Oily front plug

[Jukie]

My baby is in at the moment for a minor service ... and the front spark plug is oily black. The mechanic changed the plugs for a test and it quickly oiled up the new one too. Now he has a couple of things he is going to look at but do you guys have any suggestions or questions I should ask him?

It is only the front plug which is fouled this way, so I wouldn't think it was necessarily a fuel issue and he seems to think that it is oil and not fuel, is this bad or really bad?

For those that don't know it is a 2002 620ie.

.... and yes he has suggested i need to ride it harder.

Input and advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[bazz20]

oil dosent turn a plug  black , oil shows up as brown deposits and if you were burning oil you would see smoke so ask the people that follow you , it sound more like fuel , and the front cylinder does run richer cause its cooler  cheers bazz

[DUCMONROB]

I would think it is more of a fueling issue. There is a carburettor for each cylinder.


Rob

[dragonworld.]

IE would be an injected bike , if it aint black and sticky (oil) go an injector/fuel system fault!!

[The Don]

Hey Jukie
I was in at flywheels on Wednesday and Rob told as has Matty that you should run ducati's on 91ron petrol because the higher octane fuel have more additives in them. The 95 and 98ron have caused many a bike to go to flywheels with the same or similar (foul plugs) as you. You only need 98ron if you have a high compression engine is my understanding.  Hope this helps.
Don

[brimo]

Hey Jukie
I was in at flywheels on Wednesday and Rob told as has Matty that you should run ducati's on 91ron petrol because the higher octane fuel have more additives in them. The 95 and 98ron have caused many a bike to go to flywheels with the same or similar (foul plugs) as you. You only need 98ron if you have a high compression engine is my understanding.  Hope this helps.
Don

If you're not blowing blue smoke it won't be oil.
+1 on the 91 ron fuel, the other stuff will foul up your plugs, also worth checking basic stuff, dirty air filter will make it run richer, are the plugs the right ones for the bike? Are you also giving it enough revs?, too much low down lugging on the engine will do the same. I wouldn't think it's gonna be anuthing major anyhow

[Betty]

On behalf of SWMBO, thanks for your responses we feel a little bit better about it now.

if you were burning oil you would see smoke so ask the people that follow you

Bazz, doesn't seem to have been going through oil. I often follow, just can't get close enough to see.

I would think it is more of a fueling issue .... for each cylinder.

Rob, the thingymabobs have been re-syched so this may help.

if it aint black and sticky (oil)

Dragon not sure on the relative stickiness of the black bits .... no point getting my hands dirty if I don't know what it means

you should run ducati's on 91ron petrol because the higher octane fuel have more additives in them

Don, we have both (almost always) run 95 RON - thats what we were told on delivery/in the book and haven't had any problems. Apparently the bike runs fine this way, there hasn't been any hesitation evident or any type of hiccupping .... and it wouldn't be good for my ego if we find out she has been outriding me on a 620 with only one cylinder.

If you're not blowing blue smoke it won't be oil.

Anybody at the sound off back in Feb, could vouch for smoke but it wasn't blue (from memory).

dirty air filter will make it run richer, are the plugs the right ones for the bike? Are you also giving it enough revs?, too much low down lugging on the engine will do the same. I wouldn't think it's gonna be anuthing major anyhow

Brimo, apparently the air filter is too clean ... prompting the guy to say she needs to rev/ride it harder, so could be related. We were just surprised at how much it seem to only effect the front plug.

Doing a bit of reading as well, apparently a bit too much oil may have played its part too. Hopefully it will be right for a good test on Saturday.

[dragonworld.]

Air cleaner too clean?? You can never have an air cleaner that is TOO clean.  Sounds a bit strange to me that one, rev/ride it harder??? Hmmmm again.

The 95 should be Apk for the injected Monsters, its only the carbed ones that tend to foul plugs and run like shite on it!! (Our resident 750 for example!) 

Still reckon its got something to do with the front injector. Not atomizing the fuel correctly.

I might have missed it , but whats the age of the plugs (Might be worth throwing a set of plugs at it??)

And, when was the last time the throttle bodies were synchronised??

Last thought, ignition timing on that cylinder might have gone out??

[Betty]

Air cleaner too clean?? You can never have an air cleaner that is TOO clean.  Sounds a bit strange to me that one, rev/ride it harder??? Hmmmm again.

The 95 should be Apk for the injected Monsters, its only the carbed ones that tend to foul plugs and run like shite on it!! (Our resident 750 for example!) 

Still reckon its got something to do with the front injector. Not atomizing the fuel correctly.

I might have missed it , but whats the age of the plugs (Might be worth throwing a set of plugs at it??)

And, when was the last time the throttle bodies were synchronised??

Last thought, ignition timing on that cylinder might have gone out??

He meant too clean in that 'surely it should have more crap in it than that' (cleaner than expected) hence not demanding enough on the intake via right wrist actuation. Plugs would be a year old and were being replaced. Throttle bodies would be the thingymabobs I was referring to, so they're now done.

Thanks for your help.

[sydmonster]

 I simply think the front cylinder is running rich; a ECU/Computer check is best. But this is not a major concern, if the bike runs and starts fine then a 'its not urgent' item in my book. (If it was lean that would be a different story.) - Chris

[dragonworld.]

Even check resistance of the plug lead/plug cap and coil specs. 

Swap coil from rear to front cylinder and see if the problem moves to the back one??

[Betty]

Hey guys I have just re-read this thread before updating on status. Thank you all for your considered responses.

It appears there was not much to be worried about. The throttle bodies were re-synched, spark plugs and air filter replaced (now K&N in stock airbox) as part of the service. After yesterdays run we took it back in today to finish a couple of 'other things' and all seems well. The mechanic is insistent that being too gentle with the throttle was not helping ..... that'll learn 'er for slowing down for me.

Incidently time for me to start a related thread.