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#57236 03/02/2006 5:31 PM | Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 784 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 784 | I've seen this statement a few times. What does "reading the plugs" tell you? How do you do it? What do you look for? Do you have to use new plugs each time you do it? And most important how do you fix the problems you find?
Many of you have much more knowledge than I'll ever have on these things. Just trying to learn a little at a time.
Thanks
George | | |
#57237 03/02/2006 5:52 PM | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | When you pull a plug you look at the color & condition of the part sticking in the combustion chamber. Pull all the plugs keeping track of which plug came out of which cylinder. A black, dry, sooty appearance indicates a rich condition. Black & wet indicates oil consumption. Medium to light tan is good. White, especially with pitting indicates you're running hot, usually a lean condition.
Keep in mind that if you let the engine idle for several minutes before reading the plugs you'll basically get a snapshot of the condition at idle. It's usually wise to run the engine at highway speed for several minutes, shut it off & check the plugs without letting it idle.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
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#57238 03/02/2006 5:59 PM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 531 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 531 | This info would make a nice Tech Tip! | | |
#57239 03/02/2006 6:00 PM | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 179 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 179 |
When I go cruisin' in the old truck....women smile, men weep and dogs beg for rides.
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#57240 03/02/2006 6:03 PM | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 | Tiny is right, don't let it idle to long after you run it down the road. When I was drag racing, it was normal to shut it off at the finish line and coast off the track, then read the plugs where it stopped. Thats the only way to get a correct reading for full throttle. If you are wanting a general idea, drive as you normally would, and pull the plugs when you get home. It won't be 100% but will tell you if you are in the ball bark or not. Brown and dry is what you are looking for, or even slightly white. A lean mixture will have small purple spots on the ceramic part of the plug, a very rich mixture will be black and sooty. Oil burning will be wet, black, and nasty.
You need to see if you have a problem before we can tell you how to fix it. Your tail pipe will tell about as much as a plug will. Does it smoke? is there soot when you rub your finger in it? etc...... Joe | | |
#57241 03/02/2006 6:21 PM | Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 784 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 784 | Thanks guys. That link is real helpfull. Should I install new plugs before I read them or just use the ones I have.
My engine is running fine, but it will be nice to tell what is really happening in the cylinders.
George | | |
#57242 03/02/2006 9:41 PM | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | I'd read the plugs that are in it now.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
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#57244 03/03/2006 2:11 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 343 Member | | Member Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 343 | I read my plugs and they said "AC R45" as a matter of fact they all said the same thing, so I guess you could say I got a consistent reading across all 6 cylinders.  I think I will go back to reading my shop manual there's a lot more interesting stuff there.
1954 GMC 1/2-ton Longbed
1971 Pontiac LeMans Sport
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#57245 03/03/2006 5:58 AM | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 112 Member | | Member Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 112 | i get alot of laughs off this site...love it | | |
#57246 03/03/2006 3:58 PM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 |
Jim & Caroline
The highway is for gamblers, better use your good sense."
Gooday-that's my 1¢ answer due to the lousy economy ~ cause I ain't got - no . mo . doe
Every Shaver | Now Can Snore | Six More Minutes | Than Before ... | Half A Pound for Half a Dollar | Spread On Thin | Above the Collar || BURMA-SHAVE
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#57247 03/03/2006 9:13 PM | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | everytime they try to talk they get fired | | |
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