What causes bad spark plugs reddit. If I had to piece together the cause an effect tree of failures, initial failure is from the stock spark plug eroding away, and frying the cylinder 1 ignition coil with it as the gap got too large. If in doubt, get a new battery too. or if you put some gimmick plugs in there can cause bad mpg. Feb 1, 2023 · In extreme cases, a poorly fastened plug can even explode out of the cylinder head, taking out its ignition coil or even damaging the vehicle’s hood from the inside. I bought it last year and it started running rough after a couple of months. 6. While rocking the vehicle back & forth, throw the e-brake when rocking forward. Definitely a DIY job, granted you don't have a boxer engine. Could they have got so bad that it causes the car to shut off and start again shortly after. Either buy 8 new ones off ECS or get a code reader (Vag-Com). If the problem goes away when you reinstall the previous set, the problem isn't with the plugs. This morning when I got to work, about a ten minute drive, there were sporadic knocking sounds coming from underneath the hood. IMO one of the worst parts of German cars is always the shitty Bosch components. Misfire on cylinder 2. Managed to get EVERYTHING OUT BESIDES THE SPARK PLUG SHELL. Poor-quality Mar 13, 2024 · Fixing bad spark plugs is a two-step process that involves removing the old spark plugs and then examining and interpreting the wear or damage to the plug. But this is what I don't understand. The fuel economy I was getting was bad. SOMEBODY HELP ME PLZ. It might be an indication of a spark plug problem if a cylinder misfires only when the engine is running. Move the coil to cylinder 5, move the spark plug to cylinder 1. What I used to do they’re not a super expensive Short Answer: Yes, It’s Bad: So, after understanding the intricacies, the answer is clear. If you don't have the money but have the time, good opportunity to learn to properly diagnose something like this. e. Nothing really bad would happen, unless you wait really really long to change the plugs. It's a good idea to change all the plugs at once though since they're cheap and Only thing to do right now is clean it all up and put new plugs in. As long as you will take them off and install new ones one by one, there is practically no way to mess things up Honestly it would be pretty hard to tell if a plug is simply worn. I have a Kia Rio 5 with a 1. Spark plug tube seals keep engine oil, coolant, and everything else on one side of your spark plugs, so they remain dry. This typically happens when the spark plug starts to misfire and the combustion is no longer working properly. That will raise the back of the engine a few centimeters. The engine would shuddr while idling and it continued to get worse. Usually you will get it to first tell you what cylinders are bad, which could only be 1 or 2. Rough Idle: When your engine is idling, it may sound rough due to a faulty spark plug. When was the last time you replaced your spark plugs? It could be the egr valve causing all your problems and there are additives that you can put in your crankcase for a few minutes before a oil change that will clean those too! The plugs my car had originally were on it for about 30k and caused my car to misfire alot and threw a code for multiple cylinder misfires. Leaky valve cover gasket: The valve cover gasket is responsible for sealing the engine, so if it leaks, oil can get on the spark plugs. Perhaps I'm not getting spark from one of the plugs? Update: was a loose connection between exhaust and engine. You'd need a 3/8ths ratchet and extension, a spark plug socket, and a gap tool. Rarely doesn't equal never, and i've had three vehicles of my own over the years that have oily spark plugs because of blown head gaskets. Once the iridium plugs were in, the remaining coils were ticking away as they struggled with the new iridium coils. If it is still misfiring after dealing with spark plugs and coils you What did you spend on plugs and coils?. Yes. I spent hours trying to diagnose a no start after we changed plugs. They said it was a misfire on the fourth cylinder (v6) and could possibly be caused by old spark plugs. It's a design issue with ford's three valve V8 heads. Oil in the spark plug port is going to lead to misfiring 99% of the time eventually. Valve cover gasket, and more specifically the spark plug grommets/spark plug tube seals. It is either a manufacturing defect or you used the wrong type of socket. I bought it used two years ago (Summer of 2017) with just under 12,000 miles on it for $8,800. They made the spark plugs 3 pieces and they stick way down into the head. 050 and was still having the little hiccups. Usually, eroding spark plugs are an indicator of an overlean condition, which means not enough fuel is getting to the bike causing higher combustion temps and the massive heat is just destroying the tip. It could be something simple. I have seen worn out spark plugs cause coil packs to fail, I believe the theory is that as the spark gap increases it requires more voltage to jump the gap and it cooks the coil over time. In other cases, improperly tightened plugs can allow combustion gasses to escape the cylinders, quickly cooking and melting wiring, insulation, coil packs, and more. A few thousandths will not cause any ill side effects like you are describing. Most vehicles call for 90-100k intervals, obviously there are exceptions calling for sooner. 2 An injector that is leaking down. They come pre-gapped usually, but it's good Thanks for posting on r/MechanicAdvice!This is just a reminder to review the rules. Could this be from the spark plugs not being gapped properly, or is it a bigger problem. Yes, that gap can cause an issue, but sounds like you may have more than one thing going on. Got this with on one of my previous car which was a VW Jetta 1. I noticed that the mechanic did not check the gap of the spark plugs (NGK Iridium) Would this be the cause that my economy hasn't improved? Here are eight symptoms of bad spark plugs you should watch out for: 1. When you’ve got a worn spark plug, it can’t produce the spark needed to start the combustion process. and it was due to a weak battery + oil soaked serpentine belt and pulleys, as my engine side cover was leaking lot's of oil, and it dripped onto the belt and oil splashing all over when engine is running, did the obvious by replacing the plugs and coil and still got the misfire and some other weird codes. Reinsert them in their swapped locations, reinsert the fastener (doesn't have to be gorilla-tight), and re-connect the wiring. It ran like a dream until a couple of . Get app Get the Reddit app Log In Log in to Reddit. I’d pull the plug on the side cover and spin it by hand or pull the plugs, roll the bike, and dump the clutch in gear while listening for the thump of air exiting the spark plug holes. However the diagnostic tool used by service provider says its the P0030 - H02S Heater Control Circuit. ) is more important. could a bad purge valve cause this? I've checked everything else from spark plugs, coils, vacuum leaks, cleaned MAF and TB etc. Addressing this issue promptly can save you from costly repairs and ensure your vehicle’s longevity. Bad spark plugs can cause this by not providing the correct spark to ignite the mixture of fuel and air. This was old school system with a single coil. Bike has 29K miles on it and all regular service done. It's kind of common for the gasket to wear out around the plug holes and it causes oil to fill up the spark plugs hole. I torqued them down to 13ft lbs. Getting under 200 miles per tank. Swap coil to 3 and plug to 1. If you're experiencing a misfire from bad plugs it's less of a knock, more of a stumbly kind of noise. If that is the case, change valve cover. Only buy Motorcraft, NGK, or Hitachi coil packs Running rich (possibly burning oil although that usually looks more gummy if it's bad enough to coke the plugs) and/or moisture in the cylinder. Would cause a no start? : r/MechanicAdvice. Denso iridium are great for turbo cars NGK are also good, but in experience denso iridium works better when running more than 1 bar of presseure. You can also physically inspect the spark plug for burns, cracks, rusted or corroded tips, and carbon fouling. The oil makes the coils short out on some cars. My mechanic was able to repair it with a Helicoil thread insert and then did a compression test and I'm sure my spark plug is a little faulty cuz my dog chewed a bit of wire which I secured back (but when the bike is wet, the spark plug induces static current on to metal body sometimes). The blackened spark plug is the symptom, not the cause. What’s the actual problem you are having and what are the details? Also air box and filter are clean. Hey guys these spark plugs came off my 2015 BMW 428i. Oil on spark plugs is indeed bad. Also note, the insulator under the engine cover does a real good job of soaking up oil from the oil filler cap leak. That's what I mean by back three and front three. and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. This will also cause fuel fowling across the plug. That at least causes a bad arc on spark plugs themselves, and these wires are really easy to replace by yourself, just make sure you get the right ones for your engine. Make sure there’s no carbon tracking on the plug, and make sure there’s no debris or contamination in the coil boot. If it sat too long oil could have fouled it from the valve guides being worn. Oct 28, 2022 · As Jalopy Talk notes, the more spark plugs start to go bad, the more your vehicle operates poorly, and gas mileage will begin to suffer. I'm also thinking fuel pump but idk. As other have mentioned, check your wires to make sure that a wire, or boot, is getting fried by the headers. All headers, even the "good" ones will come very close to the spark plugs in some of the cylinders. The 5. Seems pretty low, but all 16 of my plugs are thoroughly spent after 30k, so I believe it. Engine started misfiring again recently and one of the new plugs was cracked. Putting antiseize on your spark plugs is kind of like running your tires a little underinflated - 99/100 times you're fine but that 1 time, it's bad news bears. Remove the coil and plug for that cylinder, and inspect. It’s pretty common in engines where the spark plugs are installed deep and there’s no air circulating around them. This makes the coil work harder, causing it to overheat and the increased heat can If the coil is the issue it will misfire right away but now on a different cylinder. Anyway, yeah, you’re getting a clogged cat or two. They suggested replacing the plugs (again) and the packs. Lean codes are often caused by a lack of fuel and air getting into the engine. Spark plugs are also a common culprit, especially if they haven’t been changed in a long time. My V6 engine is turned sideways. But the economy hasn't improved. they’ll usually come together with a valve cover gasket kit. Plugs can make a huge difference. There will still be very slight differences between brands of the same plug type but that really shouldn't cause much, if any, issue. 4 tsi. could a bad purge valve cause this? I’ve checked everything else from spark plugs, coils, vacuum leaks, cleaned MAF and TB etc. There's some good resources online that will give you pictures of what a plug should look like in a good-running engine, and what various problems look like. danstewart42 • 4 mo. I have 60 miles on this tank of gas and it just started doing this after about 45 miles so I don't think it's the gas. Evan, No, I don't think it is "new spark plug smell". To access the back three spark plugs: Remove the top engine mount (dogbone mount). Share Without seeing the tip of the plug it's hard to guess what the actual cause is, but anything likely to cause problems every few days should have been addressed with the rebuild. if old, crusty, worn out electrodes, fouled, oil soaked, fuel soaked, out of spec gap, then yes. Moves to 3 coil pack. Feb 12, 2023 · Fuel-fouled: shiny coating on the tip and side electrode due to a rich fuel mixture, ignition problems or a low spark plug heat rating. All of the ignition coil connectors didn't make a click sound (don't know if they were supposed to) when reconnecting them back into the ignition coils. If these rings fail, engine oil can leak into your spark plug well I recently had NGKs iridium go bad at 7k miles so I swapped out the plugs for new ones (I get them from UroTuning I doubt they’re fake FYI 😊) anywho, I replaced the plugs the misfiring went away fast forward 200 miles and it’s misfiring again. I’m changing them this Saturday. Worn plug: needs to be replaced. Leaky O-rings (spark plug tube seals) are probably the number one cause of oil on spark plugs. Just a few days later the lights came back on with the same errors and it's still only cylinder 1 and I'm willing to replace the spark plugs one more time just in case there might have been a poorly gapped one before taking it to the mechanic because if it isn't the plug and if it isn't the coil then it's something else in cylinder 1 Your plugs aren't causing this but if you know they are out of spec replace them anyway. Denso is alright. Bad gas mileage Any thoughts on a fix? I’ve replaced the fuel pump, spark plugs, ignition coil pack, air filter, cleaned the MAF, throttle body, and IAC. This is just one example. If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's post on the subject. It happens with name brand spark plugs as well as after market crap. I was then able to change out all 6 spark plugs--a small flex head ratchet will help with the tight clearance on the back 3 I scanned it and got a code for a misfire on cylinder #2 (see OBDEleven scan below), but no oil codes. Then put the new plugs in with new boots. Spark plugs can go bad because of wear and tear due to the effects of mileage on the engine, or they can prematurely wear because of problems with the engine that result in contaminant Don't assume that a brand new plug can't be bad. Very much a DIY job. The piece inside the head gets stuck so when you remove the plug you only take the nut that's threaded into the hole out. It seems to run a little better and a little power restored. The weird thing is when i switched the spark plugs it seemed to fix it for a 5132009594 Help please i have been dealing with this for over 6 months and have tried almost everything but apparently the one thing that WORKS. Thanks for posting on r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the rules. Are these plugs bad?. I had a turbo volvo that ran like crap with Bosch early platinum plugs. Does the plug have spark, test the plug with a spark plug tester. r/MechanicAdvice. Clear the code and go driving. So in short, yes. This is caused by leaking spark plug tube seals. You would need to test the cylinder compression, cylinder leakage, do a pressure test on the radiator and maybe even oil pressure to say with any certainty what the I replaced very worn copper plugs in my old '97 Civic with Iridiums and it ran amazingly well afterwards, but I expect it would have with any new plugs. The combustion within the engine is extremely time sensitive and when the spark plugs deteriorate, that timing changes slightly, causing the combustion cycle to become less The electrode material itself won't cause issues and will last longer. If you have plugs that are recessed in the head or otherwise are not exposed to a good amount of fuel/air mix, the smaller diameter electrodes could I guess make for some misfiring. This will cause fuel fowl across a spark plug. Over hot plugs, really lean mixture, and detonation will all usually have a clean but greyish white insulator and eroded electrode. Most likely a Cruze. After I installed the new plugs the engine was having trouble starting. And once, recently I was going slowly over a little overpass and the traction control light came on, I had a hard time breaking and the whole Feb 21, 2023 · 3. To answer your question, though: Yes, a bad coil can still fire sometimes. I took it to a mechanic in November and he changed the spark plugs. This still sounds like a coil pack issue to me. trust me - engineers and beancounters would 100% slap in But I'm going to buy another one tomorrow. Carbon fouled: blackened tip and side electrode due to a rich fuel mixture. I have a 2001 ford f-150. Wait until it throws a new one. Your car will tremble because of the all-encompassing, frenetic sound. Removal is like 70% of the effort with plugs so while they’re out replace them. I changed the spark plugs to NGK Iradiums IX. Sometimes the high voltage discharge of a spark plug will ionize the air just above the metal shell of a spark plug. (Wait period was less than 5 minutes before starting car again) Feb 20, 2023 · Yes, bad spark plugs can cause lean codes. If you get a misfire in all cylinders that's usually a pretty good indicator. So replace spark plugs with the brand that is already in it. Also I was losing about 2 to 3 qts of oil in between oil changes before, no visible oil leaks. Everytime I fill up with gas my car idles rough sometimes stalls at a light. Share 1 A failed coil pack. Pulling the plugs and checking them isn't hard. obsa • 8 yr. 7L in my Jeep has a 30k mile spark plug interval, so there's one exception. This hasn't happened before and started suddenly. The only three that were bad were the front three spark plugs. Over time, spark plugs naturally become contaminated. Thanks for the response, that’s good to know. I have heard that, with the 1st generation ecoboost, there is a spark plug issue related to pre-detination due to moisture in the intercooler. Warning! -- Spark Plug Blow Out. i avoid platinum type plugs, and i avoid champion brand plugs. Does the injector leak more than the others, if so replace the injector. So I'm not sure if them not clicking all the way in could be the cause of the hiccups or not. You're in that range, i'd say it's time. Jul 6, 2010 · 1960 posts · Joined 2002. Your not wrong, but the plugs aren't eroding. They don’t look like they’re going to last much longer with the gaps that wide (so they are possibly bad or just on the cusp of bad). You’ll feel that it’s jerky and disjointed as the spark plug shows an erratic performance. It is possible that the valve seals also failed at or around the same time as the head gasket, but I find the two usually coincide since the failed head gasket usually causes head warping from excess heat. I had a rubber boot stuck around the spark plug. Detonation damage: shows the engine timing is off. easy fix. stlmick • 4 mo. the car starts up fine. The rubber does two things; it helps grip the old plugs as you are removing them, and helps prevent damage to the insulating material on the new plugs during installation. Reassemble, clear dtcs and retest. While I had mine, all I had to replace was the timing chains/guides, cam phasers, VCT solenoids, A/C compressor, engine (as in the entire engine), spark plugs and coil packs, injectors, starter, alternator, exhaust manifold, and both cats. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment Water pump was done last year with new timing components no issues there. I’m with you on replacing plugs when I get a misfire, unless it’s something I simply want to invest the extra maintenance into like my sports bike or a project car. Rattling and knock-like noises are the first things you’ll notice. If you can, check your fuel pressure regulator as well. The plugs havent been done since the car was made in 2010. 3. (it was turning over with no problems) After it did finally start the engine would shudder and stall out. I’m also thinking fuel pump but idk. Lack of spark is far from the only thing that causes a misfire. Your bike might start running worse and get worse fuel economy after some time and then if you wait a really long time the bike can misfire or quit running and not start due to lack of spark/poor spark. Using the wrong type of socket can break the porcelain and/or cause the porcelain to break free from the metal base. Would cause a no start? They look fine. Since it's burnt oil it won't be runny and just look like black dust/depost on the plug. 0 4x4 Bad worn old spark plug wont have the strong spark to fully combust leading to less than optimal performance. coil could also be bad. Crypto Spark Plugs bad? 70k Miles 2017 Silverado Just pulled one to check up and dont know if I should replace or if they actually last up to 100k. Freekmagnet • 1 yr. This happened with my 1. Anyway, it was towed back to the stealership, they replaced the plug and one coil pack. I have changed plugs in several vehicles my lifetime as well as small engines. I hate doing the passenger side one so I hope plugs aren't the case and its just learning. I. Not even the most common necessarily. If you've got a misfire on a certain cylinder and it follows when you move the coil to a different cylinder, the coil is the issue. it's probably a bearing in the rotating group and it is not safe to drive as you may have I restarted it and it ran fine, and I took it to the auto shop for a diagnostic reading. . Easy-Raspberry3924 • 4 mo. Try cleaning as much oil out with a rag to soak it up. Replace the oil filler cap gasket. When bad spark plugs have difficulty producing the extra energy required for acceleration, the ignition process has to call for more gasoline to get the job done. If anything the bike is running to rich but that may have been a result you got them out, better to replace them than to put those ones back in. If electrical resistance in the secondary ignition circuit is too high the coil must generate a higher voltage to fire the plug. (11L per 100km) So I changed the spark plugs and the mechanic cleaned the air filter. But anyway before discovering the spark plugs I discovered that I had gasoline in my oil. Hard-Starting Engine. The crusty white bits look like burnt coolant, but that's a guess. Had the same issue in my old Navigator, same engine. Bad Spark Plugs. A spark plug socket is a deep well socket with a rubber grommet at the bottom. There is an extractor tool that works pretty slick to get the broken plugs out. Oil on motorcycle spark plugs can be caused by several factors, including: Worn-out piston rings: When the piston rings wear out, oil can leak into the combustion chamber and coat the spark plugs. Another tactic would be to remove the current plugs and reinstall the previous set of plugs when you notice the problem again. Last week, one of the spark plugs blew out and stripped the threads on the third cylinder. What a turd. •. Watch misfire count and see where it moves. Ran two bottles of fuel system cleaner through it. Jan 31, 2024 · The common symptoms of a bad spark plug are engine misfiring, exhaust backfiring, poor acceleration, strong-smelling smog from the exhaust, a flooded engine, and difficulty starting. Zanders2J. I own a 2012 Honda Fit. A leaking valve gasket will cause oil fouling of your spark plugs which leads to misfires. 2011 Kia Rio spark plugs going bad every few months. Coil went bad just sitting there. Checking for spark is a good place to start, but don't do that by throwing parts at it. Coincidence can be a bitch. 7 comments. ago. If they look generally ok, you can clean and regap them and reinstall. The sound decreases and increases with the speed. Pulling all your plugs is not the way to diagnose a no start. Better to just change them and be done with it for a Or changing it less than pulling one of the good ones. Thanks for posting on r/MechanicAdvice!This is just a reminder to review the rules. Since they're almost due start with spark plugs and wires - make sure to get the oem replacement champion plugs and good wires, and inspect the coil for cracks, these cars are touchy about their ignition. The porcelain can develop hairline cracks that can cause engine misfire. If it does sound like a knock, and it gets worse at temperature and louder under load. Depends on what they are going in. Clear your codes. As a plug ages the gap actually opens up. Which would cause the black deposit on the plug and cause it to foul out. Then again I suppose a bad plug could cause issues with the valve gaskets and such. Sounds like you've checked wire positions and such. Moves to 1 spark plug. Just make sure you gap the plugs correctly, use the appropriate socket specifically for spark plugs, and be gentle removing and replacing. Best. So, while Typical procedure for diagnosing a misfire is to swap the coil and spark plug from the misfiring cylinder to two different ones. The vehicle hasn't been maintained. 6 l engine. Double check your work. If the code moved to wherever you swapped, you have a bad coil pack. People are going to swear up and down that it's fine to use antiseize on spark plugs and sure, in their limited experience, I'm sure it was fine for them. What could cause premature spark plug failure? Blow by is caused by bad piston rings but that stain isn’t because of blow by. Top electrode is dry and dirty but the threads themselves are oily. When a spark plug stops operating, the cylinder it’s connected to can misfire. GameStop Moderna Pfizer Johnson & Johnson AstraZeneca Walgreens Best Buy Novavax SpaceX Tesla. If you have access to OBD do a fuel injector balance. Leaky O-Ring Seal. ‘94 4. Usually bad vacuum or spark will cause a rough idle when the car doesn't move usually. Business, Economics, and Finance. If the engine isn’t seized, I’d wait on that battery charger and give that another go. 4 in cylinder 3. Here are the eight most common reasons: 1. 5. See if the code returns. While you're there check any and all vacuum hoses and fittings for soft hoses and leaks. I've heard of people swapping theirs every 10k miles. Over time, the spark tip on the plug can be deformed, corroded, coated, or otherwise destroyed. The type of plug (copper, platinum, double platinum, iridium, etc. Specialist_Baby_341 • 1 yr. If you have a autozone nearby ask some nicely if you can get a scan on your car and get all the codes. As mentioned already, it might be a stuck injector creating a rich condition the danger of this is that the extra fuel can wash away the oil on the cylinder wall which can increase wear of the cylinder wall and/or piston rings. If it is actively leaking I'd imagine in a few hundred miles time you'll have more oil in there again. Battery is good. Bad valve stem seal would cause oil to leak into the cylinder head. No fancy nothing there just stock plugs. You may need a new valve/rocker cover gasket with tube seals. But the back three are perfectly fine. NGK — Bosch parts suck imo, had an O2 Sensor from them that lasted a total of 2 months. I'm not sure if your old ones were original, but for plugs that should have been gapped to 44 thou to measure at 35 thou after 60k seems odd. It’s not just about the spark plugs but the overall health and efficiency of your vehicle. Another sign is trouble starting your car. NGK make the best spark plugs and electrical components on the planet. Expand user menu Yes. That’s a corona stain. If it returns on # 4, odds are it's the plug. If your vehicle struggles to start in cold weather or after sitting for a few hours, faulty spark plugs or bad spark plug wires may be the culprit. Bosch makes bullshit. One bad coil pack can cause just one to misfire sometimes all. 2. It will probably make the trip but will smoke a bit and foul. and gapped them at . To test this, just unplug/replug each wire from its spark plug the next time you notice the problem. Ideally you'd like to have a special spark plug socket when removing and installing plugs. spuds1234 • 8 yr. This can cause either too much or too little of the mixture to enter the engine, creating a lean code. Truck drove in fine but wouldn't start. Many have replaced their VCG only to find oil still accumulating in that valley where the spray plugs and injectors sit. You get a rough and shaky motor plus a Check Engine Light. Solid #2 behind NGK. I have not experienced such failing spark plugs. I went to Firestone to do a complete vehicle inspection and they said it’s the spark plugs. Check the threads of the cylinder head (where the plug goes into) and see if there is any oil on the threads. Update: I replaced the plugs with proper gaps, replaced the distributor rotor It's definitely possible depending how bad the purge valve is, a bad purge valve can cause your engine to stall so I cant see why it wouldn't be the cause to a misfire, you could also have a bad spark plug and harness. I'd replace the wires, cap and rotor while you're doing it and you're good again for a long time. VW Tiguan 2013, would u guys say this could be the cause of cylinder 1 misfire? Or are these in good condition still. If the misfire is limited to a single cylinder it's not necessary to change all the coil packs, only the one that's misfiring. #7 · Jul 6, 2010. (1) Yes, a bad spark plug, incorrect type of spark plug, or a wide spark plug gap can cause a coil to fail. A lawnmower, an old Chrysler or a fire breathing Nissan GT-R. Clean up the oil and check for cracks in the head or on the valve cover. ev xv lq dm hq gk ns kj kg cw