Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please critique
#1
Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please critique
If you all will indulge me, I realize this isn't on my Firebird, but I would like to see what all you sparkplug guru's have to say about these pictures.
The fist picture is the four on the drivers side, the left is the front left plug, the right is the left-rear plug.
The second picture is the passenger side, same layout.
The third picture is one of the worst plugs.
Most of the plugs looked very white and ashy. The drivers side plugs look like they have some sort of corrosion or build-up on them.
Again, this is for my DD explorer, 180K miles. I'm just looking for some input, if you all will indulge me, on how my engine is running.
The fist picture is the four on the drivers side, the left is the front left plug, the right is the left-rear plug.
The second picture is the passenger side, same layout.
The third picture is one of the worst plugs.
Most of the plugs looked very white and ashy. The drivers side plugs look like they have some sort of corrosion or build-up on them.
Again, this is for my DD explorer, 180K miles. I'm just looking for some input, if you all will indulge me, on how my engine is running.
Last edited by Ozz1967; 12-07-2014 at 10:14 PM.
#2
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bright, IN
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '86 Bird, 96 ImpalaSS, 98 C1500XCab
Engine: LG4, LT1, L31
Transmission: 700R4, 4L60E, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Tors, 4.88 spool, 3.73 Eaton
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
The only thing those pictures show is that it's burning quite a bit of oil.
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bright, IN
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: '86 Bird, 96 ImpalaSS, 98 C1500XCab
Engine: LG4, LT1, L31
Transmission: 700R4, 4L60E, 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Tors, 4.88 spool, 3.73 Eaton
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
If you feel like messing with it, just try changing the valveseals; that may be where most of the oil is coming in.
#5
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
I don't know what the "heat" range of those I pulled out is, but I bought a set of Autolite replacement plugs for the year/model from NAPA. I still have the old ones at the house, I'll check tonight and compare the two.
Last edited by Ozz1967; 12-08-2014 at 05:00 PM.
#6
Junior Member
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
I'd like you to bench test the worst plug and see if it's sparking at all
#8
Supreme Member
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
You have any idea how long they've been in? They don't look oil fouled to me. If there's oil coming in through the guides, you'll have oily plug thread, which you don't (except for one). Coming past the rings, yeah, you got a little of that happening, but most of that white fluff looks like buildup from various additives they put in the fuel these days. Buildups over a LOT OF FREAKING MILES. Many tens of thousands.
I'm not a fan of Bosch plugs, personally. They always seem to have "odd" issues with buildup of crud on them. Just my personal experience.
I'd put some plain old copper-core plugs in that motor because you're probably going to be changing them a lot more often than every 100K from this point out. If only to check on their condition. You can get 30K out of a set of regular copper plugs in an EFI engine that's running close to properly.
I'm not a fan of Bosch plugs, personally. They always seem to have "odd" issues with buildup of crud on them. Just my personal experience.
I'd put some plain old copper-core plugs in that motor because you're probably going to be changing them a lot more often than every 100K from this point out. If only to check on their condition. You can get 30K out of a set of regular copper plugs in an EFI engine that's running close to properly.
#9
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
You have any idea how long they've been in? They don't look oil fouled to me. If there's oil coming in through the guides, you'll have oily plug thread, which you don't (except for one). Coming past the rings, yeah, you got a little of that happening, but most of that white fluff looks like buildup from various additives they put in the fuel these days. Buildups over a LOT OF FREAKING MILES. Many tens of thousands.
I'm not a fan of Bosch plugs, personally. They always seem to have "odd" issues with buildup of crud on them. Just my personal experience.
I'd put some plain old copper-core plugs in that motor because you're probably going to be changing them a lot more often than every 100K from this point out. If only to check on their condition. You can get 30K out of a set of regular copper plugs in an EFI engine that's running close to properly.
I'm not a fan of Bosch plugs, personally. They always seem to have "odd" issues with buildup of crud on them. Just my personal experience.
I'd put some plain old copper-core plugs in that motor because you're probably going to be changing them a lot more often than every 100K from this point out. If only to check on their condition. You can get 30K out of a set of regular copper plugs in an EFI engine that's running close to properly.
Based on the plug wires and how they were all still in the factory wire-looms that didn't look messed with at all (no marks on the clamps looking like they've been messed with), and how frozen they were in place, I don't know that they've never actually been changed...rolling 180K miles. If they were, it was a very long time ago and the plug wires weren't changed with them.
I put in normal autolite style replacement plugs.
Last edited by Ozz1967; 12-09-2014 at 07:40 PM.
#11
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
Usually if its valve seals ,there will be a bit of blue smoke upon startup. White ashy plugs indicates a lean mixture. Maybe a vacuum leak somewhere
#12
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
As you say, I too, don't believe they've ever been changed and the new set is already in. Simple Autolite replacement plugs from NAPA. This is part of why I don't like buying used vehicles, you get other people's crap.
#13
Supreme Member
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
So that's what 100+ mile spark plugs look like LOL
BOSCH are not FORD OEM so they were changed at least once.. but plugs do last MUCH longer now
especially with unleaded fuel.
hopefully you replaced the original wires too.
new plugs with wires of questionable mileage is a bad recipe.
The ones in my Jeep lasted 80,000 but they looked a lot better than those... just worn. threw in new plugs and wires... good for another 80,000 LOL
BOSCH are not FORD OEM so they were changed at least once.. but plugs do last MUCH longer now
especially with unleaded fuel.
hopefully you replaced the original wires too.
new plugs with wires of questionable mileage is a bad recipe.
The ones in my Jeep lasted 80,000 but they looked a lot better than those... just worn. threw in new plugs and wires... good for another 80,000 LOL
Last edited by FRMULA88; 12-10-2014 at 02:36 PM.
#14
Supreme Member
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
By comparison our '05 Grand Cherokee had the 5.7 hemi.
The Hemi has 16 spark plugs which you are supposed to replace every 60,000 miles per the OEM . (owner's manual)
The Hemi has 16 spark plugs which you are supposed to replace every 60,000 miles per the OEM . (owner's manual)
#17
Re: Please indulge me - Changed sparkplugs on my Explorer..pics inside - please criti
So that's what 100+ mile spark plugs look like LOL
BOSCH are not FORD OEM so they were changed at least once.. but plugs do last MUCH longer now
especially with unleaded fuel.
hopefully you replaced the original wires too.
new plugs with wires of questionable mileage is a bad recipe.
The ones in my Jeep lasted 80,000 but they looked a lot better than those... just worn. threw in new plugs and wires... good for another 80,000 LOL
BOSCH are not FORD OEM so they were changed at least once.. but plugs do last MUCH longer now
especially with unleaded fuel.
hopefully you replaced the original wires too.
new plugs with wires of questionable mileage is a bad recipe.
The ones in my Jeep lasted 80,000 but they looked a lot better than those... just worn. threw in new plugs and wires... good for another 80,000 LOL
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hellbillydeluxe
Tech / General Engine
10
09-22-2015 09:58 PM
92camaroJoe
Tech / General Engine
6
08-13-2015 06:07 AM