Need a plug reading
 

This coming Sunday I've got a private track rental to go to so I figured I would do some basics before hand. Changed the oil/filter, fuel filter, and new plugs even though the ones I took out were only like 2 months old and had 2 bottles on them. Anyway I pulled number 8 out and found this. Now mind you the motor has almost 150k on it and a 100k worth the spray. I know the the motor is tired but to me it looks like it could be sooner than later that I will have serious issues by looking at this plug. Also there was oil on the threads. Maybe Don could chime in on this one.

looks like ash to me

http://www.v6z24.com/mods/howto/imag...gs/plugs19.jpg

Ash - lean on fuel in that cylinder from nitrous? says caused from fuel additives. do you add anything?

No don't add anything. Wondering if its from the oil adadditives? there was oil on the threads. But I did install new valve seals when I changed the cam last year.

I had a plug that had some ash on it like that, and probably not coincidentally I think my car has bad valve seals. The electrode was not white like yours however, which would suggest excessive heat or running lean. I assume it's a colder heat range plug for the spray? If you just did valve seals and there's still evidence of oil it might be worth doing a compression check just to rule it out, although you might be down compression anyways from the life that motor has had.

Oh I can almost be sure that the motor is down on compression and the rings are gettting worn.

Back cylander isn't getting enough fuel common on nozzle systems just be careful or jet up a tiny bit more fuel

oil burning can also cause detonation at high rpm. food for thought.

rings are shot. But we know this. Pull 2 degree's of timing on the spray.