WTF?? Another broken plug?

[Rypper1]

This is the second HTO plug that has broken in the same manner. The ceramic around the center electrode has broken and fallen to the grounding bar causing a misfire. The first one was on cylinder #6, this one was cylinder #4. Anyone know what can cause this? In both cases it happened at WOT in 4th. Neither time was high RPM, both times it was about 4500 when I felt it stumble. Engine is a 302 stroker with a Hellion pushing 11 psi, 60# injectors. It makes ~550/520 at the wheels.

Sorry for the crappy pic, took it with my cell.

 

[KrisR]

I had one break just like that also. I noticed a miss at the end of last season. I discovered it this spring when I changed the plugs. Mine was on a turbo car with ~18psi boost.

EDIT: found pics.

 

[05Redfire]

I've had that happen in engines with normal plugs straight from the factory non high performance vehicles. Just crappy plug defects IMHO. (I know out plugs are not crappy brands just a statement)

 

[J2L06GT]

Well now I have seen pictures of Motorcraft, Autolight, Champion and Brisk
from our engines with broken ceramics so its not brand specific.
Just that long end is very susceptible to cracking.

 

[Rypper1]

That really sucks. These plugs only have about 300-400 miles on them and so far two out of the eight have broken. Never had that problem before.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[DiMora]

Try Brisk Silver Racing plugs.

 

[jeffie on juice]

Ford racing plugs have never let me down, been using them since 05 and they have done me right

 

[BLKS197]

When Eric Brooks was up in Buffalo, NY last week, we discussed this problem he has also seen with HT0 plugs. A set of Brisk plugs will eliminate your head aches.

 

[KrisR]

My tuner figured I may have had a touch of detonation and cracked a plug. Sort of a nice fuse I guess (better than a ringland). Also, my plugs were in the car for 2 boosted years, and actually were in my engine when it popped 2 years ago.

 

[Rypper1]

My tuner figured I may have had a touch of detonation and cracked a plug. Sort of a nice fuse I guess (better than a ringland). Also, my plugs were in the car for 2 boosted years, and actually were in my engine when it popped 2 years ago.

That is kinda what I was thinking too. Never had this problem before, just since the new motor and new tune. I do need to get back to the tuner to check some things and work on some drive ability issues. I am also chasing a tapping in the driver's side head. Not sure if it is a collapsed lash adjuster or sticky valve or what. Just about ready to return it to stock and get rid of it.

 

[19COBRA93]

Detonation is what causes that. It's not a plug defect, it's a tuning problem. If you're seeing that happen, you need to back off the timing or make whatever changes needed. Everytime I get aggressive with boost or timing, I lose plugs in that manner. FRPP plugs do that as well.

 

[05stroker]

I started with these issues on my plugs (in 06) and eventually ended up melting plugs and pistons. Nothing like a call from the tuner and he says , "we had to put a new set of plugs in there since the tips blew off four of them, must have been a bad set " . Soon after is when my car never went there again .

My vote is on the detonation or lean . That is what my isssue was at the time . (20 psi on 93 oct with only gt500 pumps) The tuner says " I think we have a fuel pump issue , the car is shutting down at 5500 rpm and I only have 18 deg of timing in it ". Good luck !

 

[19COBRA93]

This is the result of pushing it too far. Luckily I caught it before any more damage happened:

 

[Rypper1]

Damn, that looks nasty! I'm not sure what is going on in the tune. If it is detonation I don't know why I have it. I'm not really pushing it, 15* timing and 11 psi is where it is at. AFR shows 11.5 @WOT so I'm not sure WTF is wrong. At least that is where everything was when it was tuned.

I do have a ticking/knocking sound that is coming from the drivers side. Sounds like something in the valve train but I haven't been able to find it. The sound isn't always there. And more evident on cold starts. I haven't been getting on it because of this. It does go very lean at tip in, and I don't mean when I am getting on it. Just giving it gas, like starting off or shifting gears. It will go lean for a second or two then comes back to normal. That is why I am wondering if I have a sticky valve or lifter acting up.

 

[19COBRA93]

It does go very lean at tip in, and I don't mean when I am getting on it. Just giving it gas, like starting off or shifting gears. It will go lean for a second or two then comes back to normal.

That is a problem in your tune. A bad Maf transfer function, transient fueling, and a couple other things cause that. I've been fighting it for 6 months and finally got a tune that corrected it.

 

[Rypper1]

That is a problem in your tune. A bad Maf transfer function, transient fueling, and a couple other things cause that. I've been fighting it for 6 months and finally got a tune that corrected it.

Yea, I know I need to get it back to the tuner. Just haven't had time. The only two days I had off in the last two weeks he was in CA. Now I am on 14 straight dogs. I just aint sure I want to make any WOT pulls with the noise in it. I'm sure he could work on the drive ability stuff though.

 

[Eric Brooks]

Detonation is what causes that. It's not a plug defect, it's a tuning problem. If you're seeing that happen, you need to back off the timing or make whatever changes needed. Everytime I get aggressive with boost or timing, I lose plugs in that manner. FRPP plugs do that as well.

I've tuned many cars with HT0 plugs and never once had a problem. I agree that detonation could cause a plug to do that, however I had a turbo car in my shop that broke 3 plugs like the original picture. No burnt electrode, just the porcelain making a clean break.

The boost was low, the timing was very conservative, and the airfuel was richer than I normally run.

The first time it happened, I was a bit baffled. At inspecting the plug further, there was no "pepper" that you typically see on a detonated plug. There was no melting.

I spoke with Ken @ Diablosport and he too said he had ran into this and is why he only tunes with Brisk plugs now.

I put in a set of Brisk plugs, and never broke another one. I was then able to run the boost up, and lean the mixture back to what I consider safe on that setup.

Now, the plug you yourself posted a picture of with the electrode melted is most definitely detonation.

 

[19COBRA93]

Now, the plug you yourself posted a picture of with the electrode melted is most definitely detonation.

I agree, mine was definitely a detonation issue. In addition to getting my tune worked out, I also may switch to the Brisk plugs to see if they're more durable.

 

[08gt4u]

i have been using brisk plugs since i bought my car back in 08 with 0 problems.

 

[Riptide]

The brisks are also a one piece plug. Are they gappable?


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