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What lord Ihcalam said.
Put up a picture if in doubt.
Here are a few links to help you diagnose
Normal operation:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Zl3HQgWfsPc/TAaRbYTjUnI/AAAAAAAAD9M/mMWXiGIFQMY/s1600/honda-spark-plug-inspection-chart.jpgNormal and faulty operation:
http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/resources/6795/assets/images/FAQs/electrics/check_spark_plug_condition.jpgHard to tell. You could try to take a wet piece of tissue and wipe some of the dust off on it. Let it sit for a couple of hours and if you see a red/orange aura diffusing in the paper it is rust (good test for blood also ;)).
If it stays it is soot an normal. It depends on the weather and cold starts. Mine looked like dry coffee grime was on it the last time I changed, but I was running my car in short, cold conditions a lot. It is called dry fouling of the spark plugs if it gets all black, but dry.
You wouldn’t really get rust unless there is humidity and humidity in the bad way would come from coolant. Coolant on plugs looks different however.
Do you know if you engine block is cast iron or aluminium? Cast iron blocks will shed a little iron dust when they wear. That is unavoidable.P.s. It would be nice to know you make and model, year and mileage also?
When is the last time you actually replaced them? You can’t just clean them everytime and put them back. They need to be replaced periodically. They may be getting dirty because they are old and worn out, causing them to not provide a hot enough spark to clean themselves.
Good point thisisboud. I overlooked that part, but a valid question if they are being reused and what the mileage is.
Check your distributor and rotor if you haven’t already, it may just be dirty points. I would get a pressure test done too, you may have a head gasket issue. Also (on an unrelated subject) I don’t know how many miles are on that 2e but from my experience the timing chains would stretch to the point that they would need to be replaced every 100,000 miles. I love those motors.
http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/earlyburbs/projects/spark/plugs.htm
http://www.ngk.com.au/spark-plugs/technical-information/spark-plug-analysis
That rust color can come from gas quality as well as fuel additives.
Looking at the pictures and the fact that it’s happening to more than one vehicle I would say it’s likely to be a fuel issue. If you’re putting in some type of additive or the fuel you’re using is contaminated then it could cause the condition you have. You might try different fuel and see if the condition goes away.
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