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Did regular maintenance today and saw this on cylinder 1 plug. Rest look better with deposits but not as bad. It’s been about 30k miles I believe since last change thru a tech. Waiting to verify how long it’s been in the car. Thoughts on condition? Oil leak? Or just had them in way too long? Injectors were change about 5-8k miles ago.
Just out of curiosity, how was the car driving? Did you feel any difference?
I just did plugs on my ‘14 with 27k miles, plugs didn’t look like this at all, but once I drove the car I could tell an immediate difference. Not bad for $80 in plugs and an hour or so.
Just out of curiosity, how was the car driving? Did you feel any difference?
Car noticeably smoother at idle and in cruising, a bit more pull top end. I wasn’t running through any issues or misfires just decided to change them. I should’ve changed them when I did injectors awhile back but never got down to it. Forgot when they were last changed which is a problem. Yes all parts ordered through FCP as well.
I just did plugs on my ‘14 with 27k miles, plugs didn’t look like this at all, but once I drove the car I could tell an immediate difference. Not bad for $80 in plugs and an hour or so.
I’ve got 108k miles and thinking maybe leaky valve seals or plugs were just too worn down and caked with deposits. Tech says it’s deposits so possibly way past time to change them. Working on valve cover and spark plugs seals next week.
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I just did my plugs at 36k and they mostly looks like new, those look like they are burning a bit of oil, how many miles on the car? I would probably suspect the PCV especially if 70k+ miles is where the oil might be coming from, it is the weakest link mostly likely way oil gets into the combustion chamber, more so that valve seals or getting past the rings. You could do a leak down test which will give you an idea of the ring and valves ability to seal but would guess PCV is letting oil into the intake and your intake is probably holding a bit of oil also.
I just did my plugs at 36k and they mostly looks like new, those look like they are burning a bit of oil, how many miles on the car? I would probably suspect the PCV especially if 70k+ miles is where the oil might be coming from, it is the weakest link mostly likely way oil gets into the combustion chamber, more so that valve seals or getting past the rings. You could do a leak down test which will give you an idea of the ring and valves ability to seal but would guess PCV is letting oil into the intake and your intake is probably holding a bit of oil also.
ive got 108k miles, running a weistec catch can since 30k and PCV replaced again around 80-90k. Have yet to open the intake manifold to check it out but planning too to do a cleaning and throttle body upgrade to 82’s so will check that. It’s possible seals are leaking but not 100% so will perform the test with tech to make sure.
Tasos, YouTube, responded To my phot and said to use better fuel, fuel cleaner, change oil every 5k miles maximum and don’t keep plugs for more than 30k miles. I guess I’ll do leak down test too just to be safe if there are other issues. He didn’t mention anything else. Just thought to share.
You can’t really “read” plugs unless you take them out immediately after doing a WOT pull.
But stuff like this or physical damage.... that white ashy deposit is a tell-tale sign of bad fuel or additive.
Throw in a can of BG44K or Techron every month or so.
yup I agree....been using Chevron With Techron 91 about 90% of time and 10% 76 91 oct. rarely used additives but do have a can of BG44k. I know I ran 1/2 of this plug life with a bad PCV. I’ll be checking the new plugs now every 10k just to make sure. WOT probably less than 10% of the time , mainly cruising for commute at HWY speed..need to step up my WOT game..
Your car isn’t running right. Some plugs look leaner and others richer. They all have deposits. How old are your o2’s and fuel injectors?
I would do a full service tune up on the car and have fuel adaptations reset.
check your intake manifold as well
for leaks. Best way is smoke test.
prior to plug change, it was actually running fine, Strong, no smoke, regular oil consumption, no cel lights, no funny smells or weird gremlins. Fuel injectors are less than 8-10k miles on them...new. 02’s since I purchased car 8 yrs ago. Coil replaced about 15k miles ago...general maintenance. I believe plugs way past due plus prior injectors which I replaced were extremely dirty. Maybe Bay Area fuel is bad or I don’t drive the car hard enough. I still think I may have leaky valve seals but Tasos didn’t say anything about when I shared the photos with him.
besides the oil build up...the plugs look fine. also your air filters aren't doing much filtering hence why i run factory filters. don't want that garbage flowing through my engine.
one thing i did want to mention...it seems your camera is color correcting to the wrong color...there is a possibility you are seeing detonation, but unable to tell based off the color correction of your photos.
besides the oil build up...the plugs look fine. also your air filters aren't doing much filtering hence why i run factory filters. don't want that garbage flowing through my engine.
I hear you. I’ve been running my carbonios and AFE pro drys for pretty much most of the life of the car. I’ll be running some fuel cleaner soon when I fill up.
one thing i did want to mention...it seems your camera is color correcting to the wrong color...there is a possibility you are seeing detonation, but unable to tell based off the color correction of your photos.
not sure...color is it pretty much it. Heavy ash and deposit is were oily black and ash.
ah ok...if the color is correct then that is dirt being cooked onto your spark plugs as well as oil build up. does the weistec catch can have baffling built in? you are getting some oil in your chambers.
ah ok...if the color is correct then that is dirt being cooked onto your spark plugs as well as oil build up. does the weistec catch can have baffling built in? you are getting some oil in your chambers.
yes it does...i empty it out every 10k basically...normally 1/2 filled....I can’t wait to open the intake manifold....see everything myself...will be providing updates there for sure.
what oil are you running? if the catch can is doing its job we shouldn't see that much oil residue. even factory without a catch can, we shouldn't see that much residue.
what oil are you running? if the catch can is doing its job we shouldn't see that much oil residue. even factory without a catch can, we shouldn't see that much residue.
MB1 0w 40, recently motul xmax 5w 40...I agree on the catch can...possibly my valve seals are leaking but unknown. I know these plugs have been for a while....about 1/2 it’s life, I had many idle issues, bogging cold starts issues etc....finally replaced PCV which resolved a ton of items...didn’t check plugs...let it run until now. Thinking I have closer to 40k miles on the plugs.
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