Calling All Spark Plug Experts, Opinions on these pics.

How much oil is the engine using? If it is excessive, that would tell you that engine work is next.

this article covers the misting of engine oil
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV)


Boy racers use these things
Crankcase Pressure Control
I'd just make my own using PVC pipe, a plastic tuffy scoring pad and plumbing


an invention to deal with open valley misting into the intake manifold
US Patent: Engine cylinder block and valley cover therefor


Even a stuck piston ring, or worn engine oil ring on one or more of
the pistons


Check your PCV/EGR valaves and their runners...still say to blow it out every
once in a while

Kinda looks like oil fouling

That is oil fouled and for the early 8.1L...from the open area underneath the
intake manifold. Subsequent had a sheetmetal pan covering it

All ICE's mist engine oil. Some has a direct route into the intake...others via
the PVC system

Here are the plugs from my 'built' 5.7L 1980 Silverado.



The 'white stuff' is engine oil burned to ash...there are fuel mineral deposits on
all but not this thick.

Turned out to be a cracked heads (both). The porting/polishing/flowed
shop removed a bit too much of the head and intake manifold (Edelberock
High Raise Performer)

These are OEM from my 7.4L and also notice the fuel mineral deposits and the wear
on the ground electrode. Shows the direction of the flame path due to the swirl
(Vortec)



The broken ceramic is most likely from a misfire/pre-ignition/etc. More of a problem
on larger displacement.

I'm not a fan of these expensive, 100K mile plugs and prefer copper cored
traditional plugs that have been 'cut back'. Change them around 30K
or so

Here is what I have in my dad's Caddy STS and really upped its performance





This is what I now have in my 7.4L






Before cutting


just before the cut and has the plug box cardboard shielding the rest
of the plug


Just after the cut



Not many will ever notice but I do.

Think you need to go out and 'blow it out' more often

I am certainly not an expert by any means, but I am going with burnt oil fouled, especially plug from the #4 cylinder. That white residue is oil ash. With 170,000 miles on the engine and plugs with 30,000 miles, it adds up to oil.

What makes you think there was no oil on the plugs? Cause that's what it looks like to me. How often do you change the oil, and what do you use?