Any spark-plug readers in the house? Options

[SirAndy]

Do these look OK?

I haven't been reading spark-plugs since my dirt bike racing days.
On my bike, those would have indicated a slight lean condition. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)


What about a 993 3.6L motor? Still too lean? Or OK?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) Andy

[TC 914-8]

Although I am far from an expert on FI engines They look lean to me
Here's a Link
http://www.verrill.com/moto/sellingguide/s...gcolorchart.htm

One other concern There is only 10 ?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Jeffs9146]

If it was my motor I would not be upset!! Maybe a bit on the lean side but not too bad! How many miles??

[SirAndy]

One other concern There is only 10 ?

Yo. I know that ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Two of the lower ones on the passenger side can only be removed with the engine dropped down about 2 or 3 inches. I'm going to do that next weekend, i ran out of time today.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) Andy

[SirAndy]

If it was my motor I would not be upset!! Maybe a bit on the lean side but not too bad! How many miles??

On the old plugs? No idea.

I actually never had them out. They were in there when i bought the motor, i just fired it up and it ran.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Andy

[Jeffs9146]

Notice the darker tips, I think that is a good thing! Have you run it on a sniffer?

PS: Those are not cheep plugs!!

[McMark]

Check you distributor caps next time as well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[TC 914-8]

Here's an Idea, that won't cost too much. Being in Kalifornia, Stop by a smog test place (pass or don't pay) have them throw a sniffer up the tail and give you a reading.
All in all a bit on the lean side but burning clean. Especially not knowing the age. A new set of Bosch-4'2 or E2's and check them in a month.

[914werke]

Ha! I used to race a H1 and had to be an EXPERT at plug chop reading.
If it were me Id look for a little more tan than white, nut as others have said a little on the lean side but thats where the power is at!

[messix]

need closer shots of the insulator and the the tip of the electrode to tell you anything that would be of any worth. and pulling plugs out of a street car and trying to read rich or lean when it has idled is worth less for any judgement on full throttle mixture.
closer shots will show if there is any deposits on the insulator from detonation, and if the electrode is erroding from over heating from lean conditions.

[ChrisFoley]

Unleaded fuel doesn't provide the same distinct color comparisons on spark plugs as the old leaded fuel did. As Messix noted, aluminum deposits and erosion are important telltales though.
We had some of the plugs out of the 3.6 in our shop last week and they looked much as yours appear.
Have you put a scanner on the OBD2 to check for fault codes?
Do you have the stock ECU chip or an enhanced performance chip? The performance chip in the car we have here tries to keep the AFR around 13.0 +/- 0.2, but the engine was lean and pinging at moderate load/low rpm until we replaced the O2 sensor.

[ME733]

...............ANYTHING that WHITE is too LEAN.....look closely and you will find hard /melted/fused ..deposits....the plug tip is so hot it,s melting....Richen up the mixture before you burn a valve, hole a piston, or worse.........(needs a little more brown color to get "normal looking".)......and as mentioned check the oxygen sensor, a old or defective one will alter fuel mixture..+.check fuel filter..+..did you add race gas or an additive , drive awhile , before pulling plugs?........Ideas to consider. the chart in an earler post is Identical to the CHAMPION spark plug chart and is an excellant referance for spark plug condition..........

[ChrisFoley]

...............ANYTHING that WHITE is too LEAN.....

I think the flash on his camera causes a misleading brightness to the picture.

[charliew]

I agree also the resulting condition is from probably a idle period that doesn't show the rich or lean condition at wot or under a good load condition where det usually occurs and could cover up the small specks from det unless you use a loupe or magnyfing glass under a good light. The additives in unleaded gas in the different parts of the country make plug reading a problem unless it is done on new plugs at wot or under a load and immediately shut off. The air cooled motor is way more critical than a water pumper because the head temps vary so much. The sniffer at various rpms would be the easiest way to get real information or a afr gauge in the car all the time. The four seasons in the country will mean the fuel properties change more than we can keep up with on pump gas.

I think reading plugs is for racers that change plugs regularly and only run race gas.

[McMark]

Yup, they're not that white.

[Mike Bellis]

Theres a guy in Concord with a dyno and lambda sensor. I took my last car there to tune the EFI. I think it cost me $200 for the day.

[underthetire]

Those look totally normal with Kalifornias alcohol content in the fuel.

[VaccaRabite]

Andy, do you have an Air Fuel Meter sniffing your exhaust? That will tell you much easier if you are rich or lean.

I am thinking about adding one to my little 4.

Zach

[sixnotfour]

modern engine is smarter than you think.

[McMark]

Zach, it tells you if you're rich or lean, but it doesn't tell you if you too rich or too lean. 14:1 is almost never the right value. Especially with a modern motor. I'm sure you already know that, but for others who might be reading, I thought it was worth saying.