Hi. Just trying to change the spark plugs on my 2002 4.4.
When I took out the first plug (nearside front) I found that the tube from the coil pack was covered in thick brown oil and when I put the socket down, it came back out covered in oil.
On removing the plug, there was enough oil to coat the plug and run into the cylinder.
I can't imagine this is normal. Any idea what the cause could be and how should I clean up the area before putting the new plug in ?
Also, should the terminal at the end of the plug be held tightly in the rubber tube or does it rely on the coil pack being being bolted down to hold the coil pack tight on the plug ?
Thanks as ever
David 2002 4.4 V8 with LPG
Zambezi silver

sounds like a rocker cover gasket leak to me.

Is that easy to fix ?
Cheers

Just found the thread in FFRR...doesn't look like fun as mine also has LPG fitted which makes access much harder.
Local indy (Mansfield 4x4 in Bury St Edmunds) has quoted 2 hours a side which including the gasket makes about £350...
Hmmmm
Think I'll check the offside and see if thats gone too.
Cheers
David 2002 4.4 V8 with LPG
Zambezi silver

I think the parts are approx. £40 to £80 per side depending on if you go for LR parts. I had one side done at a local garage and they charged for about an hour I think. Obviosuly your LPG kit makes it a longer job. I think it is farily easy to do if you have the time and inclination.

LPG makes it tight as mentioned in

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic16756.html

cant say how your lpg is fitted, but i have it on mine, and did mine in about 2 hours. with cups of tea etc. it is a straight forward job. sometimes hampered by the water pipes for the lpg evaporator need to be pushed about etc. ask for the old plugs, as they are hard to get out sometimes, and he may skip doing the odd one. there is an inner rocker cover seal to the plug area, and the outer seal for the edge area. all in the packet.. both can leak, but the inner fills the plug wells.
I did it very carefully to try and absorb as much oil (rag strips) to stop it going in the plug hole. obviously some did, and you get a nice waft of white smoke when started up etc. but as i wanted to avoid a whole engine with oil in it, i did one side, and started it, and then the other. i dipped the coil pack tips in petrol too to clean off aswell. i used new single electrode plugs as these were recommended by the lpg fitter i rang up etc. (not those iridium type though) the plugs cost me £60 and the gaskets were about £40 the pair.
its all do-able with a 3/8 socket set. if you do it, take your time, and hand screw in the plugs on an extention as far as you can, dont cross thread etc. you might need to have it in access mode, and a box to stand on.

Thanks for the advice.
Parts ordered from Britcar.
A job for next week some time
 2002 4.4 V8 with LPG
Zambezi silver

Pretty standard on the Bmr engine for the plug space to have oil in it.
Probably a long time since you have had the plugs changed. On this basis its most likely a very slow drip, unless you are getting burning oil smell from drips onto the headers I would leave the gaskets alone and just monitor the inflow of oil to the plug space, 20mm PVC tube with a slot in the end and a rag soon gets the oil out
The cam cover on these engines is one of the worst I have ever encountered on an engine, the Germans really do know how to make a mess of things.
Its quite a trick job getting/keeping the gasket in place as you fit the cover, silastic is a must at the back to prevent leakage as far as Im concerned.

Zambezi, well worth checking with a straight edge that the mating surfaces are flat as the rocker covers have an annoying habit of warping!

Without checking it could be a BIG waste of your time sir...

I must admit that I'm in two minds about replacing the gaskets. Oil isn't leaking out of the engine, just into the spark plug area.
I could just replace the plugs which was what I was originally attempting to do.
If I do replace the gaskets I'll start with the drivers side (looks the easiest with the LPG installation) and see how it goes.
Thanks for all the advice.
David 2002 4.4 V8 with LPG
Zambezi silver

Just mop it up and change the plugs, as I said previously most likely the plugs have maybe never been changed.
Record the worst one and go back and check oil level after a month.