Found minimal oil in one of the six spark plugs well. What's cause and is it a costly repair? Also I've had the VVT actuator gear recall done at the dealership. Could this have been caused by a faulty valve cover gasket?

 

When you pulled the spark plug, was the oil on the electrode end or on the upper end? The difference being if oil is on the electrode end, oil is getting into the combustion chamber. This could be a NUMBER of things, none of which is good. If only on the upper end of the plug, then it is a spark plug tube seal that needs replacing. Cheap and DIY.

 

Thanks for the reply, yes it's only on the upper end of the plug none on the electrode. When you say upper end you mean the threading right? How hard from a scale 1-10 is it to replace the spark plug tube seal?

 

Well, three new tube seals is only around $10 (P/N : 1119370010) + whether you decide to do a new valve cover gasket; but the costs will be in the labor, unless you DIY. It will require removing/moving quite a few items to get that cover removed. But none of it is really difficult, just time-consuming.

 

Is this something I have to get replaced ASAP?

 

^Well, depending on the severity of the leak itself would determine that. If you start mis-firing, then I'd say the oil is causing firing issues in that cylinder. But no, not an immediate need type of thing; but one of those that you will want to fix in time.