Subaru Repair: subaru plug wires, spark plug wires, valve cover gasket

Question
My wifes car needs a set of new plug wires, as the current wires are arking and causing the engine to mis-fire. This would be my firts time changing wires on a subaru. The car is an '02 Impreza with a 2.2 engine. Why do the wires seem to pull out so hard on the spark-plug end? As of yet, I havent changed the wires as I'm concerned that maybe I'm doing something wrong. Also, it appears that engine oil seeped out of the holes where the spark plugs are located, once I started pulling on them. Is that normal?  

Answer
The spark plug wires may be hard to pull off because they have been on so long. Or, if the last time the plugs were changed, they might not have put a dab of dielectric grease on the end of the plug or in the spark plug wire boot that goes on the spark plug. Have the plugs been in for 30,000 miles or more? If they have, you will want to change them when you have the plug wires off. To use NGK plugs, and not platinum, since that is what Subaru recommends and often uses from the factory. Occasionally, they get out of the factory with Champions, but they are not the best replacement plug for your car. NGK - from the dealer or from an independent parts store is the best way to go.

Regarding your oil leak, we are starting to see more of that here. The spark plug hole o ring on the valve cover is leaking. The oil will eventually cause a problem on your new plug wires so valve cover gasket replacement is in order. If you want to try and tackle that, I can send you a pdf file that shows you step by step what to do.

Good luck and try back if you need more help.