Read my spark plugs! pls!

darkdan · Nov 21, 2004

WR8DCX (bosch coppers)
Miles in use: 13,300 miles
Engine: 1.3L I4 (ford aspire)

My car started running rough when cold. It was a low rpm stumble. So I replaced both plugs and wires and life was good.

Before the plugs were white so I replaced them with these. These are one heat range colder than stock!

Fuel Power is used at least 9 of 10 tanks for almost the entire time these plugs were in.

I don't think it uses any coolant. Uses about one quart of AMSOIL ASL 5w30 every 4000 miles.

uconn1150 · Nov 21, 2004

They don't look too bad. I would try going back to the stock ones. Also, try to clean out the combustion chamber. Looks like there's a lot of carbon on the end of the spark plug threads. Don't you have an aluminum head? I'd use Anti-Seize if you do.

You'd think with FP they'd be cleaner.

BTW how many miles on the engine?

darkdan · Nov 21, 2004

Alum head, I use/used anti-seize.

This time I did go back to the stock heat range. I thought maybe since the temps are getting lower that I'd need a warmer plug.

Yeah, the carbon or whatever that is around the edge is puzzling.

The plugs went in at 116,300 miles and the car now had 129k miles when they came out. Now a little more than 1,000 miles later it's still running fine with the new plugs. Champion coppers this time.

Edit: the gap is still correct too.

Whimsey · Nov 21, 2004

Your plugs don't look bad. It would be nice if the plugs were a bit more on the tan side. Maybe the the type of fuel you are using is causing the yellow coating on the ceramic portion of the spark plug. Otherwise the plugs look good overall. It would be intersting to see what the factory spec'd plugs would look like. Many of the aftermarket plugs are a compromise for heat ranges so you end up "playing around" and installing various heat range plugs in order to get back to the proper stock heat range. Just curious, what were the factory plugs in your Aspire.

Whimsey

JustinH · Nov 21, 2004

agreed, stick with a motorcraft plug in that motor

uconn1150 · Nov 21, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by JustinH:
agreed, stick with a motorcraft plug in that motor

Isn't that a Mazda motor?

darkdan · Nov 21, 2004

Yeah, it's a Ford car designed by Mazda, built by Kia, with a Mazda engine.

They're actually ghost white! No tan to them at all. I blame the lighting. I wasn't able to use my flash that close or the whole picture was just white.

Edit: I've had the car for 30k miles now roughly. When I first got it I put in autolite (motorcraft) plats. They were ghost white and I replaced them with the bosch coppers with a heat range colder than stock to see if that would help.

Since I'm in the wonderful socialist state of minnesota I'm forced to use 10% ethanol gas.

Is a picture of the autolites from earlier this year. The natural outside light helps show you how white they are. Thus the colder plug this time.

Worse comes to worse and we can't figure out why I go through plugs....$4 every 15k miles isn't all that bad.

[ November 21, 2004, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: darkdan ]

TheLoneRanger · Nov 21, 2004

The plugs actually look pretty good. The white electrodes are from a lean mixture, like all of today's FI engines run. If it dosn't detonate, I wouldn't worry.

The carbon buildup on the plug body is from the oil usuage. It's not excessive, just enough to gather on the plugs.

You could clean the plugs when the engine starts to misfire, instead of replacing them. The plugs are still OK, it's the carbon buildup down in the circular groove portion that shorts them out and causes the stumble.....

uconn1150 · Nov 21, 2004

Propflux01 · Nov 21, 2004

Since the carbon deposits are dry, I would not attribute them to oil usuage. I would say they are from a short style ( city) drive. The 'ghost' colouring on the plugs is normal, it is the sign of a leaner mix. I would consider changing an oxygen sensor before changing a heat range on a plug. The greyish build up on the plugs is a result of using fuels with heavier detergents.

MNgopher · Nov 21, 2004

The plugs in my Jeep Cherokee (Champion Coppers) come out with the exact same ghost white coloring, with just a hint on tan to them, likely running the same fuels as you are here in Lakeville. (Either Flint Hills in Rosemount (Holiday for sure), Marathon Ashland in Newport (Superamerica, Speedway, and Marathon Stations) or Tesoro from Mandan, ND (BP, Amoco). I'd suggest they look pretty good with the exception of the carbon deposits.

Strangely enough, my UOA's show a fuel loading problem, yet my plugs all suggest I'm running on the money to the lean side.

OdinsRageSS · Nov 21, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by darkdan:
Since I'm in the wonderful socialist state of minnesota I'm forced to use 10% ethanol gas.

[

THOSE ****** COMMIES!

Whimsey · Nov 21, 2004

Dan,
As much as the Autolites are similar to the Motorcrafts they are not exactly the same. Autolite being an aftermarket plug are sometimes a compromise to allow wider usuage. The Motorcraft plugs are "spot on" for each Ford engine they are spec'd for. I can get Motorcraft's at an auto parts store near me for about $3-$4 each for the platinum plug, copper is a lot less. The dealer wants around $9 each

. Try them. Unless something is "amiss" with the engine you should get a nice tan plug with the Motorcraft's. It'll be cheaper than experimenting with so many different brands of plug

. By the way I never had any luck with Champion brand plugs in any engine that did not come with them from the factory.

Whimsey

darkdan · Nov 21, 2004

I've always heard autolites were the same plug different paint for almost the entire lineup.

The o2 sensor is about 16k miles old or so. I replaced my leaking exhaust manifold and the o2 sensor (which was replaced when I first got the car) wouldn't come out. =)

As long as the white leaness of the plugs isn't anything out of the ordinary I guess I'll stop being so concerned with it.

Whimsey · Nov 22, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by darkdan:
I've always heard autolites were the same plug different paint for almost the entire lineup.

The o2 sensor is about 16k miles old or so. I replaced my leaking exhaust manifold and the o2 sensor (which was replaced when I first got the car) wouldn't come out. =)

As long as the white leaness of the plugs isn't anything out of the ordinary I guess I'll stop being so concerned with it.

I wouldn't loose any sleep over the condition of your plugs shown in the pictures above. I had a 1989 F-150 with the 4.9 L6 and changed the factory Motorcraft plugs at 30,000+/- miles and they were a beautiful tan and almost no wear. I used the Autolite equivalents and at around 60,000 miles I pulled them out and they were well worn and white. I replaced them with the new Motorcraft plugs and changed them at about 90,000 miles and again they were a nice tan and the gap was almost the same as when I installed them 30,000 miles previously

. Those O2 sensors can be a real bear to remove. Especially if they didn't use antiseize on the threads. You also need the right tool for removal. The long O2 socket with the slit in it is useless for removal. You need the short thick O2 crows foot socket for removal. Snap On Tools sells a real good one for around $30. I got an OK one from Pep Boys for $10. And it worked

. And I used antiseize on the threads when putting the new in.

Whimsey

Read my spark plugs! pls!

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