short hops may be the deal... just been tooling around town since put back together... hoping any bugs will become evident before I get out on the road...

thanks for the info,

Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX

As Nick mentions, having some oil on the threads is not an indicator of a specific problem in general.  I’ll add that if the sparkplug heat range is on the cold side or the engine is only being driven in short hops without being sufficiently heat soaked, then oil on the threads will also be evident regardless of how good the ring and/or guide seal is.  Running without a thermostat will also keep the spark plugs from running within their designed heat range.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Hi Mark,  Actually oil on the spark plug threads is normal, I'm surprised that you didn't find oil on all of them.  Personally I put a drop or two of oil on a new plug when I put it in, but why there is oil on a plug that is installed dry is kind of a mystery.  This has been discussed before on this site.  Anyway, it is not an indication of a ring problem, don't worry.  Nick Brann - K.C., MO - (retired spark plug salesman)

checking gaps this afternoon and noticed oil on 3 or 4 of my plugs... just some on the threads... enough that it would come off on my finger when I scraped the threads across my finger.  no oil on the electrodes however...

engine does not smoke on start up or after warm up...

do I possibly have a ring problem?

new rebuild w/less than 500 miles on it so far.

ideas?

thanks,Mark

"God Bless Texas"location: Houston,TX