ERrrrrrrrrrrrGGGGGG - One thing always leads to another!!

So back at it here.

So during all the trial and error of troubleshooting I had pulled my plugs and they were pretty heavily caked with white ashy deposits. From what I have read it sounded most likely due to all the cleaners I have ran through the gas to solve the running issues. Now after just 1800 miles the brand new NGK spec plugs are varnished with a bit of a white hard crystal but not really thick yet. I put the timing light on it the other day because she seamed to be running a little rough again, and I noticed some pinging <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> too. When i hit the light the timing mark was dancing allover the place, just as before. Thats when I pulled the the #1 plug and sanded the terminal put it back in, and the timing went back to solid on.

Prior - I took a ~1500 mile trip last week and I noticed that I was getting insane gas millage one tank of Cheveron regular got almost 23 miles to the gallon. Which does not seam right for this car at all. Best ever i can recall was 18 on a road trip. I still had a huge lack of real power, and almost no hill pulling power. And when I am pulling a hill I still get some pinging though not what I use to hear.

I am almost positive I am running Lean, I can find all kinds of information on running rich but nothing to speak of on a lean problem. What should I be checking? I still have no codes!

I pulled the fuel filter and its not restricted, its actually pretty clean which makes sense since its only a few years old with about 6K on it. The fuel rail is a little pulse-ey so it sounds like the regulator is working? I dont know how to test that system. The Injectors are really clickey, i put a stethoscope on them and they all sound the same. And I have heard this is normal for this engine. But would low pressure increase the noise level?

All the plugs looked the same. And I re-checked the gaps on them. They look to me like a lean burn issue. No carbon on them at all. My first car was carbureted and I had a lean burn that toastified some valves and the plugs looked very similar to me.

I pulled and inspected the O2 sensor, it is in spec according to my meter, but maybe i guess could be an issue but it's also pretty new. I soaked it in CRC cleaner and gently cleaned it.

Any ideas would be helpful I don't want to burn up valves, or worse. Is there any kind of real adjustment for this?

Thank you!