red discoloration on spark plugs (2003 KIA optima)

[G_Body_Enthusiast]

i pulled a couple plugs from a kia optima and saw red discoloration on the ground strap and insulation. WTF causes that? the plugs themselves are autolite double platinums. i've never seen red discoloration on a plug before.

has anyone else seen this before? i did some googling and read it could be an octane booster related issue. Not that it's bad but that's what seems to cause it. i've never had a red plug from using it before and i've never used it in the KIA so i'm curious where it's coming from. the car is throwing codes for a coil and misfires to some cylinders and i think it's the wires causing the problems. i checked all connections to the coils from the wiring harness and they're nice and tight so i doubt that's giving me an issue. the car supposedly had a tune up some time ago but i don't think they did a very good job.

 

[79wagonator]

Could be antifreeze getting in cylinders,
makes the plugs orange.
Head Gasket, manifold

 

[G_Body_Enthusiast]

nope, this is red, slightly pink. it's not coolant.

 

[rodneypierce]

The additive packages in some of todays fuels cause a red tinge almost rust colored on the ground strap.

 

[pontiacgp]

this comes from the autolite site

2. red coating – Pinkish red coating on the ceramic insulator tip, center
electrode and ground electrode. Sometimes spark plugs will have a slightly
red coating, which is the normal result of additives used in some unleaded
gasoline.

on page 33
http://www.autolite.com/sites/default/a ... manual.pdf

 

[jacobdavis1979]

my corsica did that for awhile it was the dye in the injector cleaner i used. Was there for weeks after i used it. Took awhile to turn brown again. But if its throwin codes may try a tune up maybe