hey all, i've got a '72 with a 412 sbc that tends to get oil on the plugs pretty bad. the engine was built by the previous owner's friend, so the guy knew very little about it, which means i know even less. so i apologize for the complete lack of info. anyway, when i got it, the plugs were just crusted with oil, which i cleaned off and put them back in the engine (cause i'm not gonna spend the money on new plugs just to get them covered in oil the next time i start the car). sure enough after a while the plugs got oil on them again (but at least it's not crusted on). when running, a little oil seems to splatter out of the tailpipes. i'm not sure if it's oil though, as that seems a little hard to believe. also, i don't know if this matters, but the hose running from the pcv valve to the carb has quite a good coating of oil in it. anyways, any insight anyone can give is appreciated, and if you need more info let me know and i'll be glad to help as i can. thanks guys.
-sean

[This message has been edited by sideburns72 (edited 02-08-2003).]

Does your oil get dirty real fast to?
Blue smoke out of the tailpipes?

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73 Malibu
400ci/435hp/503ftlbs
TC#1031

Definition of an expert:
Someone who knows more and more about less and less.

i suppose that yeah, my oil seems to get pretty dirty rather quickly. at least in comparison to how much i drive my car. i've only put maybe 50-60 miles at least on the car since i last changed the oil and it seems pretty dirty for only that much use. as for the blue smoke, it's hard to tell, it's so damn cold around here you can always see the exhaust, but i wouldn't say it has a blue tint to it, though.
thanks
-sean

I had the same thign coming out of my tailpipes. Black sotty looks liek oil? mine was gasoline i turned the idle mixture leaner fixed that problem now i got to figure out why its foulign plugs still with gas

Sounds like a possibility of multiple problems to me.
Carburetion, If you can get your hands on a known good carb, install it and see if that doesn't help the plug foul.
Then I'd get the compression checked. That should get you started anyway.

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73 Malibu
400ci/435hp/503ftlbs
TC#1031

Definition of an expert:
Someone who knows more and more about less and less.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gary_E:
Does your oil get dirty real fast to?
Blue smoke out of the tailpipes?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

chvyscott67 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gary_E:
Does your oil get dirty real fast to?
Blue smoke out of the tailpipes?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>if the oil is on the threads of the plugs , it couls be the intake gasket

there is oil on the lug threads, and i've done some searching on posts and it seems like the intake gaskets are a possibility. as luck may have it, i plan on swapping manifolds sometime in the near future so i'll make sure i use the right gaskets with it and see what happens. that is, of course, unless i'm risking majorly screwing something up by holding off, in which case, i'll be getting the new intake now. i ain't complaining!!
thanks again guys.
-sean

Side, u just figured out my problem too........ Something bout Felpro blue and alumuinum intake?!?!? I was pulling my hair out too for......... ever. Thanks