Plugs after one year

[OF Hero]

Does this look normal, after one year of ownership and ~15k miles? Mods include Procal tune, Mishimoto intercooler + larger charge pipes, ported throttle body/intake manifold. I've been using 93 gas since day 1, almost always the same Shell station unless on a road trip or out of town. Truck was running fine, just wanted to try out one step colder plugs because I have too much time on my hands.

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[JT58Bronc]

Interesting although they seem to look normal to me. Plugs do look like a nightmare to get to. Did a lot of stuff have to come off to access them? I was not planning on plugs for very many miles.

 

[OF Hero]

Interesting although they seem to look normal to me. Plugs do look like a nightmare to get to. Did a lot of stuff have to come off to access them? I was not planning on plugs for very many miles.

It really wasn't hard at all, followed the instructions in this video:

 

[Ducati1098]

They look normal to me

 

[TXBronco1313]

Out of curiosity, in what ways does changing spark plugs improve performance?

 

[Valhalla]

To the OP, what is your milage at?

Out of curiosity, in what ways does changing spark plugs improve performance?

A better spark is quicker ignition and cleaner burn.

 

[KnoxGnater]

Where you getting a code or having acceleration/missing issues? Mine all puked at 40K ruunning cheap gas, no mods. Started hesitating on hills and acceleration, then started throwing codes.

Changed them in 20 minutes, it really is pretty simple. I do run the best gas I can find now, and have also seen a nice bump in MPG. My average distance to empty from a full tank went from 305 to 325. Not that I really care, just an observation. I didn't buy a Bronco for mileage.

 

[OF Hero]

To the OP, what is your milage at?

A better spark is quicker ignition and cleaner burn.

A little over 15k.

 

[onestout]

looking at them I would not go to a colder plug....maybe a step hotter but I wouldn't go colder.

 

[raptorusmaximus]

yea, I'm coming up on 60k.... I wonder if the 3.0 is harder to work on??

 

[OF Hero]

looking at them I would not go to a colder plug....maybe a step hotter but I wouldn't go colder.

You think they look fouled?

Guess I can always pull these new ones after a few months to take a look unless I start having clear/obvious misfires or bad cold starts.

 

[onestout]

I like to run my plugs around a light brown. your porcelain looks ok but outside of it looks too black. Send the wideband readings from a pull to your tuner and see what they think. Why do you think you need colder plugs?

 

[timhood]

Does this look normal, after one year of ownership and ~15k miles? Mods include Procal tune, Mishimoto intercooler + larger charge pipes, ported throttle body/intake manifold. I've been using 93 gas since day 1, almost always the same Shell station unless on a road trip or out of town. Truck was running fine, just wanted to try out one step colder plugs because I have too much time on my hands.

Those are perfect.

1) You want a dry plug.
2) You want some discoloration around the insulator.
3) You don't want a completely worn electrode.
4) You want an evenly worn electrode.
5) You don't want any grit buildup around the insulator, ground, or electrode.
6) You absolutely don't want any oily, gunky residue.

If those conditions are met, the color of the threads, insulator, electrode or ground makes no difference. In other words, dark is not bad.

 

[bf4445]

Out of curiosity, in what ways does changing spark plugs improve performance?

From the very first time a plug fires each succeeding fire will be a fraction less hot. Modern spark systems compensate for this claiming no discernable loss in function for at least 100,000 miles...or so i have read.

 

[timhood]

From the very first time a plug fires, each succeeding fire will be a fraction less hot. Modern spark systems compensate for this, claiming no discernible loss in function for at least 100,000 miles...or so I have read.

On average, you're conservatively talking at least 200,000,000 spark ignitions per plug over the life of the plug. That's before the electrode is completely worn, only after it has worn to its expected service life. Spark quality is going to be essentially the same at the end of service life as at the beginning--at least within ignition tolerances.

Personally, I would not risk running a hotter plug in a turbo-charged engine, especially if I'm not always using premium fuel. The chance of detonation is much greater, with no reward to be gained when the correct plugs are already operating perfectly. If I were OP, I'd put those plugs back in and not think twice about them for quite a while.

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