My car has been running rough, sputtering thru the exhaust. I checked my #1 spark plug and it is black ( Accel gold tip, if that helps at all). They have about 8k miles on them. The tips that the wires plug into, on the one was a little loose and I tightened it by hand. Is this normal, could the rest be like that. I am not at home and don't have access to get under the car for the #8 plug.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3:73 Richmond Gears and 3" Hooker Aero Chamber
Corvette Servo & .500 boost valve
15.61@ 95.2mph G-Teched, 1-2 shift slippage
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

 

That black stuff is normal if you road them that much.You need to watch out if they are covered in white.anyways,if that black stuff was kinda oily...then oil is getting into the cumbustion chamber...not good.I think it;s time for new ones.

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It is not how you stand by your car,but how you race it.

 

Sounds like it could be running rich to me. I always thought the plug color was supposed to be like a beige color (light Brown) But I am sure some of the other guys will be a little more hepful and more knowledgeable than me.
Later
Mike

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(Gran Turismo Americano) "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber).

 

What part is black? Typically the outer ring is black and the inner porcelain should be brownish colored, although with different fuels it could be anything from yellow to red. If its wet with anything, thats not a good sign.

 

I wasn't wet at all, just black all over.

------------------
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3:73 Richmond Gears and 3" Hooker Aero Chamber
Corvette Servo & .500 boost valve
15.61@ 95.2mph G-Teched, 1-2 shift slippage
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

 

This help any?
http://www.hioutput.com/tech/plug.html

Pete

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Pete's Place
HiOutput Tech Page
83 SC
originally a V6...now
210+k mile LG4/5-speed
14.891@95.54
My karma ran over my dogma

 

Great, thanks for the website, looks like the carbon fouling one. Could this cause my car to sputter. I was going to change them tomorrow, but should I wait a few days until I get a mechanic to correct the carburetor and just have him do it, or should I just go ahead and change the plugs.

------------------
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3:73 Richmond Gears and 3" Hooker Aero Chamber
Corvette Servo & .500 boost valve
15.61@ 95.2mph G-Teched, 1-2 shift slippage
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

 

Black is carbon fouled, its either running rich or the spark plug is too cold. It can cause missing. More than likely the car is running too rich.

 

I changed the plugs today, most of them looked good, the #6 one had some oil on it. I noticed while under the car and pulling off a plug wire, it was laying on the header. The wire was starting to crack, I replaced it and now the car runs great.

------------------
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3:73 Richmond Gears and 3" Hooker Aero Chamber
Corvette Servo & .500 boost valve
15.61@ 95.2mph G-Teched, 1-2 shift slippage
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"