One oily plug?....

[Blue03Cobra]

So a little background, if you haven't seen my introductory post from back in October. 2008 GT, 5-spd and I'm the third owner...more like the second owner, because they (second owner) only drove the car 2,000 miles in two years. I have all the history on the car and the previous owner changed the oil every 4-5K miles, until they traded it in with 110K on the clock. It had 112K, when I bought it, and I finally got around to changing the plugs and coils (and fuel filter, btw, and that was nasty), at 118K.

#6 was the only plug with any oil on it. The rest had what was probably anti-seize. The electrodes all look good (and the same), but they were apparently gapped from the factory at 0.050! The car has had a 93 octane tune (and JLT CAI), from just a few weeks from bringing it home, and runs strong (for a basically stock 3V). Not a huge change in performance (although I haven't draggy-d it since the tune-up), but does seem to idle a bit more smoothly...even though it wasn't rough, before the work.

Not sure what to think of the #6 (valve guide?), but the car doesn't smoke or burn oil.

Opinions solicited and welcomed.

 

[StockishS197]

#6 is right by driver side PCV where most of the oil buildup occurs. If the car is running strong, I wouldn’t worry.

Maybe get a catch can..mine fills up every oil change.

 

[Blue03Cobra]

Great info, thanks. Ironically, I just did the drivers' side and it sure works. Will look at a PS one, now.

Here's about an ounce, for a little.over 1,000 miles. Not much gas smell, almost.all oil.

 

[StockishS197]

IMO, the driver side one is really the only one you need. That is the vacuum side of the PCV. The passenger side is the vent before the TB and won’t pull much if any oil.

 

[Dino Dino Bambino]

A passenger side catch can would be in the path that draws fresh air INTO the crankcase, and therefore shouldn't collect any oil at all unless the engine has oil blowby through piston ring/bore wear.
A driver's side catch can, however, is highly recommended since that would be in the path that draws air containing oil vapors OUT of the crankcase and into the intake manifold i.e. the PCV side. All that oil vapor then coats the inside of the manifold, gums up the CMCVs and reduces performance.

 

[MasterofDisaster]

Some years, e.g., 09, the 4.6 plug gap was supposed to be 0.039–0.043 inch. The 08 manual said 0.040–0.050 inch, but I think mine is a late 08 and had the 09 gap.