what's missing from this picture?
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
what's missing from this picture?
I've my '09 for almost two years ( bought with 98kmiles, now has 136k miles ).
figured it was time to change the plugs. I couldn't find any records of the PO having changed them.
then I forgot about till Friday. here's what the first plug looked like:
notice what's missing? the car run fine, smooth idle, good mpg, ran strong. the rest of the plugs looked ok ( especially for having well over 100k on them ). a few had the gap worn a bit beyond the 0.040" mark. spark plug access is pretty good, it's removing the boots that was the challenge. was able to get a needle nose plier on heat shield for most of them.
I promise to be more diligent in the future.
figured it was time to change the plugs. I couldn't find any records of the PO having changed them.
then I forgot about till Friday. here's what the first plug looked like:
notice what's missing? the car run fine, smooth idle, good mpg, ran strong. the rest of the plugs looked ok ( especially for having well over 100k on them ). a few had the gap worn a bit beyond the 0.040" mark. spark plug access is pretty good, it's removing the boots that was the challenge. was able to get a needle nose plier on heat shield for most of them.
I promise to be more diligent in the future.
#2
I've my '09 for almost two years ( bought with 98kmiles, now has 136k miles ).
figured it was time to change the plugs. I couldn't find any records of the PO having changed them.
then I forgot about till Friday. here's what the first plug looked like:
notice what's missing? the car run fine, smooth idle, good mpg, ran strong. the rest of the plugs looked ok ( especially for having well over 100k on them ). a few had the gap worn a bit beyond the 0.040" mark. spark plug access is pretty good, it's removing the boots that was the challenge. was able to get a needle nose plier on heat shield for most of them.
I promise to be more diligent in the future.
figured it was time to change the plugs. I couldn't find any records of the PO having changed them.
then I forgot about till Friday. here's what the first plug looked like:
notice what's missing? the car run fine, smooth idle, good mpg, ran strong. the rest of the plugs looked ok ( especially for having well over 100k on them ). a few had the gap worn a bit beyond the 0.040" mark. spark plug access is pretty good, it's removing the boots that was the challenge. was able to get a needle nose plier on heat shield for most of them.
I promise to be more diligent in the future.
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
winner! not sure how long it's missing, but the car had no symptoms of any kind.
I remember on my first car, changing the oil, plugs. wires, points and, condenser every 3k miles.
this car runs so well and with long life plugs, I got lulled into forgetting about them.
with that gap, theirs no way this plug was firing. so how come no CEL's? engine idled and smooth.
on my weekend drives, I will regularly run into the low triple digits. car always ran great.
I remember on my first car, changing the oil, plugs. wires, points and, condenser every 3k miles.
this car runs so well and with long life plugs, I got lulled into forgetting about them.
with that gap, theirs no way this plug was firing. so how come no CEL's? engine idled and smooth.
on my weekend drives, I will regularly run into the low triple digits. car always ran great.
#5
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I to agree that it was firing, but that gap is at least 2 - 3 times the factory setting. like I said, I should have changed these out sooner, but the car gave no indication of any problems. I know that that is not the yard stick to use, but other than the usual maintenance, most parts don't get replaced until they fail. not that I would do this, but now I'm curious as to how it would run, if all of the plugs were in this condition. based on the seat of the pants driving & fuel mileage, all was good.
#6
Race Director
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
Posts: 16,555
Received 2,061 Likes
on
1,505 Posts
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I to agree that it was firing, but that gap is at least 2 - 3 times the factory setting. like I said, I should have changed these out sooner, but the car gave no indication of any problems. I know that that is not the yard stick to use, but other than the usual maintenance, most parts don't get replaced until they fail. not that I would do this, but now I'm curious as to how it would run, if all of the plugs were in this condition. based on the seat of the pants driving & fuel mileage, all was good.
#7
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
It's more common than what people think to have an iridium tip missing. For a month or so, I had an occasional hiccup/backfire, which most likely was a tip braking off. The engine seemed fine regardless, until I went to the dragstrip. Under WOT conditions it affected my times by about .1 - .2 seconds and 3 - 4 mph. When I got home and changed plugs, 7 of 8 had missing tips. The .040 gap became .080. They'd fire OK except at WOT. Without a timeslip to confirm abnormal performance, it wasn't real noticeable.
#8
Le Mans Master
LS3s are notorious for eating the center tip on Iridium plugs. I changed mine (factory plugs) at 38,000 miles and had two out of eight missing.
Last edited by BlindSpot; 09-24-2018 at 01:15 PM.
#9
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
it's probably easier to change the wires at the same time. that I I don't have to worry about just pulling them off.
where is was accessible, using small needle nose pliers on the heat shield worked ( with only bodily damage ).
#10
Le Mans Master
at least these are relatively easy to change. the hardest part in the boot removal. I've got a few torn up knuckles.
it's probably easier to change the wires at the same time. that I I don't have to worry about just pulling them off.
where is was accessible, using small needle nose pliers on the heat shield worked ( with only bodily damage ).
it's probably easier to change the wires at the same time. that I I don't have to worry about just pulling them off.
where is was accessible, using small needle nose pliers on the heat shield worked ( with only bodily damage ).
I can do plugs on an LS3 in about 30-45 mins.
You live in a nice place BTW. I'm fond of Concord. I traveled to Concord on business every month for close to two years, doing some consulting for a business close to the Costco.
#11
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Yes, these are very easy plugs to change. I've a couple other cars in my garage, you wouldn't want to know about changing plugs. I did plugs on my W12 at 36,000 miles and had to remove the intake manifold and the duct work to the turbos; an all-day job. And, $200 just for the plugs.
I can do plugs on an LS3 in about 30-45 mins.
You live in a nice place BTW. I'm fond of Concord. I traveled to Concord on business every month for close to two years, doing some consulting for a business close to the Costco.
I can do plugs on an LS3 in about 30-45 mins.
You live in a nice place BTW. I'm fond of Concord. I traveled to Concord on business every month for close to two years, doing some consulting for a business close to the Costco.
the #8 is located under the cowl next to the A/C. when I had the long tube headers on, I easily access this from under the car.
with the shortys on, only access was from the top. laying across the engine. if only I had T-Rex hands!
I've been in concord ( and the immediate area ) for over 40 yrs. if the Costco you are referring to, is the one on Detroit ave.,
that is able 1/4 mile from my place.
#13
Le Mans Master
I was pleasantly surprised the access on the plugs. I horror story on plugs ( on plug actually ), was on my '98 Z28.
the #8 is located under the cowl next to the A/C. when I had the long tube headers on, I easily access this from under the car.
with the shortys on, only access was from the top. laying across the engine. if only I had T-Rex hands!
I've been in concord ( and the immediate area ) for over 40 yrs. if the Costco you are referring to, is the one on Detroit ave.,
that is able 1/4 mile from my place.
the #8 is located under the cowl next to the A/C. when I had the long tube headers on, I easily access this from under the car.
with the shortys on, only access was from the top. laying across the engine. if only I had T-Rex hands!
I've been in concord ( and the immediate area ) for over 40 yrs. if the Costco you are referring to, is the one on Detroit ave.,
that is able 1/4 mile from my place.
Last edited by BlindSpot; 09-24-2018 at 05:51 PM.
#14
Race Car Tech
ummmmm, with almost 100K miles on my 06, maybe I'll change those out over the winter as well.
What plugs are you guys going with?
What plugs are you guys going with?
#15
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
anything elaborate. if they last anywhere as long as the first batch, I'm good.
#16
Le Mans Master
If you're not into that. and you're looking for a maintenance free ride, get the expensive (step up) NGK iridiums. Those will be good as the originals for tons of miles.
#17
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Sep 2014
Location: lake havasu city arizona
Posts: 7,011
Received 982 Likes
on
711 Posts
at least these are relatively easy to change. the hardest part in the boot removal. I've got a few torn up knuckles.
it's probably easier to change the wires at the same time. that I I don't have to worry about just pulling them off.
where is was accessible, using small needle nose pliers on the heat shield worked ( with only bodily damage ).
it's probably easier to change the wires at the same time. that I I don't have to worry about just pulling them off.
where is was accessible, using small needle nose pliers on the heat shield worked ( with only bodily damage ).
NSF
Last edited by Not So Fast; 09-24-2018 at 02:52 PM.
#18
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
but if you're changing plug wires too, then I'd just yank them off from the wire ( I'm sure mine were as old as the plugs, 136k mi.)
#19
Race Director