Whats the deal with these spark plugs?

[chriseacrett]

The first time that I changed my spark plugs they were black and looked like every other normal used spark plug I have seen; however, my car recently started misfiring and generally had no power. So I pulled the plugs and they were orange in color, so I changed them. The car runs fine now, but I am just wondering why they got like that and why so fast(less than a year)

The only thing I can find is on a spark plug chart it says that they can look like that because the engine is running hot...but here are some pictures(not the best)

[Evolvd]

Well they aren't white so you're probly not seeing excessive detonation. What mods do you have and are you tuned?

[chriseacrett]

List Of Mods:
-Megan Racing 3" Turbo Back Exhaust
-Megan Racing O2 Housing
-Hallman Pro Manual Boost Controller @ 21psi
-Brian Crower Stage 2 (272) Cams
-Walbro 255lph Fuel Pump
-K&N Drop In Filter
-JDM BOV
-Dynoflash eTune

When I swapped the plugs I did not have it tuned, I do not.
When I use the "Aktive Matrix" Mitsubishi logger it at times says I have as much as 140~ counts of knock. I suppose I could be reading it wrong or something, but that seems kind of high....

But as of now it is fully tuned, and with a brand new set of BPR7ES spark plugs

[chriseacrett]

I just put the new plugs in (BPR7ES) and after driving for about 20 minutes or so I took them out to check them. And they are white....not really white, but lightly white. I would imagine that if I continue to drive they will only get worse.

I just got tuned, and am able to get a revision. Don't know if that is it or not...

Could my fuel injectors be the thing to blame? Bad fuel injectors in combination with a lean tune could do it couldn't it?

[Wicked E]

Please for the love of your car... Find a new tuner...

Cheers-
E

[chriseacrett]

Here is a picture of the new plugs that have only been run for like 20 minutes or so.
They are kind of hard to see, but anyway...

[chriseacrett]

It will be a while before I am tuned again, I read and what I read it seemed like Dynoflash was the place to go. Just out of curiosity why don't you like them/him?

[turbolarry]

I use this as a guideline;
Diagnosing Spark Plug Health
To me it looks like it's a little on the hot side. Maybe try BPR8ES.
The plugs in the original post; Were they BPR7ES' too? If so, how long were they in for? I'm asking because copper have to be changed more often then the irridiums (every5K to 6K miles).
Can you post a log too?

[chriseacrett]

The plugs in the first picture were BPR7EIXs, they were in the car for about nine months or so I would say.

I'll post a log tomorrow.

[BAMBAM]

IMO DYNO Flash is bad for one main reason every car is different. and Two is that they use the same tune for everyone. that means they send me the same flash as you and they think it is ok....ummm I do not think so.
Just my $0.02

[Wicked E]

Originally Posted by BAMBAM

IMO DYNO Flash is bad for one main reason every car is different. and Two is that they use the same tune for everyone. that means they send me the same flash as you and they think it is ok....ummm I do not think so.
Just my $0.02

Remind me to buy you a beer next time we hang out...

Cheers-
E

[BAMBAM]

Here is the string to put on your fingure....lol

[chriseacrett]

I had two sets of BPR7ES plugs the first set were gapped at around .030, and the second set were gapped to about .026.
The set that was gapped to about .026 were the ones that turned white.

The others were in the car before it was tuned and turned orange prior to the car being tuned, but I got the car tuned and put those plugs back in and they are not turning white.

So I am wondering if I just get a set of BPR7ES plugs and gap them to about .030 if that would be alright?

Or should BPR8ES plugs be tried?

Also, what is the difference between BPR8ES and BR8ES plugs?


Another thing is about how long do the fuel injectors last on these cars? A lot people will tell you that fuel injectors should usually be changed every 100k miles or so.

[Evolvd]

With your mods there is no reason you need to run 8's. The BPR7's will work just fine and should be gapped from about .24 to .28. I'd try the higher end of that and see how it comes out. If you plan to run race gas and higher boost levels or meth then I'd look at some 8's. It's odd that they'd change so drastically if you're not detonating.

It's hard to tell from the pics but if the color is more grey than white you should be ok. Also do a compression check to make sure you're not getting any false readings.

Last ditch effort I'd take some really good close up shots and e-mail them to Martin Musial at AMS and ask his opinion. He's pretty old school and can read plugs well.

[mainline]

my car did the same thing. I had to go to Mitsubishi and buy plugs from them. $20 per plug. Put them in and solved the problem.