Had noticed an antifreeze smell lately. Pulled plugs and all 8 have orange tips. I have had a cracked head before but only one plug was discolored. The car runs fine. No miss or rough idle. I dont think it is cracked heads on all cylinders or blown gaskets on both sides. Any ideas. Please help
HVY SS

 

I heard awhile back that the additives that some companies put in their fuel can cause spark plugs to have an odd color. As I recall, the Techron that Chevron uses causes an orange residue.

 

When I checked my plugs the other day they were very orange. I'd been running BP with Torco Accelerator. I assumed it was from the torco. New motor, no coolant loss, so other things can cause it.

 

Torco additives will turn your tips orange

 

Come to think of it I did use chevron the last time I got fuel. I usually use shell v power. Thanks I was scared that I might be getting antifreeze into the cylinders. Well back to tracing down the antifreeze smell.
HVY SS

 

I've used Chevron for 10+ years in multiple cars; the Techron does not cause the spark plug tips to turn orange. Have you used any additives?

 

I have never even seen a spark plug that was orange...... Got a picture?

 

With 11.5 to 1 compression I use octane booster some. I just reasontly tried the Lucas octane booster. The plugs look like they have been trying to burn antifreeze. they are an orangish/rust color. And I do smell antifreeze but if all 8 cylinders were leaking the car would run like sh@$. Or not at all. The car runs great. I am going to pull the intake this afternoon and change intake gaskets for oil leak at the back of the block. I will investigate further from there.
HVY SS

 

mmc addatives that are 'octane boosters' or fuel system cleaners will turn rust colored or orange.

also, dexcool coolant is orange in pigment and may leave an orange residue if leaking into the cyl

 

I used the NOS brand octane booster racing formula and my plugs turned orange. I wont be using it again. And it turned my o2 sensors orange as well.