Spark Plug GREY????

[74Thunderjet]

i recently changed my oil in my 84' 250r with some 20w50 Royal Purple JASO MA2 Wet clutch certified, and put a new plug in it. Ran the bike for a nit up and down the road for a plug reading and when i pulled the plug out to check it out it was grey in colour. The electrode, al;l the way down to the threads. Not sure what that means never seen this before.. when i changed my oil i noticed the oil was a milky grey colour, would this be from water in the oil? alluminum clutch plates? Would there be a seal that done??? could some one please point me in the right direction kinda new to these ATC's will post picture of plug tommorow was left back at the shop.

[CodyRosa]

Well the plug is a little lean. I think it goes (THINK) white, grey, tan, brown, black. I'm not sure about oil at all but when i hear milky + oil in the same sentence its never good. I don't want you to worry because i have NO idea at all lol.

[Bren_downe]

Cody's right about the plugs, the oil I'm not so sure what milky means… I always thought it was caused by moisture. Check out @irfoolers.com (use a regular "a")for all your air cooled 250r needs. It's the shiz!

[barnett468]

Hello



ii recently changed my oil in my 84' 250r with some 20w50 Royal Purple JASO MA2 Wet clutch certified, and put a new plug in it. Ran the bike for a nit up and down the road for a plug reading and when i pulled the plug out to check it out it was grey in colour. The electrode, al;l the way down to the threads. Not sure what that means never seen this before.

Well since it probably has water in the oil it’s impossible to be sure without a photo. With no water in the oil lite gray porcelain [not the electrode] means extremely lean and it may soon seize.






iwhen i changed my oil i noticed the oil was a milky grey colour, would this be from water in the oil?

Most likely.






ialluminum clutch plates?

Does it have aluminum plates, this would not be stock?

[Poco Loco]

Hello




Well since it probably has water in the oil it’s impossible to be sure without a photo. With no water in the oil lite gray porcelain [not the electrode] means extremely lean and it may soon seize.







Most likely.







Does it have aluminum plates, this would not be stock? Very interesting, an air cooled trike with signs of water in the oil. Grey plug means very lean. Aluminum from the piston burning onto the electrode. The moisture in the oil, hmmm. Do you live at a very wet place and do water crossings? Does the trike live outside in the rain? aluminum in the oil should look metallic like, not milky. This is a tricky one.

[my1423]

Post some plug and oil pictures to help.

Could be A blown crankshaft seal and its burning gear lube and gas is getting into the gear case.

Give the old oil a smell for gas.
A leak down test with the fill hole open and the exhaust and intake plugged will tell as well.

Have also seen some old racing oils have a grey look after burning clutches and sitting.

[74Thunderjet]

Checked the motor out, looks like buddy that had the bike before me had the bike sitting outside for a while and the oil cap was not on it, water got in the oil and turned it grey, also the plug was grey because he had a modified exhaust on it but still had original jetting in the carb and took some mesurments of the pofrting and what not while the head was off and the had stock porting. explaing the lean plug, also adding a airbox and airfilter made the bike run better. Only thing now is the aluminum particals in the oil, might be the clutches or clutche basket. Plates are still in good condition slapped it in 5th gear going up a hill and pinned it and she kept going and did not rev out so thats a relief that the clutch plates are still good. Will order a set or steel barnette plates this weekend for it.

[barnett468]

Hello


Your carb number is PE30 and the stock main is 130. I would start with a 142 main with needle in middle position and a 9 plug untll the jetting is correct.