crackin' plug porcelain

[Idaho]

Any input on why i crack the porcelain on a plug every few months?
I've cracked a #4 and a #5...
the plugs were inspected very carefully and installed very carefully as well...


....maybe defective coil pack? shoot I don't know.


thanks

Cris

 

[almostclueless]

I'm assuming you mean the external portion is cracked.


Unless you get it really hot then barrell thru a large cold puddle, I would have to say it's the install process.


Are you using a true spark plug socket (with the rubber insert)? How tight are you tightening them?

 

[Idaho]

actually no,...i mean the inside part. almost like there could be a piece of something rattling around in the cylinder and eventually breaking it?

i use a spark plug socket and tighten'em a little more than hand tight...

thanks for the reply

 

[pillen140]

is the tip of the spark plug bent?

 

[Idaho]

nope.
just a hairline crack in the white part on the inside.

....it could be a defective plug but i don't think it'd happen 3 times.

twice a small crack and once a piece actually broke off inside.

i'll try and find a similar picture somewhere...

here, similar to this but not such wear.

http://www.2carpros.com/how_to/images/broken_spark_plug.jpg

thanks

 

[almostclueless]

Thats said to be caused by preignition/pinging.

 

[Idaho]

so there is a "new" coilpack that may remedy this?

thanks

 

[Psychopete]

so there is a "new" coilpack that may remedy this?

thanks

I wouldn't think it would be caused by a "weak" coil pack. The coil doesn't control your ignition timing. Where the plugs white/ashy? Sounds like a lean condition (as stated above)..

The piece you're worried about might already be gone if you've ran it. It's possible it dinged the piston a little, but could have gone right out the exhaust, stuck in front of the catalytic converter.

IMO, If it's getting that hot in the cylinder, and you really don't have much tools to diagnose, it might be worth while to have it taken in for a look. A lean condition can turn pretty bad pretty quick.

Pete

 

[289-tiger-]

In the mid 60's there was a misprinted and published a valve tightening sequence on Ford small block v8's. Tight valves could be an issue but it would probably destroy the valves before the sparkplug. If the owner has not rebuilt the engine it sounds like installation issues.


Good luck

 

[plainsranger]

Have you checked the antifreeze level lately? Has your level gone down at all since this started to happen? Also how long does it take to crack the porcalain <sp?>?

 

[Idaho]

thanks all for your responses so far.

pete, i'll check into the lean issue. i don't think my plugs have looked irregular though...i just may take it in.

plains, interesting that you mention antifreeze. there are so many possible factors with engines. my level has been consistent but sometimes i smell antifreeze when i start it up....

every two to three months it seems i crack a plug.

hmm

 

[plainsranger]

Might want to do a leak down test on that cylinder. Gut is telling me that you are experiencing the cracked head syndrome that i just went thru with mine. Hopefully not, but I bet you can't guess what the symptoms of my cracked head were?

 

[srteach]

I'm in ID as well. I had that problem with my 2.3 a while back. Pre-ignition was my problem, caused by a few bad sensors.

A cracked head can cause the problem, but so can pre-ignition.

 

[imoto]

interesting.. my 3.0L is doing the same thing.. except now its using oil like crazy, smokes (white/blue) on idle, but it doesnt smell like oil.. smells sweet but is not using any coolant.. all plugs are a tan color except for that cylinder (plug was black and fouled with a chunk of the porcelin around the electrode gone...

 

[Ozwynn]

do you do alot of high RPM wide open throttle driving?