Oil on all spark plug threads... How screwed am I?

Oil /Fuel on the threads is pretty much normal...may be using a little oil

 

I guess I would say NGK designed the plugs to be compatible with copper plugs and I'm not in a position to question NGK engineers.

I didn't see this asked yet, but were the plugs tightened down or torqued properly?

 

I’m not either, but I base my opinion on reports.
There has been more than multiple reports of “rough idles and running” when switching to “premium” plugs in the 4.0. Why, I don’t know. If I said there have been guys go over 100k on the Copper plugs, would you believe me?

 

Yes.
I knew guys that never changed oil and then wondered why their vehicle used oil or made strange ticking or knocking sounds.

 

I used to work at AutoZone (21 years ago)
I heard a lot. Most of it came from ignorance or misinformed individuals.
Occasionally, you would get a BS’er in there. But most really didn’t know any better.

 

"the" spark plug debate "still" rages on - right up there with which filters, tires, oil, etc, ad nauseum, work best.....
Even Toyota puts 3 Denso's and 3 NGK's in the 4.0L Tacoma...You choose.
Way back when, when plug replacement frequency was every 10-12K, every gearhead had an opinion. Hell, I ran AC's in Fords, Champion's in Chevy's, Bosch's in Dodge's, (according to the experts at the time, all were bad for the engine and performance. "Chevy's ran best with AC's"..... and on, and on.....) and they ALL worked fine. Then came U-tipped, tri-tippped, platinum tipped, nickel, iridium, copper....... E-3, Pulstar, Brisk Multi-spark, and on and on......
With FEW exceptions, even today with extended replacement intervals, which plug works best is the product of: aggressive, effective and successful MARKETING. Sure, some anecdotal evidence might suggest other wise, but, yes, you can run other than a factory Denso or NGK in your 4.0L Tacoma without fear. Some web resources suggest that there are millions of vehicles in the US that NEVER get a spark plug change

 

My comment above wasn’t really about spark plugs.
It was about things I had heard from customers.

Like the guy that who would put a gallon of diesel fuel in his car every fill up.
Because it helped keep the fuel system clean. Stuff like that…….

 

lol, got me there too, I thought it was just a marketing term until I looked it up.
I don’t remember that from chemistry and physics but it’s right there in the periodic table lol. Discovered by a Russian in 1840, some smart people even back then.

 

Like I've looked at a periodic table since I was in high school over 50 years ago.

 

His wife's name was Ruth. /s

 

yes

 

Haha I’m assuming it’s symbol Ru is derived from “Russian”. Don’t quote me on that since I didn’t even know it was an element. Who knew I would learn about the elements in a truck forum.

 

Sounds like a solution in search of a problem

 

I tried Melodium plugs years ago but can’t recommend, kept hearing a singing sound.

 

And Nagging Bitchium just didn't sound right....

 

Completely subjective, but my taco runs much much smoother(no weird vibrations at red lights like there used to be so far or under load), and feels far more responsive although AFAIK the rutheniums are still very new. I'd be curious to take a look at iridium spark plugs after some 10k+ miles to see if they also had oil although I'm talking out of my ass and am only speculating based upon the combustion patterns from the NGK Ruthenium marketing that it possibly had something to do with it. Just seems odd that it's on all cylinders but wasn't present on my last spark plug change 10k miles back. Especially since there wasn't any oil above or below

 

Internal combustion is a dirty business. Threads gets dirty with oil and and combustion byproducts. If its running fine, don't overthink it. Just replace and move on

 

Yeah the current plan is just to run it forever, and just swap parts as needed since the frame is brand new with Cali dryness. Maybe an LS swap down the road since it'll be hauling project cars around