Hi,

So I have noticed my Octavia SLXi 1999 1.8 using more petrol than normal lately so thought I would check the plugs, every single plug was covered in oil around the the threads and firing end. I cannot see any oil in the coolant, the temps are fine and the car isn't using oil. But there is a lot of oil around the engine generally, it seems to be coming from the rocker cover gasket.

Is it possible a leaking gasket could cause oil to get on the plugs? And if not what else coud it be?

I checked the oil level this morning and it was fine, but I did fill it up about a month ago, and its possible I may have put slightly too much in, would this have caused it?

Any help appreciated.

Thank you

Jon

Additionally has anyone ever changed the rocker cover gasket? Is it a straight forward job?

And I don't have a torque wrench, is it possible to do it without one?

Regards

Jon

My old 1.8 20v (non turbo) toledo used to have a leaky rocker gasket, and would leak oil down the spark plug wells. I was going to change it, but the gearbox went, and the car wasn't worth a new one.

Shouldn't be too hard to do mind, I did one on a 16v corsa and it was easy enough. I'm not sure whether the 20v unit has a gasket though, or whether it just uses sealant.

Yeah it has a gasket, checked with Skoda, though the ones that they show are rubber, but the one on my car seems to be cork???

Jon

Maybe it's different for the non-turbo versions. Mine had to have a new rocker cover gasket back in 2008 as it was leaking oil down the back of the block, as far as I know it was a rubber one they fitted.

The Haynes manual has proved to be next to useless, the procedure they described doesnt even cover my engine, even though my engine is listed as one it covers. I have contacted Skoda and they say its a rubber gasket that it needs, so I am wondering why the hell mine looks like it is made from cork! Wont know until I take it off, unfortunately its not a part Skoda stock amazingly so need to order it in :(

Jon