Oil in my spark plug wells

[bannre10]

Hey Guys,

Today whilst adjusting my valves (3000 k's after due because Im lazy) I found oil in the wells where the spark plugs connect to the leads. Am I right in thinking this means the gaskets sealing the plugs from the top of the engine are stuffed?

If so are there any valve gasket kits that are good quality/ are there any I should specifically avoid?

The car is a 91 318is and I'm located in Australia if that changes anything in terms of suggestions.

[series88]

Pretty much. I think the most commonly available gasket is victor reinz

[e30 vert]

well seems like you have a m42 engine which i heard they dont need a valve adjustment

someone correct me if im wrong

if you want to change your gaskets victor reinz is the way to go

[series88]

^they still do like most engines. Just not as needed as the m20s. (i think) Ive driven an adjusted m42 and my p.o.s and it does make a difference. :)

[Fidhle007]

How do you adjust hydraulic lifters...? Oil in your spark plug wells is due to a leaky valve cover gasket.

[ELVA164]

He probably has an m40, which should have hydraulic lifters as well. You can adjust them, but they aren't supposed to need as many adjustments as standard valves.

[Fidhle007]

Wouldn't a '91 318s have an M42? Even down under?

[blunttech]

in to learn how to adjust hydraulics

[Vtec?lol]

M40's aren't hydraulic. I thought they were belt driven SOHC. They aso have the plugs aligned to the side of the head.
Valves are adjustable.

[Fidhle007]

But they were only in early 318i and 316i cars. So the point is completely moot.

[andrewm]

in to learn how to adjust hydraulics

Run extremely thin oil

[Vtec?lol]

But they were only in early 318i and 316i cars. So the point is completely moot.

That is partially incorrect. they weren't only in early cars.

[ELVA164]

in to learn how to adjust hydraulics

Foot-in-mouth moment. Turns out some motors have adjustment on the plungers but the M40/M42 don't. They use springs it appears. :???:

M40's aren't hydraulic. I thought they were belt driven SOHC. They aso have the plugs aligned to the side of the head.
Valves are adjustable.

Dunno if a wiki is a good enough source, but http://84.45.115.78/e30zonewiki/index.php/M40

[Fidhle007]

I meant E30s.

[TobyB]

RealOEM is awesome. It lets me waste 5 minutes figuring out that, yep,
you COULD get an M40 in an E30,

but nope, it also has hydraulic adjusters on a pivot underneath the cam, like the later M44.

t