It's usually fouling due to air/fuel ratio too rich or improper heat range or faulty ignition coil as most common causes.
Runnibg rich usually.
either its running to lean or you have a bad exhaust valuve
The front exhaust manifold is right in front by the spark plugs. The rear manifold is behind the engine by the spark plugs.
Change your spark plugs!!
if the spark plugs are black because your car is running too rich. your plugs are fouled.
The spark plugs are located right under the exhaust manifolds of both sides of the engine. You should just follow the spark plugs wire from the distributer.
It will be smoking black out of the exhaust / Running RICH. Spark plugs will be fouled out/ Black. Replace them if it is running rich. Plugs will not fix your problem. Replace map sensor.
Bad spark plugs, spark plugs wires, etc.
right around the exhaust manifold
Check the air filter, fuel injectors, EGR valve and temperature sensor.
The number of spark plug in a 4-cylinder engine depends on the type of engine you have. Some engines only have four spark plugs on the intake side for the ignition of the fuel. Other engines have eight spark plugs, four on the intake side to ignite the fuel and four on the exhaust side to ignite the exhaust fumes.
There are 8 spark plugs. 4 on the intake side of the head and 4 on the exhaust side.