How do my spark plugs look?

[steinbergjonny]

Just picked up a 2008 gt/CS with 130k miles (with the later head). No idea how many miles on the spark plugs - how do you think these look? Plenty of miles left on em Or swap em?

 

[JC SSP]

You already pulled them out so swap them for some fresh ones.

 

[bambam 06]

If you went to the trouble of removing them, i would replace them. Specially since you don't know the mileage.

 

[Miker]

If it's running good why toss 100 bucks? Clean them up, gap them and reinstall them.
Signed,
Cheap old school guy....

 

[steinbergjonny]

That's what I was thinking too - I hate just throwing money at cars.

Speaking of... I got curious as what carbon buildup in the engine looked like and put an endoscope down into one of the cylinders and I don't think I liked what I found.... Anyone have any ideas what that the silver bits could be? Is my engine a time bomb?
What would you do to further diagnose?

 

[Miker]

That's what I was thinking too - I hate just throwing money at cars.

Speaking of... I got curious as what carbon buildup in the engine looked like and put an endoscope down into one of the cylinders and I don't think I liked what I found.... Anyone have any ideas what that the silver bits could be? Is my engine a time bomb?
What would you do to further diagnose?

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Looks like one of those fancy headliners! LOL
Actually kind of hard to see what that is showing. I know sometimes close up pics show stuff that you wouldn't normally see. That one part that looks peeled up is interesting.

 

[Zach Baumann]

Is that the cylinder wall? If so it looks like dirt fell in when the spark plugs were pulled and stuck to the cylinder wall.

 

[Midlife Crises]

The crap you see in the cylinders came off the plug threads and insulators when you unscrewed them.

 

[steinbergjonny]

That's highly relieving. I was worried that was metal and my engine was about to unalive itself!

 

[steinbergjonny]

Is that the cylinder wall? If so it looks like dirt fell in when the spark plugs were pulled and stuck to the cylinder wall.

It's the cylinder wall and the top of the piston

 

[Pentalab]

Replace em on spec and be done with it. Gap em correctly. I used new Brisk plus on my 2010 GT, and gapped to .035" since I also have the small Roush M90 blower....(5 psi boost).
The misfires dropped to ZERO with the new plugs installed.

 

[07 Boss]

If they all look like that you should be good to go. Clean them up with a brush and some cleaner and check the gaps but they don't look bad at all. I'm glad you pulled them to check on them. That's the best way of avoiding issues when it does con=me time to replace them be sure you put a bit of anti-seize on the barrels (not the threads) and you should be good to go. Also, next time, try some compressed air into the spark plug barrels before removing them. This will prevent so much debris in the cylinders.

 

[brasil]

if you clean the plugs..use a copper-brush ! Not a steel-brush. The steel brush can harm the porcelain

 

[brasil]

..while reading here.. I am thinking that I should check my plugs too.... 16 years now. But only 20 k miles driven. This week I will pull them.

 

[steinbergjonny]

If they all look like that you should be good to go. Clean them up with a brush and some cleaner and check the gaps but they don't look bad at all. I'm glad you pulled them to check on them. That's the best way of avoiding issues when it does con=me time to replace them be sure you put a bit of anti-seize on the barrels (not the threads) and you should be good to go. Also, next time, try some compressed air into the spark plug barrels before removing them. This will prevent so much debris in the cylinders.

Thanks - yea I took my shop vac and blew everything off with the back end of it, but I think I'm learning the car was stored outside for some time. There was a bunch of debris that had gone in past the coil boots

if you clean the plugs..use a copper-brush ! Not a steel-brush. The steel brush can harm the porcelain

Good deal - k used brass, hopefully that's soft enough.... If not, too late now haha

 

[DieHarder]

..while reading here.. I am thinking that I should check my plugs too.... 16 years now. But only 20 k miles driven. This week I will pull them.

Plugs Not removed in 16 years? Really? You'll want to have the Lisle tool on hand and read about removing plugs in these cars beforehand. What year is your ride? Then I'd go for the one-piece Brisk plugs. Expensive, but worth it.

 

[Pentalab]

Plugs Not removed in 16 years? Really? You'll want to have the Lisle tool on hand and read about removing plugs in these cars beforehand. What year is your ride? Then I'd go for the one-piece Brisk plugs. Expensive, but worth it.

Does anybody actually still make a 2 piece plug ?

 

[07 Boss]

I don't know how many times I have said this on forums. "What happened to pulling and cleaning plugs as routine maintenance?" Pull your plugs once a year at least once a year to clean and inspect them. If you do this you will never have a problem with stuck pugs. When I was racing the car I would check plugs before and after every session. When not racing I pull them at least once a year.

 

[bambam 06]

I use E3-70 or Champion 7989, they cost me between $40.00/$50.00. I change them about every 14 mths. Well worth the money and saving if you break one, plus peace of mind, don't forget the anti-seize!

 

[JC SSP]

I have used Brisks before with great results.

Recently used auto light HT0 plugs. No issues.