Dave, What do you mean by spark plug recess? I would guess you mean the long aluminum tube that shields the plug from all the oil sloshing around inside the valve cover. If this is the case, keeping them entirely free of oil is probably impossible. Somehow, a residual amount of oil manages to see in there. The sludge is worse than it looks. I doubt any kind of flushing will stop the problem. Going out on a limb, the tube is light aluminum, in between the iron of the block and the iron, or steel, of the spark plug. Differences in how these metals react to heat probably causes a gap to briefly exist. Or, the gap between the top of the tube and the valve covers does not deal perfectly. I hope I am not barking up the wrong tree. (Or barking mad, for that matter.) Hugh ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Ford" <daveford1@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 9:48 AM Subject: IML: Dirty 58 HEMI > I just acquired my first 58 Imperial (with the claim of 44k orig. miles). I > had to clean some plugs to get it running and couldn't help notice the oily > sludge sitting in the sparkplug recess'. Is there a recommended practice > for cleaning or flushing and old engine that may not ever seen detergent > oil?