Changed the spark plugs - one stands out (not in a good way)

[Dabblingman]

Hey y'all,

Worked with my 15 year old over the weekend to change the plugs on the 1999 Ranger. 222k miles, new to us. Mostly, they didn't look too bad, though it was great experience for the boy. But Cylinder #1 looked way darker and funkier.

Wondering if all your years of experience could give me some thoughts to the condition that would create this. It's the far left in the pic of 6, then the left in the closeup.

TIA!

 

[bobbywalter]

looks like a different plug....same numbers? same print?

 

[pentode]

Looks the slightest bit oily to me. The other plugs are so clean I wonder how many miles are on them. They barely look used. If it were my truck I wouldn’t worry about it and just check the new plugs in a couple thousand miles and see where you stand.

EDIT:
Actually blowing up the picture of all six now it looks like there might be a small amount of deposits - looks like soot - on the ground electrode off a few of the plugs., I’d still just check the new plugs in a bit and see if the new ones look similar.

 

[Dabblingman]

Just re-checked - they are all the same NGK spark plug and look (on the other half) to have been put in at the same time. I suspect something amiss in the Cylinder 1, but am new to this (verrrrry new to this). (The Bosch boxes are from the replacement plugs I just put in - double platinum).

 

[pentode]

Could be something as simple as a weak valve stem seal or 2, maybe tired rings. It’s so minor though, I’d just be keeping an eye on it.
Are you seeing any blue smoke when the truck starts up? Or when it’s running, especially under load?

It might not be oil at all, it’s hard for me to see on my small screen. Might just be running a bit rich too, any check engine light or codes?

 

[rubydist]

I agree w/ pentode. Put new good oil in it - Motorcraft synthetic blend is good for this project. Drive it on several long trips - over 100 miles at a time, and don't be afraid to run it hard part of that time. If the rings are sticking, it should loosen them up and make it better. If the valve stem seal is bad, only replacing it will make things better.

My 09 had a ring issue when I bought it - you could feel a little roughness (like unbalance type feeling) at certain speeds and loads. A month of driving it to work (50 miles / day) made it settle down, and its been fine since.

 

[nickname23]

My plugs were all like that mainly due to being fouled by a bad fuel pump plus they were cheap and the wrong type of plugs I doubt previous owner gapped correctly.
Engine Restore works wonders especially if it's only one plug I wouldn't use the 6 cylinder can use the 4 cylinder.
Don't recommend additives but I'm adding this to my next change and it helped a lot of worn out Ford's I've had.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I'll address the elephant in the room...

NGK and Bosch spark plugs. Sure they make a plug that they say works in your Ford engine... but I'm a firm believer that they are not made for your engine like a Motorcraft plug is.

If you have driveability issue etc... the first thing I would do is toss the Bosch plugs in the garbage and put the correct motorcraft plug that was designed for your specific engine.

Ive fixed many concerns over the years by doing that.

.

 

[nickname23]

I'll address the elephant in the room...

NGK and Bosch spark plugs. Sure they make a plug that they say works in your Ford engine... but I'm a firm believer that they are not made for your engine like a Motorcraft plug is.

If you have driveability issue etc... the first thing I would do is toss the Bosch plugs in the garbage and put the correct motorcraft plug that was designed for your specific engine.

Ive fixed many concerns over the years by doing that.

.

What's your opinion of AC Delco Rapid fires? Been using them about to pull em out tonight and check the gap again

 

[Uncle Gump]

What's your opinion of AC Delco Rapid fires? Been using them about to pull em out tonight and check the gap again

Not in my Ford engine...

Honestly... I have no experience with them.

 

[pentode]

Residant cheapskate here…. I’ve been running the cheapest copper Autolite 104 plugs in mine the past few years and they’ve been just fine.

If you want to run them for 100,000 miles that’s one thing, but if you’re willing to do regular maintenance, read the plugs and see how your engine is doing every year or so.

 

[SenorNoob]

I'm a firm believer in matching brands with spark plugs. Autolite in my Ranger, NGK in the Honda, and Delco in Brittney's S10.

 

[nickname23]

See that's probably the biggest issue that I've noticed, when I bought the truck it had Autolite but they didn't gap em
So far the only difference the AC Delco Rapids being they are single platinum it helps I gapped em a bit closer to the minimum too but yes the Motorcraft Doubles will last longer