Just looked at the plugs today on my duratec plus 4. It's obviously been a bit wet in the void where the plugs sit. Fortunately I did vacuum everything out at each stage of the job, so not too much muck went down the plug holes!! Time to make some sort of cover. Cheers John [URL=http://s374.photobucket.com/user/ellison97/media/IMG_0012rs_zpsludo8ggy.jpg.html][/url]
John07, What a sight, how long had those plugs been in situ?
Could be from new, there's no record of them being changed in the receipts I've got. That's 8 years and 15K miles.
Originally Posted By Ken A
And the gaps are massive, surprising the engine ran
The gaps are only a bit over what they should be, which is .050in.
What shocked me was the height of the water level stain on the plug caps. The problem is there does not seem to be any way out for the water apart from evaporation. In the engine's natural habitat there are no bonnet vents to fill the plug trough with water. Cheers John
yes a cover is also on my project list.. have to stop the water getting in there in the first place as they don't dry out naturally very well or quickly as the plug leads ALMOST seal the hole.
Gaps have got wider using modern electronic systems, the old coil or magneto systems often needed smaller gaps. I think wider gaps offer better or fatter spark with a good electronic system and better burn characteristics than smaller gaps. Also pays to check on even new plugs out of the box as they do vary!
I wouldn't leave plugs in for more than a year, wouldn't necessarily change them but keep them 'moving'.
Interesting comments. Your advice on keeping plugs for only one year is ok but what about mileage? A lot of us do not do so many miles. so this would be another expense every year. So if one does, say 5000 miles a year would you advocate the same replacement period?
Ken A. Plus 4 2009 Centenary Metallic Red Plus 8 1994 Dark Green (prev) Honda CB100 The Big One
Interesting comments. Your advice on keeping plugs for only one year is ok but what about mileage? A lot of us do not do so many miles. so this would be another expense every year. So if one does, say 5000 miles a year would you advocate the same replacement period?
Ken, i said in my post above "i wouldn't necessarily change them".. after only a year unless your a taxi driver they wouldn't warrant replacing on normal mileages.. but a clean and anti seize is a good idea. These can seize up in no time if you just go on mileage and on a GDI the lower threads get carbonned up as they sit in the combustion chamber, i don't like the thought of winding that out in alloy threads..
