What's up with these plugs?

[bstarr3]

My 91 318 has been overheating. I'm putting in a fresh water pump and thermostat. It has gotten pretty warm (almost to the red) so while I've got the engine apart I'm looking for any signs of hg failure. No oil in water or water in oil. No coolant or coolant smell on plugs. But I did notice something strange about my plugs:

#1 and #2 have oil on the wire side. I just replaced valve gasket and plug seals 500 miles ago. #3 and #4 both smell like gas. Not the tip of the plug, the plug wires themselves smell like gas when I pull them. That seems abnormal to me. Any thoughts on these plugs? (Plugs themselves were changed at same time as VC gasket). I'll post pics later today

Any of this sound concerning for head gasket? Once I get it put back together I'll do a coolant pressure test.

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[Cyrix2k]

gas on the plugs generally means they're not firing. Are they noticeably cleaner than 1 & 2?

[bstarr3]

As promised:

Left to right 4-3-2-1

Larger 4-3:


2-1:


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[Cyrix2k]

They look fine to me. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it unless it runs poorly when it's all back together.

[mr ilia]

No coolant in oil, is the sign not to take the head off...likely either the fan is not working or some coolant lines are bloked or not bleed well. Also, use coolant not water.

Edit. Plugs look well and engine seems to combust healthy.

[bmwm42]

x3 plugs look fine

[bmwguy325is]

Plugs look ok other than they are not great plugs. The old school bosch plugs have treated me well.
As for over heating check fan. Then the temps across the radiator core to check for blockages.