92k on these plugs (OEM) 05 Q anyone tell engine condition with plug pic?

[O5Q45]

I'll share a link to a pic of the plug. I've never seen one like it pulled out of a motor.. I see online plugs can be "read" for motor condition.. so can anyone tell what life's been like for this engine? I've had it for 5k miles. Hoping the oil at the base of the rings isn't the valve gasket issue creeping in..

http://pho.to/AS9xo

[Skibane]

So can anyone tell what life's been like for this engine?

It had Ebola, but it got better

[O5Q45]

LOL

[94Q45Beast]

looks like your running some fuel additives through the tank

[O5Q45]

I've only had the car for 5,000 miles. I have ran Techron thru once. From what I could tell on the internet of photos of other plugs was oil being burnt and leaving deposits..? I just wondered why there is actual liquid oil on the first few threads of the plug..

[qship96]

lots of deposits that should not be there.I ran factory plugs up to 130,000 miles and they never had any "growth" like that.

[O5Q45]

Qship96 I really appreciate the response to my question. I was quite stunned myself when I pulled the first plug. I have never seen anything like that in a car I owned. Any idea why those deposit growths would be there? Lack of oil changes? Cheap/incorrect octane fuel? What would you surmise ? I wish I could see in the motor to see oil sludge/varnish or not..

[O5Q45]

*And, I hadn't read the forum on plug selection before purchasing and installing Bosch Double Platinum.. Big mistake?

[qship96]

look online,you should find pics of plugs in various conditions explaining what they are,try googling examining sparkplug conditions or something like that.....in the old days,we had books with pics and descriptions of what caused certain color deposits,etc


best to use factory plugs,but if it is running ok,might as well wait til you are back in there to change valve cover gaskets as the additional labor to swap plugs while doing gaskets is nil.Generally,the gaskets fail like clockwork{seep oil} on every generation Q around 100-110K.....makes sense to do plugs and gaskets as one operation,and the factory plugs have always lasted that long.

[HansCC]

(all assumptions by me) Are you seeing any error codes regarding o2 sensors or knock sensors - that can affect the fuel mix. Almost looks like blow-by on rings - have not seen plug color like this... how is compression?
Link here with same symptom - oil in combustion chamber - https://themidnightmechanic.wordpress.com/page/2/

[O5Q45]

No codes at all here. I've been getting 16-20mpg. I add half a quart every 1800 miles or so... I have never seen color like this either. As far as compression I assume all is good due to the fact the car runs excellent and is always wanting to pull all the way up the rpm band. A little history on the car, it was owned by two owners, first was a lease and the second purchaser both lived dead center in downtown and worked there too. That means A lot of the 92k was extended, hot idling in bumper to bumper traffic.. I have no idea if those specifics would yield such a look on the plugs..??

[94Q45Beast]

The orange looking stuff is from the fuel additives... as far as your plugs go ... idk if your gen Q runs on the same plugs as the previous Q's (pfr5g-11's, super cheap at rockauto.com). The first few threads that are covered in oil is most likely from leaky VCG I suggest you get your combustion chamber thoroughly cleaned (spray Sea Foam in each cylinder and let it soak while you reinstall the plugs...the correct plugs....and don't let the Sea Foam pool up) and get your VCG changed (stick with OEM gaskets, fairly priced at infiniti of South Atlanta) and only coat the ceramic portion of the plug in the di-electric grease with some anti seize on the threads and you should be good to go, running anything other than OEM plugs is a big No-No (personal experience) any smoke from the exhaust?

[O5Q45]

Yea I get smoke on start up.. so I am assuming the previous owner excessively used fuel additives? Or the wrong ones..? So should we not use additives? I use Techron every 3k and have only used it once in this car. I don't have the knowledge or experience to change the VCG in this car with all the stuff over the top of the motor. I've changed one or two on a 88 Accord and 95 Civic. I'm going to have to save to get it changed. I hope it isn't like on the old LS430 I had and be 1100$... Lastly, these plugs, what was your experience with plugs other than OEM?