How do my Spark Plugs look???
 

Hey guys,

Refurbished the ignition system on my fairly new to me 87 3.2 coupe. The car has 52K miles. These plugs are 15 years old and have done about 10K miles within those 15 years. All plugs looks very similar and from left to right are cylinders #1 through to #6.

I replaced the platinum plugs with NGK copper plugs.

Thanks for the input!

Mark
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7072.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7073.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7074.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7075.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7076.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7077.jpg
http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...l/IMG_7078.jpg

And a picture of the car in question...

http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/...sche1987-5.jpg

I'll play
Those could probably go another 10,000 miles with a proper re-gap.
Were you having performance issues?
Bad move switching to NGK.
Bill K

oh,........and how about a few track days to clean off some of the carbon buildup in the combustion chambers?

Sharp car! plugs look pretty good as well.

I hope my plugs look that good!! :)

Is that a picture of a piece of the plug missing?

I was not having any issues. I just figured the ignition could use a refresh not having been touched in 15-16 years. I changed the rotor, distributor cap, plugs and went with Magnecore wires.

I was experiencing a WOT bucking at high RPM which I thought was ignition related although I believe is fuel related. The bucking greatly disapeared with the NGK and Magnecore wires, although it did happen once or twice recently...

Why are the NGK plugs such a bad choice? I read lenthly threads about plugs and there were more people happy with the NGK's than with the Platinum plugs?!

I agree it does need to get a good beating. I'm doing what I can until I get it to where I want it to be :-).

Thanks,
Mark

Nothing is missing on any of the plugs. There is some carbon buildup. That might be what your seeing...

Mark

they look fine.

DO NOT use those plugs. use regular copper plugs. bosch or NGK

i was running those in my mazda pickup just because that is what the guy always handed me and i really did not care. one day i thought i would just try some autolite crap. the truck ran better and my mileage went up 3-4mpg.

A lot of the guys in shops who service these cars all the time find that the platinum plugs are less than ideal for this ignition system. Cars that come in with mild driveability problems like a slight miss or hesitation, the first thing the guys often check is the plugs. If they're platinum, they swap them out for copper.

You can't go wrong with the proper heat range Bosch or NGK copper plugs. Typical NGK plug for a 3.2 Carrera is BPR6ES

A lot of people scoff at Autolite plugs but they're actually a good solid plug. I believe the recommended plug for the 3.2 is Autolite 64

Those are exactly the plugs I went with; NGK BPR6ES.

Thanks,
Mark

I've been using NGK plugs in 3 cars for over 25 years. Never had a problem

Tom

All plugs today regardless of what car you drive should appear white since the gas we use today is unleaded and the 02 sensors keep the mixtures lean for the cat to run clean and pass smog.
The chart is a bit dated for when leaded fuel was the norm and oxygen sensors were unheard of. It's useless to try tuning your engine based of plug appearance like the good old days.

Cheers,

Joe

Honestly, they look good but unless you ran at wot and did a cut off inspection you are seeing your plugs at idle.
The additives in fuel today also mess up the old fashioned plug reading charts....iotw, doesn't really apply as it did in the days of lead and higher octane.
OTOH, those tell me you are not burning oil (within norms) and your fuel delivery and top end specs seem consistent.
Your advance/retard line looks a bit off on the one you held up tho. Should be about half way.