dobbslc wrote:Mate it looks to me like your valve cover gaskets have gone thats all, If the plug tip is clean but the bit above the threads is oiled it could just be oil running down the plug tunnels. I would say you just need to get new rocker/valve cover gaskets and touque them correctly.
I know this as I drive a Vauxhall with an ECO-TEC engine...........
it looked exactly the same.

How does oil pass down through a plug sealing washer, run down a plug thread when subjected to 180psi? coming up the other way.

Dave.

i'm happy to change the valve cover gaskets, but i was not looking forward or even gonna attempt the valve stem seals.. i wouldnt know where to start
i'll do what Uber suggests and run it for a few days and see how the new plugs look. the oil was fine before christmas and i have only rode it twice since, so i didnt actually check it at the weekend before takin it out for a ride.

CMSMJ1 wrote:if it was your valve cover gaskets then even a child could replace them...

is the valve cover gasket the camshaft cover gasket? same thing?
could you point me in right direction on here
http://www.cmsnl.com/rvf400rr-nc35-japa ... /?q=rvf400

Yes, no5 on the cylinder head cover.

It is not knackered, it is normal. Don't be fretting about it. A touch of oil is not a bad thing as if the threads were dry as a bone I reckon we'd get much more sheared plugs!

thanks.. i'll put it out my head and stop worrying.
no doubt there is something else that'll give me sleepless nights next time im out on it..

for a bike with only 10,000 miles and clean as anything, i know there shouldnt be much wrong with it.. but i am a serial fretter when it comes to my 'baby'

I'll pull the plugs out of my bikes and show you a straight out the bike pic - we'll see what they look like!

Unless the engine had covered a very high mileage and was smoking and using oil I would ignore it.
I might investigate if only one plug was oily.

Dave.

I've been and whipped out plug no3 - it has a little blob of oil on the end of the threads...

No worries with that

The oil can sit in the plug tunnel and then when you take the plug out it gets on the threads, if the motor runs fine then it's probably the gasket that's gone. The tip of the plug looks good and clean so I think you are ok as far as major problems are concerned.