Seeking expert spark plug readers.

[saamiam]

Happy and blessed New Year's brothers. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to give me your best expert or non-expert observation, opinion, Or other with regards to the four spark plugs in the picture below. They are cylinders 1,2,3,4 from left to right.. Thank you in advance and all, all opinions are welcome.

[winguyjo]

no expert here, but cylinder 1 is rich or mis-firing ... the other 3 are probably not really as lean as the picture makes them appear so i wouldnt worry about them for now.

[saamiam]

Thank you good sir...

Oh BTW, here is my beloved 86 aspencade today.. she's been on a bit of a diet..

[ct1500]

Your #1 plug is badly fouled so in essence the engine is running on 3-3 1/2 cylinders. First do a compression test on engine to eliminate mechanical problems with that cylinder. If spark quality is okay up to including spark plug then start looking into the carb.

[Redwing52]

All good answers. I would add that a black plug like that does not guarantee a rich mixture. The mixture can be so lean it can not fire. Still has fuel in the combustion chamber but not enough for a normal fire. It can just "fizzle" (misfire) causing a spark plug like you have. Don't pull your hair out chasing just a rich condition. If the other 3 plugs are new there is not enough time on them to read yet. If you look at the bottom of the porcelain there might be the start of coloring don there.

[WingAdmin]

You could also check: "How to 'read' spark plugs"

[saamiam]

All good answers. I would add that a black plug like that does not guarantee a rich mixture. The mixture can be so lean it can not fire. Still has fuel in the combustion chamber but not enough for a normal fire. It can just "fizzle" (misfire) causing a spark plug like you have. Don't pull your hair out chasing just a rich condition. If the other 3 plugs are new there is not enough time on them to read yet. If you look at the bottom of the porcelain there might be the start of coloring don there.

Thank you Redwing.. that was indeed the culprit!!!

[ct1500]

Thank you Redwing.. that was indeed the culprit!!!

???What was the culprit and what did you fix?

[klook]

Still no answer.....what was the culprit? Lean mixture? bad plug? Damn man, don't leave everyone hanging and the next guy has to ask all over again......