I have a few sets of spark plugs, but was wandering something. The current spark plugs in my car have been cleaned are re-used is this bad considering? I had them in ran the car too rich and fouled them out. Then I media-blasted. This of course cleaned them very well, and I put them back in (with the correct A:F ratio). They have given me no problems yet, and I have no complaints. They are regular 'ole Delco plugs. What's the effect of media blasting and re-using spark plugs?

 

Cleaning the spark plugs does not compromise the life of the plugs. Dealers commonly blast 100000 mile sparks plugs at the 30000 mile service to clean them up. This procedure will not cause any harm. If the plug is worn or burnt it should be replaced rather than cleaned, but if it is just a matter of being carbon fouled the blasting is fine.

 

Sun used to sell a very nice plug cleaner/tester just for that purpose. It even applied compression pressure to the chamber so that the plug could be test fired under actual conditions. There si absolutely nothing wrong with cleaning and reusing plugs.

 

I do it a lot. It's called a "Hillbilly Tuneup"

I don't think it matters how they're cleaned right? I don't have a 'media' blaster, so I spray them down with carb cleaner, then go over them with a brass bristle brush (hand, not drill), dip them in some mineral spirits, whipe them off with a rag, give them the one-eye inspection, gap them, and throw 'em in.

Maybe I'm doing something that one of these analytical wahoos thinks I shouldn't, but so far it's worked for me.

 

i agree that as long as they're only fouled that cleaning and reusing is fine. if they're worn though, i'd replace them, especially considering how important they are to your engine. not to mention, they're cheap

 

i took a wire-wheel to a few plugs once, came out looking brand new

 

I just took the spark plugs out of my lawn mower, edger, and weed wacker, man the edger one sure wad dirty! Hey, at least it will idle now! So I guess there is nothing wrong with doing this. Never done it in my IROC though. -89IRO

 

As stated above it's common practice to clean them. There used to be these sand blast things for cleaning plugs. Stick the end of the plug in it and blast away.

As for fouling, I found that with my two stroke race motors once a plug fouled it was garbage. Even a new one if it loaded up after five minutes in the motor there was no point in cleaning it.