petch

Hi all,
im currently in the middle of my spark plug/ ignition coil replacement. Cylinder 3,4 plugs extremely OILED!!! (Fouled) the rest where fouled with somewhat lite oil found. Been a long time since I seen a set of plugs (6) just plain awful. Anybody have a culprit of why this is? 2006 525xi. 73,000 miles

Bueller?

audiophool

Oil on the spark plug tip or oil on the threads after pulling it? If it's oil on the threads, you have a buggered up valve cover gasket.

petch

Oil was on the threads.

petch

Do I need a new valve cover gasket?

audiophool

Yes. They get hard and leak when they're old.

banglenot

+1. VC gasket happens regularly. Not a hard job. Torque wrench and take your time. Plenty of vids online on the job.
BTW, oil leaking into the plug area is no big deal. Just messy. Fouled plugs are another matter, though. Take a pic of the plug tips an post it.

audiophool

If enough oil leaks into the plug well, you can fark the coil. Good to fix before the leak gets too bad.

Oil pools around the spark plug hex when the VC gasket leaks. When you wheel the plug out, the oil coats the threads as the plug is removed. I had one that looked like this:

petch

yes three of my plugs looked like this, I saved all six plugs to show my Indy. VC gasket change over my head I'll have him fix it. Perhaps I'll get customer of the month . Thanks all. Car should be new after this fix lol.

seanjordan20

I have never seen a VC gasket prevent oil from leaking on the plugs. A VC gasket is to prevent oil from leaking out of the VC. The issue you are having is with the spark plug tube seals. Now to replace the spark plug tube seals you will have to open the VC and replace the VC gasket before sealing which is why they sell them as a set with this car. Can spark plug tube seals be done without replacing the VC gasket? Yes, but not advised if you do not know how to reseal the VC without replacing the gasket (i.e gasket maker or reusing a gasket with low miles). BMWs, you should always replace the VC gasket if you are lifting the VC.

I just wanted to make it clear that a VC gasket can not prevent oil from getting inside of the plugs. I know some might say what about the VC gaskets with the integrated plug gaskets. I would say it still is not the VC gasket that prevents oil from leaking onto the plugs. Some people who are not mechanically inclined might have this issue with one of their other cars and think a VC gasket will cure the issue and it does not.

seanjordan20

If you can change the plugs you can definitely take the VC off. Its easier than you think. For $25 you can get the VC set and spend an hour or two depending on your wrenching skills. I would not put new plugs in if you are not doing the gaskets at the same time unless you are willing to buy 3 new ones.