Can anyone "read" my spark plug?

[ts-pa]

http://images.myphotoalbum.com/p/pa/pas/pasi/pasig/pasig/albums/album08/img_2453.sized.jpg
Can anyone "read" my spark plug? Then recommend either a hotter, or a colderhttp://pasig.myphotoalbum.com/view_photo.php?set_albumName=a lbum08&id=img_2453 plug. The "reddish tan" color flakes away on the threaded portion, revealing black underneath.

[babbage]

I'm no plug expert - looks like rust to me. How many miles are on it?

1 colder would normally be good for a performance tune. Do you run a 93 octane tune?

[O's Fan Rich]

http://www.dragstuff.com/techarticles/reading-spark-plugs.html

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/faqread.asp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiMM2S0aADM

[wchain]

http://www.aa1car.com/library/reading_spark_plugs.jpg

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

rust? LOL at that one. Ooh boy.

[RF Overlord]

ts-pa, have you used any of the so-called octane boosters recently? That looks exactly like the plugs in my '68 Buick did when I changed them after using 104+ octane boost, before I discovered that most, if not all, OTC octane boosters are worthless. One of their ingredients is MMT which leaves reddish-brown deposits just like in your pic.

[Joe Walsh]

ts-pa, have you used any of the so-called octane boosters recently? That looks exactly like the plugs in my '68 Buick did when I changed them after using 104+ octane boost, before I discovered that most, if not all, OTC octane boosters are worthless. One of their ingredients is MMT which leaves reddish-brown deposits just like in your pic.

^^^...+1...^^^That was my first thought...

Octane boosters can leave that strange colored coating

[babbage]

rust? LOL at that one. Ooh boy.

Hey now. I said it looked like rust. Same color. With moisture in the fuel system it is possible lord knows there is plenty of air in there.

[Pat]

The picture of the plug looks like dry carbon fouling. Caused by the resistance between the center electrode and the shell dropping significantly.

Replace plugs.

[ts-pa]

Thanks for the replies.

Wow, you guys are good! :banana: I did indeed use an octane booster recently. I thought that I had water in my fuel tank and the booster claimed to also disperse water in fuel. This would explain the mysterious to me "coated" appearance of red/tan color. Underneath that appears to be the normal thin black coating that I was expecting to see.

As for rust...this plug had water all around it in the spark plug cavity, up to about half way on the silicone boot. There is evidence of rust on the upper insulator. The "copper" appearance between the threads and my thumb is from an anti-seize product. This water must have been from recently washing my engine while getting it ready for Carlisle.

I bought NGK TR6 #4177 as replacements without knowing what heat range was installed.
The plug shown is Motorcraft AWSFA12C.

[ts-pa]

Pat,

After searching "dry carbon fouling spark plug" images; I'd say that is exactly what it looks like underneath the tan coating.

[ts-pa]

Wes, thanks for the chart, but this abnormality wasn't indicated, hence my confusion.

Rich, you are the man! Good links. I didn't even consider youtube for this topic.

[RF Overlord]

I thought that I had water in my fuel tank and the booster claimed to also disperse water in fuel.If you ever think you have water in the tank, just use a bottle or two of any cheap-o "dry-gas"...It's just alcohol that absorbs water and allows it to be burned...it's much less expensive than those worthless octane boosters and won't foul your plugs.

[ts-pa]

RF, thanks for the tip. Lesson learned!

[ts-pa]

...How many miles are on it?

1 colder would normally be good for a performance tune. Do you run a 93 octane tune?

Sorry Eric, I missed your questions.

Way too many miles :o! About 35,000.
I always use 91-93 octane, otherwise it pings under load.

[babbage]

Sorry Eric, I missed your questions.

Way too many miles :o! About 35,000.
I always use 91-93 octane, otherwise it pings under load.


Right, but didn't Dennis Reinhart do you dyno tune for that? He'll likely recommend 1 colder plugs. What plugs are you going to install (or did install)

I like the NGK TR6 "V-Power" plugs. BTW - Come out to ESTA on 9/27?

[SILVERSURFER03]

I myself stayed with fact orig motorcraft

[ts-pa]

Eric, I bought NGK TR6 #4177 as replacements without knowing what heat range that was installed. I think that these are one step colder than stock.

The plug shown is Motorcraft AWSF-A12C. http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/misc/progress.gif D.R. tuned my car and installed these plugs, which I think are two steps colder than stock.

Wow, 9/27 is planning ahead! I'll have to get back to you as the date approaches.


Brian, is your car "tuned" or stock?

[Loco1234]

whats "ESTA" on 9/27?

[babbage]

whats "ESTA" on 9/27?


http://www.estadrags.com/


Drag Races - up near me. Couple of hours for Tom. Anyone else here is invited. RayJay and a couple of guys from CrownVic.net are also planning on going.