biackbenz

Hi Everyone,

I am thinking about replacing the spark plugs on my '78 L82. Not sure how long the current plugs have been in there but they are obviously not original. Car has 82K miles on it. I pulled two plugs out this evening and looking at them to me they seem to be in pretty good shape. Can someone with more experience comment? Would you continue to run on these plugs or change them?

bikerbilly18

they are cheap! mine were roughly the same condition and i replaced mine.

Stephen Irons

Considering they cost only “pennies” and that you guys in the US can probably pick them up at a local “Pep Boys” or similar, I’d just replace them.

Now over here it’s not so easy, (or cheap!) but I still usually change mine after about 6 or 7 thousand miles…

Mech_SK

Those look like healthy plugs. giv'em a lil clean & scuff and let em ride

Jud Chapin

You've done the work so I'd replace them. Plugs are cheap.

jrdestar

Hi Stephen,
How much do plugs cost in France?

Easy Mike

7T1vette

Other than showing that the fuel mixture is a little on the 'rich' side, there is nothing wrong/worn on those plugs. Perfect fuel mixture would cause the dark/blackened areas to be more to the brown/tan color. But, the electrode and ground-lug appear to be undamaged and unworn.

You could clean those plugs up and reuse them; performance would be about the same as with new plugs of the same type/brand. You would actually have LESS risk from reusing plugs that you know have worked properly, than with purchasing new plugs which have NEVER been tested. Just cause it's 'new' doesn't mean it will always work or work properly.

Stephen Irons

Hi Apologies for a late reply - been having "fun" swapping U/Js! But, doing a quick conversion I'd say that one plug starts at about the equivalent of $3.80. Add to that shipping, as I couldn't buy plugs for a C3 at any local store - in fact there are probably only a handful of places in Franc, or my native England, that would stock them.

I'm fortunate in having friends over there in the US who we visit, so I usually "stock up" when I can. Last time I bought plugs they were $1.83 each!

REELAV8R

If you want to "read" the plugs this is the best I have found for that.
http://4secondsflat.com/Spark_plug_reading.html
As far as condition, they look good, no need to buy new.

biackbenz

Ran the engine for a few minutes. The warehouse where I have it stoed is all closed up. After a few minutes the fumes were bad. My throat was sore and eyes running. A non mechanical test showing I need to do some tuning work. Then maybe carb work too. That. 4 seconds flat artcle is exceptional! Thanks for posting it REELAV8R.

7T1vette

Unless perfectly tuned (unlikely), a carbed car that has just started will run very rich, as it still has the choke engaged. If that car has only had short starts and/or runs at low throttle, the condition of those plugs is what one would expect to see. On longer runs, that plug color might lighten-up.

Still, no reason to throw them out...