fouled plug blues

[npca-daner]

  Hey everyone!   I just finished tuning up my patrol when i noticed that the number 6 cylinder was slightly fouled. This reminded me that the #6 cylinder on my previous patrol(now fud's blue 64) also did the same thing occassionally. I adjusted the valves and it has a good spark. does anyone else have the same problem? Is there a quick remedy? such as running a hotter plug on the # 6?  adjusting the valve clearance to compensate?

[npca-scooter dave]

Hey Daner,When you say "fouled" do you mean gas or oil fouled? If it's dry and sooty then it's gas. If this condition exists and the rest are ok. try checking for a bad plug wire, or electrode in the dist. cap. Carbon tracking between #1& 6 cyl. pick-ups can sometimes cause this condition.However if it's black and oily of course meaning oil fouled then it's probably indicative of a problem that most in line six cylinders suffer from. That is over heating of #6 cylinder, which by nature, is customary because it is the furthest from the water pump and the coolant must pass all the other cylinders first before reaching this one. Of course picking up heat along the way. Now a slightly hotter plug will cure the fouling temporarily however chances are the one or more of the piston rings are begining to loose their temper. So this means, of course,start putting your money away now for that engine rebuild or at very least re-ring job that'scoming in the near future. One thing about hotter plugs and that is only go one or at the most two heat ranges higher. For under heavy loads i.e. extended highway travel or high rpm use of the engine the higher heat range plug can and often will have a negative effect on the corresponding cylinder and piston excelerating its demise. One last trick that some times works especially on engines that have been sitting a while where there is the possibility that some rust has formed around the piston rings. That is this. Try mixing some Bon Ami detergent and gasoline and either squirt or stream it into the carb. venturi while running the engine at a fast idle. This will have the effect of lapping the piston rings to the cylinder walls and in most cases will have some effect on reducing oil consumption. However if this doesn't seem to work after a couple of treatments, chances are in that particular case it won't and repair by standard methods will be your only remaining choice.By the way, don't forget to change the oil and filter immediately after attempting the Bon Ami treatment. Good luck. Scooter