oily spark plug

[mannyvillegas]

I have to change spark plugs very often. Oil or maybe unburned gas seems to be getting into the plug points. Is this "too much" engine oil, too rich gas/air mixture or an ignition/ignitor problem? My cart is a G2.

[SteveRand]

Hey Manny, a rich mixture will leave the plug with black soot, and it will be dry. Oil fouling is a wet, oily deposit. Oil in the combustion will also cause blue exhaust, while a rich mixture makes it black.

Check your compression. If it's low, and the plug is getting oil fouling, your rings are probably worn.

There should only be 1 qt of oil in the crankcase. is the inside of your air cleaner box clean?

How does the cart run with a new plug?

[mannyvillegas]

With a new plug, the cart runs perfect. I suppose it could be ring problem. I have no way of checking compression. I have ordered a compression gauge but have not received it yet.

Or I could run on a hotter plug, to start with. Air cleaner? Nothing is inside my air cleaner box! Will that be a cause?

[SteveRand]

A hotter plug might last longer, but it's basically hiding the problem. If the cart runs good with a new plug, your mixture is probably OK. A rich mixture usually makes it run crappy. Any exhaust smoke? A restriction in the air cleaner would cause this, but yours is clean, so...

If the plug is oil fouled, and the compression is decent, the valve guides or the intake valve guide seal might be worn. This usually causes blue exhaust at startup, then clears up. If there's no oil in the airbox, the rings, valve guides, or the seal are the most likely culprit.

I believe the compression should be at least 150 psi with wide-open throttle.

[mannyvillegas]

Thanks for the thoughts and advices. Will find out when I get my compression tester.