C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

HELP! i just pulled the plugs.......

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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 01:29 PM
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Default HELP! i just pulled the plugs.......

I just pulled the plugs on my vette and this is what they look like. Does this show a sign of blown head gasket? or what can you tell from this. They have about 10k on them TOPS! Huge loss of power and a fluxuating oil psi. No loud knocking though......

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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 10:23 PM
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antifreeze usually looks reddish brown on the exhaust valves and plugs.

I have seen fuel additives turn the plugs red also.

is the oil milky? you could get a shop to pressurize the coolant system.

compression test might also be a good idea.
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Old Mar 17, 2009 | 12:32 PM
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Plug on the left definitely shows signs of detonation. Plug on right a little too. The blistering is the sign. The reddish brown is a nice proper color for good A/F.

At hot idle remove the oil fill cap. Put your hand close to the fill: one inch. Any 'puffing' (even if no smoke) is one or more cracked pistons and you are done. 'Puffing' is air moving in and out from crankcase from cracked piston(s). greg
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Old Mar 18, 2009 | 03:25 PM
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ok....so i pulled it off and and checked and im not getting any puffing. I feel like i slight vibration i think but it does feel like puffing. I can put a kleenex over it and it doesnt move. So im guessing no puffing. I do hear on the passenger side a very quick ticking. Thats the side with the dirty spark plugs. The driver side looked fine. I did an oil change and found "1" small small scrap of metal flake, so i dont think a bearing is out. It sounds more top end. but i know i have pulled that valve cover and all the rockers seemed fine. Can it possibly be a lifter issue? maybe collapsed? the oil doesnt seem off and the coolant looks ok. So im not thinking head gasket completely......any more help???

Oh and it seems to have ignition issues above 3500 like sputtering? Can the distributor cause the issue with the plugs? how hard is that thing to get too? I know im leaking oil from the front and back side of the intake and im gonna replace that, but could the leak have destroyed the dizzy? No problems with normal driving just when i step on it.
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Old Mar 18, 2009 | 03:42 PM
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With the car cold, tap the radiator cap off and see if you see the coolant surging.

Good indicator of a blown head gasket.
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Old Mar 18, 2009 | 10:51 PM
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I saw some plugs like this and the problem was cracked ceramic on the plug causing it to misfire... just an idea
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 04:34 PM
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Would running too low octane fuel cause this?
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by arlockstedt
I just pulled the plugs on my vette and this is what they look like. Does this show a sign of blown head gasket? or what can you tell from this. They have about 10k on them TOPS! Huge loss of power and a fluxuating oil psi. No loud knocking though......

NIghty night piston crowns!
Bummer dude!
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 02:42 AM
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well i found one issue. the tps sensor seems to be stripped but i fixed that. Car runs pretty strong now. Still not back to normal. So i know its not something to bad but there is something wrong.
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