I removed the plugs from my truck today.

1992 F150 5.0 engine 184,000 miles. Plugs have about 18,000 on them but have been installed for 30 months, I don't drive the truck every day anymore.

I fixed 95% of my problem with a new computer and am working on a slightly rough idle and decided to try plugs.

Do these plugs look abnormally sooty? I don't seem to remember seeing them like this before.

Thanks

 

Soot on the OUTside suggests an exhaust leak near that plug. Read these captions:



That has nothing to do with the plugs' conditions - this is how you read a spark plug: