oil on spark plug / ticking under valve cover

The driver side 2nd spark plug fouls about ever 3 to 4 weeks. The plug has oil on the threads and the top is covered in a black flim. The car starts running like complete crap cause the plug is no longer firing. I replace the plug and I am good as new for a few weeks, then same story. A few searches on here mentioned valve cover gasket could cause oil on the plug. I also have a ticking sound coming from / around the driver side valve cover. The ticking is not an exhaust manifold leak.

Tell me this is not as bad as I am thinking it is. Engine has 140,000 miles on it.

Thanks.

bill302 said:

what does the electrode look like and can you post pictures.

Click to expand...

There was more oil down at the bottom of the threads, I wipped it off when I first took it out.