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Why is there oil on my spark plugs?

My car has been running weirdly low on oil, no matter how much I put in. My mechanic said they found some oil on the spark plugs. Why is there oil on my spark plugs?

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Bonnie Stinson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We can answer this! A leaking valve cover gasket is the likely reason why there is oil on your spark plugs.
If any of your seals and valves are leaking, oil can slip past and end up on the spark plugs. From the O-ring seal to the head gasket, there are many possible sources of the leaking oil. Whatever the cause, it’s not good—and you can expect to pay between $150 to $1,600 to repair the damage.
There is a very slim chance that a damaged piston could be at fault, but this is rare.
Your best bet is to ask the
skilled mechanic
to keep exploring and resolve the problem.
If you’re anxious about a costly repair, you might want to try the free
Jerry
app to see if you could pay less for your
car insurance
insurance. Jerry only needs 45 seconds to compare rates from other companies—and the average user finds $800 in annual savings.
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