Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

[LAC_STS]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

I went to the boat today. It was raining off and on so I just changed the oil on the boat and I let it run at the dock at idle for about 25 mins, then I checked all of the plugs.

I No signs of water in any of the cyl. But I did look at the electodes better and some of them are really clean and white and then some are tan/brown. I dunno if its becuase the plugs only have about 10 hours on them or what. I was wondering if the plugs turned white yesterday when I was running the boat and then today when I just let it idle for 20 mins that only some of them turned tan or something like that? Sound possible?

I had to go to an auto parts store anyway and out of curiosity I asked about the AC plugs. They had them. I went ahead and picked them up. they were only $18 for all 8 of them. You guys think I should just put those in?

Heres some more pics.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

Thanks again for all the input.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

I think you are worrying about nothing actually. Since it is 3AM in Florida right now, you are also obviously losing sleep over it!

Those plugs look fine to me. If there is nothing else that you haven't told us about, you are fine.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

I think you are worrying about nothing actually. Since it is 3AM in Florida right now, you are also obviously losing sleep over it!

Those plugs look fine to me. If there is nothing else that you haven't told us about, you are fine.

Oh, maybe so. I just thought that white plugs meant it was running lean and running lean can hurt the engine pretty bad. I just didnt understand why the autolites come out looking tanish and then the NGKs come out looking white.

But I dunno maybe your right.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

Oh, maybe so. I just thought that white plugs meant it was running lean and running lean can hurt the engine pretty bad. I just didnt understand why the autolites come out looking tanish and then the NGKs come out looking white.

But I dunno maybe your right.

The old spark plugs have been in there a LOT longer. That is why they look different.

 

[Moggy23]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

Oh, maybe so. I just thought that white plugs meant it was running lean and running lean can hurt the engine pretty bad. I just didnt understand why the autolites come out looking tanish and then the NGKs come out looking white.

But I dunno maybe your right.

NGK plugs have wider heat range for the No. so they stay cleaner.

If the mixture was lean, there will be spots on insulator.
If the plug was too hot, the the earth electrode will turn green and the insulator will blister, which can lead to detonation.

If the engine was running lean, you should feel it surging.
I use the same plug and they come out clean after a good run, but the longer they are in, the dirter they get.

If you only changed plugs, there shouldn't be an issue with fuel mixtures

 

[Aloysius]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

Those plugs look like plugs out of a digitally/O2 sensor controlled street car..running at about 14.7:1 air/fuel...neither rich nor lean, but stoichiometrically ideal. I don't see a problem.

If you see flyspecs on the insulator, you worry. The previous plugs looked fine, and you didn't change anything.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke........

 

[6meter]

Re: Changed plugs. Old ones looked ok now new ones look lean.

Stop over worrying. 10 hours on plugs, unless in a bad motor, won't look much different than new. Go boating and have fun.