So I noticed an extra ticking sound coming from my engine, found out one of the spark plugs had broken free from the metal fitting that screws it into the block. decided it would be best to just replace all 4 and when I pulled the last plug which was not the one that had broken, it was covered in fresh oil, the socket i used was covered in oil, and there was dried oil around the porcelin at its base. since all my experience is with small block chevy v8's i called a friend and he said maybe valve cover gasket. pulled off the valve cover and it really doesnt look like that would be my problem. what my question is what would cause the spark plug to break like that and is there a gasket at the base of the spark plug tube because I really cant see that much oil coming in through the top of it.

 

if its a 5sfe motor...the spark plug tube is threaded into the cylinder head. just remove them with a pipe wrench and reseal the thread..