Spark Plug Covered in Oil

[Averroes]

Hope everyone is well and happy,

Changed my spark plugs around 20,000 km ago on my 2004 Corolla. I decided to check them (was bored) and found oil in one of the spark plug tubes, and the plug itself had oil on it. I will be changing the valve cover gasket as it may be worn out and is a cheap fix. Question is, how can I clean the oil off the spark plug? Can I spray the entire thing with brake cleaner and let it dry?

Or, is there a special cleaner that I can drench the spark plug in? I just put the plugs in, they're iridium and I really don't want to change them all due to oil being on them. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[atikovi]

Brake cleaner is fine. Oil will burn off after a few seconds of running.

 

[Averroes]

Thanks for that. I’ll be changing the valve cover gasket as well, seems to be overdue. Here’s a picture of the old plugs I took out, they have 115,000 km on them.

 

[The Critic]

Put a rag over the spark plug hole. Using a long-nozzle blow gun and blow out as much oil as possible. Spray in some brake clean. Repeat.

 

[SpitFire6]

These are oily plugs.
Ford Ka 2006.
Deceased.

 

[Lubener]

With the miles you already have accrued on the plugs, I would just change them out and fix the possible valve cover oil leak.

 

[Averroes]

With the miles you already have accrued on the plugs, I would just change them out and fix the possible valve cover oil leak.

Yep, went ahead and did that. Thank you for the recommendation.