The last few times I have changed my plugs, I've noticed there is some oil on each one. My first thought was to replace the valve cover gasket and the 4 o-rings. I did this but it did not help...
What could be causing this, and is it a serious problem?

 

thats what i was going to tell you to do but im not sure(not enough experience)

 

Ring problem?

 

if it is a ring problem, is it pretty serious (likely to get worse and cause more internal damage)?

 

yea, if you ask me its the rings check it out it might be messing with your compression also. The rings are worn-out making it easy for the oil to seep in through the combustion chamber. Good luck bro.

 

If its a ring problem, it can become a very serious problem later on down the road. As boggie said, compression test it. You know what you might want to use, its a product called Restore...search and you will find some info on it. Ive heard its great, and might help you.

 

do a compression test AND a leakdown test, that should help figure out weather its your rings or a burned valve! but either way, getting oil on your plugs means a rebuild, be it a head rebuild/valve job, or bottom end/whole engine rebuild!
-sage

 

I'm now noticing a slight power loss.
Thanks all for the info. I'll check it out ASAP

 

and either a valve or rings will cause a power loss, due to loss of compression which can be diagnosed by compression and leakdown tests.
good luck!
sage

 

Just wanted to clarify...

The oil is not on the bottom of the plug where the actual spark is. I figure if it was, the plug would not even spark at all or maybe I wouldn't be able to tell because the oil would just burn away.??? It is in the middle mostly right where the threading is and it's not completely saturated, but there is a noticeable amount on there.
I don't know if this makes any difference or not but just wanted to describe it more clearly.

Approximately how much will it cost to get a compression and leakdown test done?

 

You can do the compression test your self, get a compression tester(30-60 bucks). Leakdown...not sure =/

 

if its noticebly only on one side of the sparkplug and there is basically none on the other side, then you very likely have a bad valve guide/valve guide seal......which means taking the head of and getting a valve job, because doing just one valve is kinda pointless as the others could follow suite.....
-sage

 

seem kind of weird cause you said you changed the v cover gasket and all o-rings. if it is a ring problem the oil is riding up on the walls of the combustion chamber a wetting the plug from the threads down. i hope i explained this correctly either way what ever the problem is you should get it checked out ASAP .