Melted a plug
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 4
I normally drive around with a 5 gallon jug of race gas but like i said i dropped the ball this weekend. Whats strange to me is i drove it almost 100 miles home as i was in Marana, AZ to north phx and car drove great aside from slight misfire. If it was something way worse I would think it would of grenaded on the way home.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 144
From: Northern Ireland
Really it all needs to come apart. Ringlands can be cracked, broken, whatever and you'll not see it from above.
As for the valve, is that video with valve closed, spring fitted etc etc ? If the melted part of the plug doesnt end up down the side of the piston, it can sometimes end up under the valve damaging it and the seat before it exits the engine. Assuming it didnt just melt into oblivion lol
As for the valve, is that video with valve closed, spring fitted etc etc ? If the melted part of the plug doesnt end up down the side of the piston, it can sometimes end up under the valve damaging it and the seat before it exits the engine. Assuming it didnt just melt into oblivion lol
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 144
From: Northern Ireland
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 223
Likes: 4
From: Maiden North Carolina
The valve got hit most likely due to the plug tip breaking and it was caught between the valve and the seat.
If you have a good head put it on with a used headgasket and torque them halfway and do a leak test to see if you're getting any crankcase blowby.
If you have a good head put it on with a used headgasket and torque them halfway and do a leak test to see if you're getting any crankcase blowby.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Odds are, it broke the middle ringland on the piston. It also likely closed up the ring gaps (cooked the rings and they lost tension).
Every time I have ever melted a strap on the plug, it was accompanied with either melted pistons and/or torched rings.
Time for the rebuild/upgrade.
At a minimum, knock that one piston out and take a look at it. If its broke, hustle up another stock piston/ring pack and throw in it. Call it good for cheap.
Every time I have ever melted a strap on the plug, it was accompanied with either melted pistons and/or torched rings.
Time for the rebuild/upgrade.
At a minimum, knock that one piston out and take a look at it. If its broke, hustle up another stock piston/ring pack and throw in it. Call it good for cheap.
Last edited by ajrothm; Mar 16, 2017 at 10:44 AM.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2004
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From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,844
Likes: 144
From: Northern Ireland
Well plugs do not melt from good tuning and setup.
Therein lies a clue.
I was at an event recently.....a guy with a truly stunning car had spent a fortune over the winter months. Totally new engine, turbo setup etc etc etc An easy 40-50k spent ( 4cyl car )
It blew up literally on its first outing, before it even finished its first lap. Melted pistons, melted plugs.
An engine making only moderate power, on race fuel etc
There is no way in hell that engine should even have been stressed.
But to look at the build, it's blatantly obvious why it failed. So many flaws and poor implementation it just shouts that those involved should never have been with a car at that level. They were clearly in over their heads. How some of the places involved are still in business is a mystery !
But that is the tuning world. Money doesnt always prevent problems.
Knowledge does. That usually comes fro experience.
You'll only see melted plug tips from too lean and/or detonation. It really is that simple for 99% of cases.
Therein lies a clue.
I was at an event recently.....a guy with a truly stunning car had spent a fortune over the winter months. Totally new engine, turbo setup etc etc etc An easy 40-50k spent ( 4cyl car )
It blew up literally on its first outing, before it even finished its first lap. Melted pistons, melted plugs.
An engine making only moderate power, on race fuel etc
There is no way in hell that engine should even have been stressed.
But to look at the build, it's blatantly obvious why it failed. So many flaws and poor implementation it just shouts that those involved should never have been with a car at that level. They were clearly in over their heads. How some of the places involved are still in business is a mystery !
But that is the tuning world. Money doesnt always prevent problems.
Knowledge does. That usually comes fro experience.
You'll only see melted plug tips from too lean and/or detonation. It really is that simple for 99% of cases.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 4
Quick update for any of those that care. Decided to try my luck and slap on a set of 317's that I had laying around. Finished putting the car back together last night and drove it to a car meet that's about 50 miles round trip. Car runs fine no misfires at all. Drove it to work this morning and everything looks good. Debating on just ordering at least some 80# injectors and doing a flex fuel kit so when I do beat on it I can do it on E54.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 4
Definitely did. Still really want to find out exactly what caused it as I would like to prevent it. Not sure if i got a bad batch of gas, the change in elevation from phx to tucson or if one of my injectors wasn't functioning properly.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 4
That's what I figured. I normally fill up at QT which I've seen in Phx is one of the most consistent gasoline stations but that night we filled up on the way there at Circle K so leaning towards bad batch of gas or injectors.