This is not how spark plugs should look

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Just adding to the database...

I have been having issues with whether or not my little dear wants to start. Initially she did not get enough gas. The accumulator was bad and I also had to replace the fuel relay switch. Everything was going great! Then, without warning, she decided not to start one evening last week when I was dreaming of driving home with the top off. Very bad night. I even flooded her.

I believe spark to have been the issue. The wire to number five came apart when I moved it. Number 2 and 3 wires exhibited bubbles in the silicone. These wires were more than five years old and had about 25,000 miles on them. I did the rotor and cap also as they are cheap. just over 10,000 miles on them.

The plugs have just over 10,000 miles on them. They are Bosch Platinum and exhibit some not so good issues. Note that they are black, except for number one which is tan with some black. All plugs stink of fuel from the flooding. My car had been running rich for some time. I also noted some flaking on the cylinder 2 plug. I have replaced with NGK plugs.

Right after I buckled her up I went to the drivers seat, turned the key, and was rewarded with a nice start-up.

Any thoughts?

[bigchillcar]

hi david,
not sure what your question is...just asking what we think of the plugs' condition? still looks like a too rich mixture from where i sit. have you had the percent co measured ever?
ryan

[thabaer]

Good to hear from you David,

My thoughts keep wandering to why you had fuel all over the cat! Did you ever identify the source ??

Glad to know you didn't go up in a ball of flame...

[rfuerst911sc]

I can't tell from the photos but they look like platinum plugs,if that is correct many folks say you should be running good old copper Bosch or NGK.

[david914]

Ditto the "good old copper Bosch or NGK". Neither of my cars seem to like the platinums.

[araine901]

Ditto on the Platnums, I Have been a Bosch or NGK (mainly NGK) man for many years. However the plug I use now, My little darling seems to like them just a little better than the NGK's is the Beru's. But you cannot go wrong with the copper NGK or Bosch plugs.

[Jim2]

You mentioned you flooded your car. When a car is badly flooded or running very rich at idle for extended periods with cold plugs, you can create a coating of carbon on the plug center electrode which can result in the spark traveling down the center electrode shorting to the plug body, instead of sparking accross the gap. I experienced this several years ago and testing some of these fouled plugs on the bench. I could visibly see the path of the spark, but VERY faint, and traveling down the carbon coated porcelin insulator around the center electrode. I put new plugs in my car (actually just some old used ones) and it ran fine. Due to LOTS of tinkering I repeated this problem several times and attributed it to an extream rich mixture upon start up.

I also tried to renew some of these plugs with a wire brush - no go. Same problem, as the metal of the wire brush would leave a trace on the porcelin replacing the condutivity of the carbon I removed. I eventually used a plug cleaner at a tune up shop. This sand blasted the porcelin clean, and then I was able to use the plugs again.

I spend too much time screwing around.

Jim

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Sorry I'm checking this so late, but my cable connection is not working from the house.

Big Chill,

Yep, I just wanted to show what bad plugs looked like. I think I am still a bit too rich, also. I need to have the CO measured. A friend at work bought the equipment and said he was going to bring it in to check on my Porsche (he is an off-road guy). I'm cheap at times, so I have waited. Yes, I need to have the mixture checked.

Charlie,

I think I REALLY flooded the little dear. I allowed any fuel to evaporate and did not mess with her until I could no longer smell fuel. The plugs were soaked with fuel, very bad. One attempted Texas BBQ aborted.

etal,

Yes, we have gone from platinum to copper. I'm not sure why I ordered the platinum to begin with, but it is a mistake I have paid for. We are copper clad with NGK now.

Jim,

Sounds like me about 20 years ago with a Celica and some plugs. I never got it right until I gave up and put in some NGKs. But I had plenty of time between starting the military and freshman year in college...

Yes, I believe running rich for an extended time is what got to the plugs. I also feel that flooding the car did them in. But they might be the final culprit in why she did not start. I have not gone on a road trip yet, but she is starting up fine every time right now.

Fuel, spark, compression. I had fuel delivery issues, then the spark issues came to life, here's to continuing compression!!!! (This is where we all raise our glasses in toast :-)

[Jim2]

Groesbeck Hurricane: Celica, 20 years ago, NGK... this is ALL way too familiar!

Jim
Project 911 http://www.members.shaw.ca/kremer/930.htm