oil around the spark plugs-help!

[no_doz]

a friend of mine has a grand prix with this dohc 3.4 & recently it just up an decided it doesnt want to start anymore-i checked & it has spark-but when i pulled the spark plug boots off the socket & boot & upper half of the plug (above the threads) was covered with oil on each & we noticed that its out of oil. im considering trying to get this off of her but im trying to figure out whats probably wrong with it and at the moment all i can think of is that a valve cover gasket (one or both) is bad-what do you guys think?

it has spark
it has compression
the fuel pump is working
it has fuel
it is cranking over
and it is making no strange noises

thats all ive deduced without taking anything apart-can you guys give me some ideas as to what could be/probably is wrong with it. if you crank it over & gas it every now & then itll sputter a bit but thats it. any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[dohcfiend]

it could be your valve cover gasket but it is most likely your cam carrier gaskets.

[SuzukiGhostRider]

If you're sure it has spark and fuel ,then I would say you've arrived at a timing issue. GL.

[RedZMonte]

it could be your valve cover gasket but it is most likely your cam carrier gaskets.

oil on the plugs is most likely your valve cover O ring gaskets leaking. clean it, replace the valve cover gaskets and your good to go. they get dry and hard over time and leak.

if you have enough oil in you plug holes then it could cause the spark to fail. just like flooding the holes with water. assuming they are not full or you have cleaned them and you are getting spark then i would check the timing belt like they said. also i think its your crank sensor if it fails would cause it not to start. could be a few things.

S