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Should My Spark Plugs Look Like This After Four Days?

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aridsmith

Probationary Member
25
0
Jun 5, 2005
Shalimar, Florida
I had a rumble problem with my car. I changed the spark plugs and cleaned the TB, and that seemed to fix the problem. The third day on the road I could feel a little rumble but it still felt normal. Today, the rumble/idle surge is back.

My old spark plugs were covered in oil deposits. My car had just been back from the shop and many oil leaks were repaired so I figured these deposits were from those old oil leaks.

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Sorry, my camera came free with my computer. But you can tell that on the top threads it solid black. I can't tell if its oil deposits myself. But the spark plugs are only four days only so is that normal?
 

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if its white = lean or leaking head gasket
if its black = rich or oil burning
if its a tan color = is just right :)
 
So are the plugs just black, or are they actually covered in oil?

If they are covered in oil, that means your problem is either turbo/valve seal/piston ring related. An external oil leak will not foul out your spark plugs.

If they are just black/sooty, then you are probably rich. I would do a boost leak test to rule that out as a cause.
 
I'm pretty sure its covered with oil deposits, I'm able to wipe off the black, but I have sinuses so I can't tell if it has a smell :(.

So that basically means I'm in a bad position? I don't think I'd be able to do the work myself, and the shops around here are saying it'd be a lot of work to tear into the engine like that.
 
Well, I've been told that if you are able to wipe off the black from the spark plug, then it is extra gases. But if you try to wipe and it smudges, then it is oil.

Mine wipes off, but I don't know where to go from here.
 
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