Oil on Spark Plugs

Just changed my plugs on my 2006 Aveo LS. I`ve owned the car 3 years and this is the first plug change I`ve done. I`ve had regular oil changes during the time I`ve owned the car.
The old plugs I pulled out look a little rusty colored but no deposits on them. The center electrodes look like they may have wore down because all 4 old plugs had a gap range of .060 to .070 which is way too much gap. Decided to change plugs after the car was running rough on idle at a stoplight with the ac on. Gapped the new plugs at .044 and car runs smoother.
One thing I found while changing plugs that alarms me a bit was that 3 of the 4 plugs had a bit of oil on them. The last plug I pulled as you can see with the 2 pic I`ve provided was that there seemed to be some oil pooled in the head above the plug itself. When I pulled the plug you can see that oil covered the spark plug socket when I lossened the plug and pulled the socket and plug out. Needless to say some of this oil dropped into the cylinder and burned off the first minute I started the car.
My car has never burned oil nor does it seem to go thru oil between changes.

Without doing a cylinder pressure check, could I have worn rings or is there any other possible cause?
The car has 78,xxx miles on it

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/6585/mmspicturen.jpg
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/1...spicture2f.jpg
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thankfully its nothing that serious. Just change the gaskets on the valve cover.

yeah it is the valve cover gasket, I had the same thing happen to me (I blew mine out at 45k, cheap fix)

Hey out there,...
I`m new to this forum and need some help with the valve cover gasket for my 08 Aveo 5.... First, is there any spray sealant needed for the gasket or does it go on dry?, ...Second, Are there any hidden pitfalls for the task before me?.... Lastly, can anyone link me to a video of somebody doing the job???
Thanks, I love my little car and look forward to getting that oil out of the plugs!!!!
John

Here are the instructions for 2008 aveo:

LXT Engine

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions section.
   
2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
   
3. Remove the engine cover bolts and cover.
   
4. Disconnect the breather tube from the valve cover.
   
5. Disconnect the crankcase ventilation tube from the valve cover.
   
6. Disconnect the camshaft position (CMP) sensor connect.
   
7. Disconnect all of the necessary vacuum lines.
   
8. Disconnect the ignition wires from the spark plugs.
   
9. Remove the valve cover bolts.
   
10. Remove the valve cover
    
11. Remove the valve cover gasket from the valve cover.

Attachment 6241
To install:

1. Apply a small amount of gasket sealant to the corners of the front camshaft caps and the top of the rear valve cover to cylinder head seal.
   
2. Install the new valve cover gasket to the valve cover.
   
3. Install the valve cover.
   
4. Install the valve cover bolts.
   
5. Tighten the valve cover bolts to 89 inch lbs. (10 Nm).
   
6. Connect the ignition wires from the spark plugs.
   
7. Connect all of the necessary vacuum lines.

Connect the CMP sensor connector

Attachment 6242
9. Connect the crankcase ventilation tube to the valve cover.
10. Connect the breather tube from the valve cover
11. Install the spark plug cover.
12. Install the spark plug cover bolts.
13. Tighten the engine cover bolts to 27 inch lbs. (3 Nm)
14. Connect the negative battery cable.




For video tutorial there are plenty on youtube or just google valve cover gasket replacement.

this is also a problem in Chrysler's old 2.0L SOHC "Neon" engine, except in that case, it had Separate Spark Plug Tube Seals pressed into the valve Cover. Over time, the seals would get hard and brittle, allowing oil to get past the seals, run down inside the spark Plug tubes, eventually submerging the spark plug and spark plug wire boot in oil, shorting them out against the Cylinder head.