Oil on top of spark plugs in sleeve well

[Old timer]

Hey guys, I've got a 2004 GTX supercharged.and was doing my annual service and noticed oil on top of two of the spark plugs in the sleeve well. Thoughts? Wondering if that is a big concern? The skis got 213 hours.

 

[Tytan]

The rubber seals on the spark plug tubes are probably leaking, remove the valve cover pull out the sleeves and see if the rubber seals have hardened. Easy fix in the general scheme of PWC repairs.

 

[Old timer]

I thought the rubber boots were to keep the water out of the spark plug Wells. How would oil get to the top of the spark plug through those sleeves.

 

[Tytan]

The sleeves are thin round steel with a rubber seal top and bottom the bottom seal is between the sleeve and the cylinder head and the top seal is between the sleeve and the underside of the valve cover. If these seals start to leak the the oil splashing around in the cylinder head will leak into the spark plug cavity where it has no where to go except pool around the base of the spark plug. Take the valve cover off and it will be easy to see what I'm talking about.

Go to the YouTube link in my sig and find the valve spring retainer video between 1:00 and 2:00 minutes you can see me remove the valve cover and the spark plug tubes.

 

[Old timer]

Thanks, I totally get what you're saying. But wondering how is the oil getting past the cylinder head to even get into the cavity. Does that mean my cylinder head is leaking oil through the gasket before it gets to the rubber sleeve? Hope that makes sense.

 

[Tytan]

The top of the cylinder head under the valve cover where the cam and rockers are is being fed with oil for lubrication then it gets splashed all over the place and gravity drains into the crankcase.

Highly unlikely you have a problem with the cylinder head just leaky spark plug tube seals.

 

[Old timer]

Ok now I see what you mean, I was thinking you were talking about the rubber boot that slips over top of the spark plug. But now I see what you're saying should be an easy fix.
thanks for all your help.

 

[Asrich]

The rubber seals on the spark plug tubes are probably leaking, remove the valve cover pull out the sleeves and see if the rubber seals have hardened. Easy fix in the general scheme of PWC repairs.

What is the fix? I have the same problem. Do I need to replace the spark plug pipe?

 

[AircraftDoc]

It's left over oil when winterizing. Light colored. Mech sprays preserve oil into cylinder with spark plug removed. Some is going to stick to the sides.
If the valve cover plug tube seals are leaking then you need to replace them. Dark colored.

 

[Chester]

What is the fix? I have the same problem. Do I need to replace the spark plug pipe?

Yes, remove the valve cover and replace all 3 spark plug tubes. The new upgraded ones are less prone to leaking.

Chester