gland.

 

he did have the checkvalve issue when the kit was first put on, it could possibly be some oil left from that since this is his first plug change since. What else could it be so we will know what ot look for when we take her apart?

 

Not the check valve issue otherwise the oil wouldn't be restricted to one plug.

I can't rationalize in my head how that's a valve cover gasket issue if the oil is on the electrode (cylinder side) of the plug as opposed to the ceramic neck (coil side)?

 

+1. This is my guess as well.

dirtroad,

Get a compression and leak down test done. You will find it if it's a ring gland or not.

Good luck!

 

Rings, pistons...

 

i hope not - what are the other signs of this?

 

Ringland id say. Bad luck dude...

Do a compression test, its the only real way to isolate the issue.

Do u run a cat? because cats can hide alot of smoke. Other ways to tell would be high pressure in the PVC system, oil from the PVC valves (intake etc)