any car mechanics out there ?

[videojetman]

i was changing my spark plugs last week and when i came to remove the old plugs a couple were dripping with engine oil. my question is what could be the main cause for this, someone suggested the head gasket might need changing, but there is none of the white creamy gunk in the oil filler cap.
also can the timing belt be changed without taking the car to a garage and spending 100's of pounds ?
the car in question is my crappy old daewoo kalos.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Multiple possible causes from blocked breathers right through to nacked piston rings.

Yes, timing belts are Not usually difficult, although the odd car here and there requires a manufacturer's tool of some sort.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Valve seals... possibly.

Cambelt depends on the particulars of the car (some are easy, some REALLY aren't) and you mechanical ineptitude level.

 

[legrandefromage]

very possibly Vauxhall engines, sooooo....?

 

[highlandsflyer]

Oil a number of possibilities. Not familiar with the engine but could someone have been sloppy topping up the oil? Depends which spark plugs had oil on them.

The Dawoe forums mention a guy in Rotherham who would do your belt economically. Otherwise ask around locally, for example at an MOT only centre, they always make decent recommendations.

I have done loads of belts, and you can usually borrow any specialist tools from someone off a forum, or buy them on the Bay and sell once done. If it is not your main ride I would be tempted to do it myself.

 

[just jacques]

Valve stem seals or rings, a compression test will give you the answer.

 

[videojetman]

many thanks for the advice, i have a neighbour who is a time served mechanic, he's back off holiday next week so i'll get him to have a look.

 

[jimo746]

Is the car a runner?
Could just be a bit of oil down the plug well that ran down onto the plug electrode as you unscrewed it (oil spilt whilst filling engine up, or leaky cam/rocker cover gasket).
Maybe valve stem oil seals, you'll notice blue smoke out the exhaust on startup if it is (I'm not talking about the usual white condensation kind of smoke though).
Piston rings, you'll probably find you're getting through quite a bit of oil if its these that have gone.
Are you sure it wasn't fuel on the plugs and not oil? Could just be flooded and plugs wet with fuel.

You mentioned cambelt/timing, so what colour were the ends of the spark plugs when you removed them? Black? White? Brown?