Running lean?

[Kory Flansburg]

i dont have an AF gauge yet.. but when i took my exhaust manifold off the other day, i noticed my valves were pure white, but the exhaust outlets from the head were black.. i dont get it. 

[Dave Ingraham]

Just because you have some stuff on your valves doesn't mean your running lean.  The white deposit on the valves could be some oil or fuel additives.  The black in your monfold is carbon from combustion thats normal.   Look at your spark plug it will tell all on how lean you are.  If it alittle brown your running good.  Black to rich or burning oil.  Some white crusty deposit could be signs of slight oil burning.  If the plugs electrode is melted your running hot which is lean.  Hope this helps alittle.

[Jason Gilbert]

I agree with Dave. What you see with the exh maini off wont tell you much.

Reading your spark plugs is still done by top people to get real results, but heres the the trick:

You have to do a hard run, then shut off the engine almost immediatly after, otherwise, the idling will
interfere with the reading.

There are lots of places on the web to get really great info, but heres a guidline:

black: (sooty) rich
tan: pretty much bang on (safe)
white: lean
melted:Ummm, you got some problems.

Perefctly good way to see how your fueling is. There is also info on the pilugs about
optimum engine timing. Also on the web.

HTH
Jason

[Zach Holt]

pulling the plugs on my car lol BLACK tips with WHITE tops.

name the problems

[Jason Gilbert]

Racial harmony? Its not a bad thing.