Pulled spark plugs out to inspect, I have some questions.
05-27-2004, 10:54 PM
#1
Pulled spark plugs out to inspect, I have some questions. Im running NGK TR-55s. They have roughly 10k miles on them give or take. Im currently waiting on my new headers and I figured I would pull the plugs in the mean time to check them out. Well, on the passenger side, the very back plug was fairly wet with oil. Then on the driver's side, the very back 2 were wet with oil as well. All of them had this whitish color on the tips of them. Anyhow, Im wondering if LS1s are common to have oil on the plugs? How come its only on certain plugs? Is there something wrong with my motor? Why was there oil on the plugs? Lastly, should I clean them up and reinstall them, or buy a new set? Here's some pics, let me know what you think. Thanks.
Last edited by BlackBeaSSt; 05-27-2004 at 11:04 PM.
05-28-2004, 01:59 AM
#2
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Did you seal your rocker arm bolts when you installed your cam? Maybe oil is seeping in through there. Mine was until I added teflon lubricant on them.
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05-28-2004, 12:59 PM
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Im curious now about the teflon on the rocker bolts? It is not mentioned in any of the write ups at all.
If your plugs are gunked up with oil, you should replace them.
If your plugs are gunked up with oil, you should replace them.
05-28-2004, 01:01 PM
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I never knew about sealing the rocker arm bolts either. My car had never burned a drop of oil until my cam swap. Then I sealed the threads on the rocker arm bolts and it fixed the oil consumption. I would suggest changing to new plugs since you already have 10k miles on them and they might be fouled up anyways. Plus you're already there.
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05-28-2004, 01:05 PM
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Trust me, the teflon sealant(or some other kind of silicone) on the rocker arm bolts(threads) is a must. If I had known about it before hand I would've been prepared the first time. Instead of having to go back and do it after I was done. Just added insurance in my opinion and isn't expensive or hard to do.
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05-28-2004, 02:45 PM
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If you had you heads ported and the bottom threads are exposed on the intake runner you should put some sealant on the rocker bolt threads. I got a little tube of Permatex Thread Sealant for $5. It's a tiny little tube of sealant, but you only need it on the intake rocker bolts because the exhaust bolt threads are NOT exposed during the porting process.
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05-28-2004, 02:50 PM
#10
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From the way his mods read, sounds like he is cam'd only.
It's probably just oil from the pvc system. My vette was usually like that before the heads/cam swap. Hell, you should have seen the oil pool when I leaned my intake against a tooolbox for two days. It was about 8-9" in diameter
It's probably just oil from the pvc system. My vette was usually like that before the heads/cam swap. Hell, you should have seen the oil pool when I leaned my intake against a tooolbox for two days. It was about 8-9" in diameter
05-28-2004, 03:07 PM
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Yeah, if you haven't touched the heads then it's probably coming from the pcv. Just change the plugs and you'll be fine. Nothing to worry about.
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05-28-2004, 05:15 PM
#12
I know the plugs are cheap and all, but is it really necessary to change them if they only have 10k miles on them? I think the pics are working, look at them and let me know what you think. Oh...how can I tell or could you tell me by looking at the pics if they are fouled out? Thanks.
05-29-2004, 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by 02WS6#519
Yeah, if you haven't touched the heads then it's probably coming from the pcv. Just change the plugs and you'll be fine. Nothing to worry about.
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05-29-2004, 11:11 AM
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I just checked my plugs when I installed my new cam, and mine where pretty white and burnt looking, I am running a little on the lean side right now and plus the crappy gas in AZ right now, I get some detonation, I need to retune my car now. I didn't have any oil on my TR55's though, just pretty f'd up. Maybe you should check to see if you are lean too, that will cause the plugs to go white, and are you consuming some oil maybe? My friends TA ate oil and his plugs had oil on them like you are describing.
Hope you get things figured out
Hope you get things figured out
07-02-2004, 01:47 PM
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The plugs look good to me. The only oily stuff I see is on the threads. That could just be melted antiseize. The plugs do need changing however due to the edges of the center electrode being so rounded off. The rounded off electrode weakens your spark. The spark likes to jump off that crisp sharp edge, it also makes your ignition system work easier due to the spark forming easier. You may consider running a TR6(4177)..especially in the summer.
