Quote:
Alright everybody let's keep things sophisticated( Best line in this entire thread -I'm still smiling )
Here's an update on the car. So the new spark plugs went in, the car drove fine. Slowly but certainly,(YEP - no surprise here .) minor symptoms began to return. Just the occasional "hiccup" on acceleration, some rough idling, particularly with the AC on. ( Think of your previous VG readings .) I guess I noticed the first of it maybe 1,200 miles after the plugs were replaced. ( So how long exactly did the NGKs last after your 'mokanics brother' incorrectly told you 'that was it'and installed them ? < P.S. ,I'd probably/possibly have to 'fire his *ss'.> Of course , in that situation to be fair, I'd want to 'fire' anybody on this thread who doesn't know how to correctly correlate your roadtests and VG readings as well as everything else you did .
Ditto , those who have NO clue on the use and value of VGs (early in diagnostics - w/o digital 'scope) in general .
Or those who seem strangely unfamilar with how to properly conduct the 'water mist test' for best use and interpretation of your actual results - and prove all these points post after post , but hey , thats just a personal decision - I'm old and cranky and don't suffer 'fools' lightly anymore - that kind of "suffering' is one of the ways I goofed up here -.>
( By any chance , is this the same shop that installed your timing belt and 'handled' your valve adjustment requirements ? )
For S's and giggles I replaced the plugs again a few weeks ago. Again, back to perfect running. 800 miles later, minor symptoms are coming back.( Do you have any details on this 3rd or 4thset of plugs ? )
Nothing nearly as bad as what was going on a few months ago. ( Well , that depends how you look at the spark plug life you are now experiencing and some very likely cumulative and negative side effects .) The car is perfectly drivable without any "special techniques" and the average person might just think it's the nature of the beast on a car with 151k miles. ( This of course, would be incorrect , but it is up to the end user to decide that - it is your vehicle . ) ( I of course would prefer it to be running perfectly.( I would hope so , a set of plugs should last a lot longer than what you are getting . As a for instance , on a "better than yours is" , but barely nominal running engine like this installation on this duty cycle , you could realistically expect 100k plus on a number of Bosch spark plug types . I think its fairly obvious as suggested previously (and repeatably) you have other things going on here than sparkplugs . ( you confirmed all this a long time ago with your roadtests and vacuum gauge readings ). At this point , its likely you have 2 - possibly 3 -3+ 'roots' (may depend on how you count that) - and just like the plugs , you may have additional 'root caused' problems as well . Keep running this way , and if you don't already , you will later - count on it .) You may only need find the worst here and can kinda' band aid the rest .
The plugs I removed looked fine. I've still got them and could even post some photos if anyone would like to see them. ( Thats a real good idea ) So I don't know what is wrong with them. Just that brand new plugs seem to work ok, but somewhat ( Really should read - 'VERY' "rapidly" ) experience some sort of degradation even for an NGK .
My experience tells me NGKs in general, 'wear fast' and definitely do not handle certain adversities very well esp . extra heat or current among others - its hard to beat Bosch for a 'tough plug'. Notice how your Autolites did better than the NGKs . Although not surprising in any way ,( from what I've seen ,nothing wears out faster in MOST circumstances than NKG - not even Nippondenso)- there may or may not have been extenuating circumstances . Its mostly about their material choices.
So I remain fairly clueless.( No, not entirely -not by a long shot . You have one way or another , in your earlier efforts eliminated some things and with this post , have proved beyond a doubt that while you are experiencing early plug failure thats really a symptom 'first' , that then becomes a problem -'second' . Just to try and limit the variables here , suggest you stop running FP until you sort this out - see what happens - maybe better - maybe worse .)
jeff
One thing for sure , from the post above this one of yours (meep) , and going downward thru Gary Allens , etc to the end , this is if nothing else , the most humorous and entertaining thread we have ever had in the MM part of the forum .
I say this esp. in regards to Mokanic's last post .
I literally was laughing so hard last night , I half fell out of my chair and darn near dropped the confuser - couldn't post back at all .
This thread is very informative in so many ways - and again , to give credit where credit is due , Mokanic has confirmed many of his skill levels including, but not limited to, the areas of basic reading comprehension and concrete operational thinking , his automotive experience and knowledge base , and has thereby, usefully eliminated several possibilities of likely employment - or likely success therein.
This would be in regards to past , present, and future .
I think thats a fair conclusion - given the commentary contained in his post , Mokanic obviously considers 800-1200-1200+??? miles as normal plug life here . Even on an NGK , thats way , way , short in this application .
This, in turn, is not a good sign ........
Do you intend to continue to run the car replacing plugs every 800 - 1200-??? miles or so ?
If you want to do better , this thread now contains all the information you need to do that quickly and effectively although thats not even close to easy now to extract - there is a lot of 'schrubbery' of many types in here .
A likely to be more cost & time effective method at this point , would be to find a competent , 'friendly' Honda 'specialist' who is familiar with some of the less common - hi mileage 'ins and outs' (as listed thruout this thread) of this particular Honda and have them at the very least , do some solid diagnostic work done .
I don't think I can contribute anything further here . Don't take offense at the following - I don't , - but I have asked about twenty or so questions in here and recieved no or inadequate responses in reply .
This in no way reflects on you poorly , - you are in a very real sense in charge here - its your Honda and your thread .
I have posted in here with that in mind and have tried to 'go with your flow'.
Rather , it reflects more on my very limited internet trouble shooting skills , - considered both separately and together -I just can't say anything useful here w/o more and better information . And then there are the questions that haven't been asked etc .
Jeff , if down the road you have a question or two , PM me or address it directly to me here and I will try to respond as best I can .
Last edited:
