spark plugs - white build-up

[c_j]

spark_plug_build-up_1.JPG

spark_plug_build-up_2.JPG

probably coolant contamination plus vacuum leak (lean)?

this engine only drinks premium gas if that makes any difference.

[Petros]

too hot! looks like oil residue build up too. How much oil does this car burn? either too lean or you need to go to a cooler plug. check for vac leaks. how old are the spark plugs?

[c_j]

too hot! looks like oil residue build up too. How much oil does this car burn? either too lean or you need to go to a cooler plug. check for vac leaks. how old are the spark plugs?

I just put this motor back in, and I think it burns a quart every 4 tanks or so. The plugs are about 6 months old.

Vac leaks is definitely on the menu. I'm putting in a new dizzy with a good vacuum can right now (the old one was perforated), and also I see that the pcv valve is broken in half, plus I've never checked any vacuum hoses. I picked up a bunch of vacuum hose, so that will be next on the agenda.

[Petros]

so spark plugs were not too old, but they need replacing now (they should last several years), and oil consumption is well under a quart per 1000 miles it sounds like. Get the timing set properly and go after all those vac leaks.

[keith]

You can clean those plugs with a dental pick or a tool pick. You can get tool pics at any autoparts store and dental picks at Harbor Freight Tools. Just pick the chunks out. Those look like Iridium tipped plugs, you don't want to be throwing those away if you can still use them.

[c_j]

You can clean those plugs with a dental pick or a tool pick. You can get tool pics at any autoparts store and dental picks at Harbor Freight Tools. Just pick the chunks out. Those look like Iridium tipped plugs, you don't want to be throwing those away if you can still use them.

Yessir, they were cleaned with a 90 degree pick out of a cheap hook and pick set and put back in. For the record they were lowly NGK platinums. I'm not into the iridium age yet.

[Petros]

I have had bad luck with the fancy tiny tipped plugs, they foul and the tips burn up. I just go with the ordinary low cost NGK OEM plug that is recommended for the car. They are cheap, last years, and no fouling problems.

[dlb]

i have been using iridium-tipped plugs in my 4wd corolla wagon for 15k km and they've been fine for me. i only got them because they didn't have the regular NGK ones, and they also happened to be on sale. the old plugs were right worn out so although i noticed a slight improvement in fuel economy, i imagine any old plug would have done the same.