if your spark plugs are black, in other words sooted up
this means the fuel mixture is running rich,this can mean many things, leak in pipes, cat converta,lambda sensor (oxygen sensor) even a leaking exhaust.It would better to get a ob2 code puller for your car,which will give you a fault code,and the code will relate to a specific fault.
These type's of faults can be very time consuming for the home mechanic,and your local garage should be able to get the fault code at a cost of £50 if you dont buy the code reader yourself! a code puller will cost approx £35
Michael Edwards
August 2008