Examining used spark plugs

[FordSVTGuy]

Use your expertise to help me learn from these used spark plugs. What jumps out at you? I don't see excessive deposits or gunk on the electrodes but they are fairy dirty. Just pulled them from my daughter's 2016 Passat with the 1.8T engine. They are NGK by say Volkswagen on them too. This is at 82,000 miles and I'm not sure if they were ever changed before. My guess is no. I bought this for her used at about 70,000 miles. I replaced with identical aftermarket NGKs.

 

[JohnnyG]

Pretty typical, normal wear and deposits. Nothing remarkable and nothing to fix.

 

[hemitom]

Pretty typical, normal wear and deposits. Nothing remarkable and nothing to fix.

Bang on advice ! replace as you did and move along !

 

[KrisZ]

Mine looked far worse, but still there was no performance issues at all.

These days there is very little you can tell from spark plugs and even less you can do about it, if something looks off. Back in the carb days it mattered and you could adjust the mixture to your linking, these days no such thing is possible.

 

[Boomer]

VW recommends 40,000 mile change on plugs. Mine get done at that limit.

 

[Lubener]

https://honda-tech.com/forums/forced-induction-16/***-basics-reading-spark-plug***-3063102/

 

[martinq]

It's hard to tell from the pics, are these single or double precious-electrode (platinum, etc)?
NGK part number?

 

[FordSVTGuy]

It's hard to tell from the pics, are these single or double precious-electrode (platinum, etc)?
NGK part number?

NGK Laser Platinum #06k905601dk2

 

[FordSVTGuy]

VW recommends 40,000 mile change on plugs. Mine get done at that limit.

At 40,000 miles, how do the plugs look?

 

[martinq]

NGK Laser Platinum #06k905601dk2

Laser Platinum are dual electrode, really good stuff.

I would run those out to past 100k I think and running some Fuel System Cleaner will help clean up the injectors, combustion chamber including the spark plugs. Valvoline Restore and Protect might also help if you're having any misfire or oil consumption.

 

[FordSVTGuy]

Engine is running great, but I do want to run some fuel system cleaner for the injectors…

 

[Oliveoil2]

Engine is running great, but I do want to run some fuel system cleaner for the injectors…

If that’s what you want to do, do it during the final 2 fill ups before an oil change. That way it gets all the chemicals out with the old oil. But seeing your plugs I wouldn’t. They are burning beautifully. You have a keeper there.