What the heck is this?

[Formula413]

Lately I thought I felt a slight skip in my car at idle. I decided to check a few plugs just to see how they looked. I checked 1, 3, 5 and 4 because they're the "easy" ones to get to. This is number 5:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t95/atd413/Spark%20plugs/5a.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t95/atd413/Spark%20plugs/5b.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t95/atd413/Spark%20plugs/5c.jpg

Any thoughts on what might be causing that? I suspect my car has bad valve seals due to the oil consumption, and I've seen pictures of plugs that had deposits like that and it was caused by oil. Number 1 looked like that but not as bad, number 3 looked fine, as did number 4:

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t95/atd413/Spark%20plugs/4a.jpg

I've got some brand new NGKs ready to go in but I would love to resolve this issue before I install them.

[DemonWithin99]

Looks like fkn barnicles ...
Looks like valve seals (could be wrong though)

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

you adding anything to your oil or fuel?

[Formula413]

Not lately, was going to put some Marvel in the fuel next fillup

[TrickrTreat]

you adding anything to your oil or fuel?

wouldnt matter , it would be on all 8.

Ive never seen that , and for you thats not good. lol.........maybe long term seep from a headgasket on that cylinder?

[Formula413]

I don't think it's a headgasket, the car is never down a drop of coolant.

Here's some pics I found, descriptions said the plugs were from engines that burned oil

http://image.superstreetonline.com/f/techarticles/8999504+w791/130_0703_07_z+reading_spark_plugs+burning_oil.jpg

http://www.engines1.com/images/blogpics/fouled_plugs.jpg

And here's the pic from the back of the Haynes manual:

http://forums.themustangsource.com/attachments/f693/103070d1331008538-oil-spark-plug-threads-image-4100345224.jpg

The engine goes through a quart every 1,000-1,200 miles so it would make sense. Since it still runs strong I suspect it's valve seals, but changing them means having to reset the preload on the rockers, not sure I am up for trying that myself.

[ZFreie]

Stock rockers?

[Formula413]

Yup

[ZFreie]

I've done mine, lol.

Pretty easy, just takes some time and gotta pay close attention, save the 6 pack for after lol

[snowking]

Time for an LS swap.

[TrickrTreat]

Those images of the plugs are for reference and usually apply to all 8.......even if it is oil consumption deposits (which it may be) you still got an issue because from the pics of all the plugs you have, it appears ONE cylinder is using all that oil lol.

[Formula413]

Well like I said, I only looked at four plugs, and two had those deposits. This isn't anything I lose sleep over, the car still runs great, I would just like to sort this out.

[ZFreie]

Well like I said, I only looked at four plugs, and two had those deposits. This isn't anything I lose sleep over, the car still runs great, I would just like to sort this out. Every time I start my car I tell my self this lol

[KB93z28]

Your car has STD's!!!!!! haha jk, looks pretty similar to the ash picture on the diagram. Pretty weird tho, how many miles are on your car? my plugs looked fine with 174k on the motor

[Formula413]

Just hit 97,000

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

might be a broken spring damper that took out a valve seal. pull the valve cover and look for pieces or signs. it will be obvious.

[Formula413]

Car's about to get parked for ~6 weeks so not doing anything anytime soon LOL But I will check it out. What and where is the spring damper?

[holokosta]

Car's about to get parked for ~6 weeks so not doing anything anytime soon LOL But I will check it out. What and where is the spring damper?

ooh man why is your car getting parked for so long alex?

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

Car's about to get parked for ~6 weeks so not doing anything anytime soon LOL But I will check it out. What and where is the spring damper?

its the little waffer spring thats inside the valve springs to help with deflection. they break from time to time. and wen they do they beat up on the valve seals.

[DemonWithin99]

Damn that road trips gonna take that long?
I mad my round country trec in 4weeks, long stops in CA, TX, and SC.

[jayws6]

I know broke all inner springs ripped up all valve seals ,

Alex not bad job for one cylinder I did all 16

[KLAB]

So did you ever resolve it Alex?

[Formula413]

Not yet. I think the first step is to try changing the valve seals but I don't know if I want to try to tackle that or not.

[ZFreie]

Not yet. I think the first step is to try changing the valve seals but I don't know if I want to try to tackle that or not.Group car fix day in spring

If 1 person can't screw it up, 15 of us can make it even worse lol

[ILuvPizzaTimes10]

get a leak down tester and use it to pump the cylinder with air to keep the vales up. wack em with a dead blown to free up the keepers. not hard or more then once. just a small tap will do. and it is cake from there.

[bottledbird68]

Yeah it's not that bad to do