Nitrous Junkies *help reading plugs
Why not teach the guy how to read his plugs?
AnoxieGTO:
If you follow the grounding strap from the free end tip to the base of the plug, you see the ring around the strap? Thats the timing mark, I would suggest 3 or 4*, I like the mark to be a lil higher and clean up the detonation.
The speckles on the porcelain, and on the facing of the plug, flat spot that the strap is welded to, are what is indicating detonation. The black soot it from being rich, its powdery and normal in many cases, if the porcelain is like that way to rich. Your porcelain is pretty white, which goes towards the leaner side, if its chalk white bright, too lean and eventually you'll see the strap burn off/blow off and possibly tear up a valve/cylinder. Another tip, when you want to read the plugs make sure you shut down as soon after turn off as possible, pull the plugs, read them then and there. If you drive back to your pit you will "wash" the readings out some.
Good thing about the wet kits, you really only need to read the drivers side as it will lean out before the passenger side. The fuel supply is coming from the drivers side, so takes fuel away from those plugs.
Charlie
AnoxieGTO:
If you follow the grounding strap from the free end tip to the base of the plug, you see the ring around the strap? Thats the timing mark, I would suggest 3 or 4*, I like the mark to be a lil higher and clean up the detonation.
The speckles on the porcelain, and on the facing of the plug, flat spot that the strap is welded to, are what is indicating detonation. The black soot it from being rich, its powdery and normal in many cases, if the porcelain is like that way to rich. Your porcelain is pretty white, which goes towards the leaner side, if its chalk white bright, too lean and eventually you'll see the strap burn off/blow off and possibly tear up a valve/cylinder. Another tip, when you want to read the plugs make sure you shut down as soon after turn off as possible, pull the plugs, read them then and there. If you drive back to your pit you will "wash" the readings out some.
Good thing about the wet kits, you really only need to read the drivers side as it will lean out before the passenger side. The fuel supply is coming from the drivers side, so takes fuel away from those plugs.
Charlie
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,726
Likes: 0
From: Fort Collins, CO
Originally Posted by Robert56
Good read you guys. It seems that plug reading is becoming a lost art. It used to be one of the main tuning tools.
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Lean it out some for max power and try one range colder plug.
The best plug reading write up I've seen:
Reading Plugs
The best plug reading write up I've seen:
Reading Plugs
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Originally Posted by badass 2002 z28
As long as your plug doesn't look like this you're fine...who wants to read this plug? 
Originally Posted by SlickVert
I read Meaux Racing article on Reading Spark Plugs, very good.
I understand from the article that the Ground Strap = Heat Range
My question is how do you read Timing?
I understand from the article that the Ground Strap = Heat Range
My question is how do you read Timing?
Originally Posted by Robert56
When mine look like that, I just use my little plug sand blaster and they are good for another 20k, saves money.
