LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

help me analyze this spark plug

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Old 04-24-2015, 08:42 PM
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Default help me analyze this spark plug

The rest of the plugs look essentially like this one. I did 24x in September and I'm just making sure the plugs look good. Based off what internet guides have to say, I think the ground strap shows a little too much timing. Never hear any knock or see it on hptuners but I'm removing 1-3* throughout the spark table anyway. Can't see in the pictures but there's a nice brown ring on top of the porcelain. The rest of the porcelain is a nice brown. One of the big things I'm unsure about are those white specs. I read that if they glisten then that's a sign of detonation because you're looking at shards of aluminum. These don't glisten, they're just solid white. There was one picture I found that had similar white spots and it was labeled as normal. Thanks!

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Old 04-24-2015, 09:21 PM
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What is your compression ratio?
If it's high enough the TR55s will be too hot for what compression ratio your running. However, your timing could be off as well. Usually from what I've seen a car that has plugs that look like that have been from a plug gap that's too hot for the compression ratio.

Last edited by VoyagerCamaro; 04-24-2015 at 09:38 PM.
Old 04-25-2015, 04:37 AM
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Compression is 11:1. Plugs are gapped at 40 I believe, maybe 45... one of those two. What do you mean by "look like that"?
Old 04-25-2015, 07:06 AM
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TR55 is likely too hot got TR6 or autolite 104.
Old 04-25-2015, 07:42 AM
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What do you guys mean by too hot? What spec do you look for in a spark plug? I just installed a set of rhe ngktr55 's is that a bad option for a stock/bolt on car?
Old 04-25-2015, 08:19 AM
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For stock/bolton it is fine, for modified with higher compression it isn't. Google can explain plug heat ranges.
Old 04-25-2015, 08:21 AM
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What 96caprice said. There not spark plugs and cold ones, don't get this confused thinking your car will run hotter or colder with one to the other. Basically a good rule of thumb is higher compression you want a colder plug, and lower compression a hotter plug. Get some NGK TR6 plugs and put em in and the next time you decide to pull the plugs after running or driving your car they won't look like the ones you have now. The colder gap will help prevent detonation and next time you pull the plugs they won't look all white like that.
Old 04-25-2015, 09:34 AM
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From what I can see in the pic it looks like oil burning in the chamber. The white crust is an indicator of that. The porcelain shows the fuel looks right. The heat indicator on the ground strap is obscured by the ash. Typically "salt" or "pepper" would show on the porcelain, salt being aluminum, pepper being carbon. Since it is scattered about and between the electrodes, I would guess it is the ash. Scrape the pieces from the porcelain onto a clean surface and cut them with a razor, inspect with a magnifying glass looking for aluminum.
Old 04-25-2015, 11:17 AM
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No further analysis needed till he gets a cooler plug in it. No need to look at the pics TR55 is too hot for raised compression.
Old 04-25-2015, 01:16 PM
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Thanks guys, I'll try a colder plug
Old 04-25-2015, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by AdsoYo
Thanks guys, I'll try a colder plug
Let us know how it goes. My recommendation is after installing the plugs drive it till it hits operating temperature, drive it a few miles or so.. Go home and pull the plugs and see how they look!
Old 05-02-2015, 09:41 PM
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Here's a the TR6 out of cylinder #4. Had them in for a few days now, maybe not long enough. At least there isn't any white specs. Looks like I may need to drive it for a while longer since the porcelain still looks pretty white.

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Last edited by AdsoYo; 12-01-2015 at 04:22 AM.
Old 05-02-2015, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by AdsoYo
Here's a the TR6 our of cylinder #4. Had them in for a few days now, maybe not long enough. At least there isn't any white specs. Looks like I may need to drive it for a while longer since the porcelain still looks pretty white.

Wouldn't count on it man... I've had mine in for 6 months and probably 3000miles and they still look practically brand new. LOL at least I know everything's alright
Old 05-04-2015, 06:31 AM
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
No further analysis needed till he gets a cooler plug in it. No need to look at the pics TR55 is too hot for raised compression.
^^^exactly, Its like saying, let me see what times my car will run but I have bald tires, wait until you get some DR's, Pointless...
Old 12-08-2015, 05:37 AM
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Back again. Here's the TR6's after 7 months of abuse. From left to right they are 1-3-5-7.

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Old 12-08-2015, 09:59 AM
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Looks to be some oil deposits.
Old 12-14-2015, 12:22 AM
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Yeah not super excited about that. Here's the passenger side, 2-4-6-8 left to right.

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Old 12-14-2015, 07:03 AM
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How many miles do you have on them after that 7 months? They look rough.
Old 12-14-2015, 09:00 AM
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Take pictures of them out in sunlight.

Shadows and brightness of artificial light throws off the look on the strap and electrode insulator.
Old 12-14-2015, 10:29 AM
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How's your oil consumption?


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