Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG?
11-01-2002, 02:03 AM
#1
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Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG?
This plug is
1) AC Delco Rapid Fire
2) Less than 6k miles old.
My conclusion>
Bad Valve Seal
Detonation
Your thoughts? Should I do a compression check on that cylinder?
The rest of the plugs look "fairly normal"
11-01-2002, 03:21 AM
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
Looks like fouling buildup; maybe a leakdown check would be in order to see if a valve is leaking.
11-01-2002, 03:27 AM
#4
Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
Nothing concrete but I suggest something and lets see if others agree or not ;)
White colour makes me think that maybe there has been lots of heat. Maybe air leak in somewhere and this one cylinder is running very lean? Comp. test should tell you if this is the case. If the result is similar to all cylinders there is no leak but then I have no more suggestions... :confused:
Anybody?
Regards,
Toni
White colour makes me think that maybe there has been lots of heat. Maybe air leak in somewhere and this one cylinder is running very lean? Comp. test should tell you if this is the case. If the result is similar to all cylinders there is no leak but then I have no more suggestions... :confused:
Anybody?
Regards,
Toni
11-01-2002, 03:28 AM
#5
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (ToniH)
its not THAT white, that's the flash talking. its more of a powdered light grey/yellow
11-01-2002, 03:33 AM
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
A compression test could double as a leakdown test by seeing if that cylinder holds compression after 3-4 cranks.
11-01-2002, 03:35 AM
#8
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (65Z01)
At the WORST we're talking a valve seal job right? Those aren't very expensive I think.
11-01-2002, 08:52 AM
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
That's sulpher deposits from oil. It's able to burn it so it's not black all over it. Could be valve seals........has the engine ever been apart?....... I have seen engines do that from a bad intake gasket. It sucks the oil out of the valley area. I wouldn't think valve seals really because they don't flow THAT much oil usually. I would look at rings though. Do a leak down on it..... I don't think it would show with a comp test :seeya
11-01-2002, 01:12 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (vettmech)
It needs to be replaced :D
My guess is some way or another that cylinder is getting very hot..... could e a bad valve seal
My guess is some way or another that cylinder is getting very hot..... could e a bad valve seal
11-01-2002, 01:18 PM
#11
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (vettmech)
the valve seals were done 30k miles ago, thats the most "apart" its been as far as i know. Is it something i can ignore?
11-01-2002, 01:20 PM
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
Get a compression test. See if its holding the compression, then we'll figure out if you can ignore it or not.
11-01-2002, 06:44 PM
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (vader86)
Hard to tell from the photo, but it just looks like a very old plug to me. You can tell which side was facing the combustion side, which is black. Not unusual to have one side of the porcelain darker than the other.
Good news is that there doesn't appear to be any oil on the threads or the electrode. It looks dry. I'd bet it's just a lot of carbon fouling.
The others are right - do a leakdown and compression check. That'll set your mind at ease.
[Modified by fullboogie, 4:45 PM 11/1/2002]
Good news is that there doesn't appear to be any oil on the threads or the electrode. It looks dry. I'd bet it's just a lot of carbon fouling.
The others are right - do a leakdown and compression check. That'll set your mind at ease.
[Modified by fullboogie, 4:45 PM 11/1/2002]
11-01-2002, 06:49 PM
#14
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Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (fullboogie)
Hard to tell from the photo, but it just looks like a very old plug to me. You can tell which side was facing the combustion side, which is black. Not unusual to have one side of the porcelain darker than the other.
Good news is that there doesn't appear to be any oil on the threads or the electrode. It looks dry. I'd bet it's just a lot of carbon fouling.
The others are right - do a leakdown and compression check. That'll set your mind at ease.
[Modified by fullboogie, 4:45 PM 11/1/2002]
Good news is that there doesn't appear to be any oil on the threads or the electrode. It looks dry. I'd bet it's just a lot of carbon fouling.
The others are right - do a leakdown and compression check. That'll set your mind at ease.
[Modified by fullboogie, 4:45 PM 11/1/2002]
11-01-2002, 07:25 PM
#15
Team Owner
Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
a leak down test is where you put this funky gauge array into the plug hole, attach air, and compare the rates of depressurization... basically, you have x lbs going in, and it should match, but it always does not.
if the cylinder decompresses faster, then it is leaking. there is a time factor involved, too...
thats the basics.
I am not sure what the plug means... I have never been real good at reading a plug...
if the cylinder decompresses faster, then it is leaking. there is a time factor involved, too...
thats the basics.
I am not sure what the plug means... I have never been real good at reading a plug...
11-01-2002, 07:57 PM
#16
Safety Car
Re: Help? What can you tell me about this SPARK PLUG? (Kale)
The deposits on the electrode and the oil on the threads point to oil control problems. You'll have to do a compression check to see if its rings or valves. The plug seal point is the tapered part at the base of the plug before the threads start and go to the electrode. I don't see any detonation. You should check the plug under a magnification with a bright light and look for tiny metal specs on the insulator to check for detonation.