Im at about 47k miles and i just changed my spark plugs and i noticed a bunch of oil on the threads of cyl 1 and 4. I looked into all cylinders and theres no visible oil in either however I think the oil might have came from the top it appears to start by the valve cover gasket?? but anyway it looks like it leaked down from there and Im not sure what to do right now
7
Oil leaking on spark plugs
- Thread starter Joviemk7
- Start date
BravoMike
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Indianapolis
Your engine doesn’t have a valve cover. It’s a cylinder head cover that incorperates the top bearings for the camshaft. Also, the gasket is made by using RTV.
I had oil on one of my spark plugs as well and decided to clean it off and recheck at next oil change. Now that I hear you exhibiting this and seeing that YouTube video, I’m wondering if this will be another common problem with these cars. Granted yours is the 1.8L, but still same design for the cylinder head cover if I’m not mistaking. My car only has 18,000miles on it.
I had oil on one of my spark plugs as well and decided to clean it off and recheck at next oil change. Now that I hear you exhibiting this and seeing that YouTube video, I’m wondering if this will be another common problem with these cars. Granted yours is the 1.8L, but still same design for the cylinder head cover if I’m not mistaking. My car only has 18,000miles on it.
Elwood
3-7-77
- Location
- Long Beach, CA
FWIW, it's a cam cover.
BravoMike
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Indianapolis
Indeed it is, thank you for the correction.
BravoMike
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Indianapolis
Dealer visit?
Hoon
Autocross Champion
- Location
- Rhode Island
That or buy a tube of RTV (something like Permatex Ultra Black) and get to work pulling that cam cover.
BravoMike
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Indianapolis
If you go this route make sure you get at least the Erwin VW manuals and know what you are getting yourself into. There is a lot connected to the cam cover and you need to release tension on the timing chain.
Like I mentioned above, the cam cover has integral bearings for the cam. Also make use a torque wrench and torque the bolts in the recommended pattern. This is something that a very capable DIYer can do, but the caveat is to not treat it like it's just a valve cover.
Edit: I just looked in the Erwin engine manual again and saw that they reference it as the Cylinder Head Cover.
Last edited:
BravoMike
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Indianapolis
What's wrong with high temp RTV? Just curious. I see VW sells their branded sealant, but the only description I see for it is "sealant".
Diggs24
Autocross Champion
- Location
- de plains! de plains!
- Car(s)
- 2015 GTI
It's sealant. On two of my plugs and these are engine at 28k miles.
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BravoMike
Go Kart Champion
- Location
- Indianapolis
Let's assume the OP isn't stupid and knows the difference between sealant and oil.
Here is my post with the same issue. Looks nothing like your plugs and you can be sure I can tell the difference between oil and sealant.
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showpost.php?p=615233&postcount=149
Here is my post with the same issue. Looks nothing like your plugs and you can be sure I can tell the difference between oil and sealant.
https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showpost.php?p=615233&postcount=149
