What caused my plug to look like this?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,218
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From: Round Lake, NY
What caused my plug to look like this? I just did my first full plug change sense I have been dyno tuned on the bottle (Went through 3 bottles, on a 100 shot so far)...well, my rear passenger plug looked much different then all 7 of the others...These are BR7EF's gapped at .036
Obviously, im talking about the darker one.
Now, I DO know about reading plugs. I know my idle is rich (by the carbon build up on the plug edge), and How to read the timing marks (which seem to be dead on) and what not...but, what would cause this ONE plug, to seem to be running much richer then the others? When I was getting dyno tuned, We did have a problem with my fuel solonoid sticking shut and Im wondering if we fouled the plug during one of those pulls, and then every sense it has been dead. I am not sure. But the car runs HARD on the bottle, and runs great N/A
any idea's? Also, both of the rear plugs had a good amount of oil on the threads...Plugs were in the car for around 2k being DD driven and 3 bottles worth of track/street play.
Obviously, im talking about the darker one.
Now, I DO know about reading plugs. I know my idle is rich (by the carbon build up on the plug edge), and How to read the timing marks (which seem to be dead on) and what not...but, what would cause this ONE plug, to seem to be running much richer then the others? When I was getting dyno tuned, We did have a problem with my fuel solonoid sticking shut and Im wondering if we fouled the plug during one of those pulls, and then every sense it has been dead. I am not sure. But the car runs HARD on the bottle, and runs great N/A
any idea's? Also, both of the rear plugs had a good amount of oil on the threads...Plugs were in the car for around 2k being DD driven and 3 bottles worth of track/street play.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,218
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From: Round Lake, NY
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 0
From: Round Lake, NY
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,218
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From: Round Lake, NY
The car doesnt seem down on power or anything. idles great, drives great, Pulls hard on motor and pulls harder on the bottle. Doesnt blow any smoke N/A or on the bottle, but it does burn oil...but that could simply be because I have a ported LS6 oil pump and am just running the stock ls1 pvc setup into a junky ebay catch can.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: IL
hmmm i dono it doesnt look like oil to me looks like that sucker got burnt......hmm smell ur exhaust with the car running. have some one rev it while u stand back there and see for any signs of smoke. rub finger on the inside of the tail pipe and see/smell for oil. might have to do a compression test on her also.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,218
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From: Round Lake, NY
hmmm i dono it doesnt look like oil to me looks like that sucker got burnt......hmm smell ur exhaust with the car running. have some one rev it while u stand back there and see for any signs of smoke. rub finger on the inside of the tail pipe and see/smell for oil. might have to do a compression test on her also.
as far as my car smelling, it naturally smells because I dont have any cats and only have bullet mufflers.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,218
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From: Round Lake, NY
right now I have tr-55's in there because Im taking my car to myrtle beach thursday which is a 920 mile one way trip. I will pull #8 plug on my N/A plugs and see if it still looks like the nitrous plug...
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Round Lake, NY
I'm trying to remember exactly what I read, I think it was a Hot Rod article on leakdown tests. put it TDC, pressurize it, and have someone listen at the throttle body (cracked open), and at the tailpipes. That will give you a hint if it's a valve leakby issue. You could also pop the radiator cap and check for bubbles, anything not the above could be piston leakby.
Replacing a valve seal is simple for anyone with mechanical abilities. Being that it's a rear cylinder is tougher than the other cylinders, but still not very difficult with the right tools.
Good luck
Good luck
I would just put new plugs in it and call it a day!You say it runs good n/a and on the bottle,your probably fine.Maybe when that plug was installed might have got a little oil on it.JMO,Mike
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Round Lake, NY
BTW, I put tr55's because my bottle is empty and I wont be filling it again for a month or so...so when I go back to running n2o, I will get all new br7ef's.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Round Lake, NY
I am in no means worried about it. I built a turbo camaro in my driveway out of home tools by the age of 18 lol. I also took auto tech for 3 years and have my mechanics degree....just was never taught about replacing valve seals for some odd reason.
They may have nicked a valve seal on that cylinder when they installed them... have someone watch the exhaust when you start it after having sat for an hour or so... if there is a little puff of white/gray smoke right when it fires, that's a valve seal leaking. Easy fix by putting air to the cylinder and pulling the springs... replace both on that cylinder.