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[omega2018]

follows on from my 'v6 just dies' http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=139765.0 topic this is a bit odd so posting here as a new topic.  plug number 4 is yellow unlike all the others:

any ideas why?

mileage on these plugs 29K

[Kevin Wood]

Was it loose in the head when you removed it?

Just wondering if that's carbon I can see on the threads, and maybe a little oil that's been working its' way past the washer. That might have caused it to run a bit cool due to poor combustion in that pot, and hence it's got a little glazed?

[omega2018]

yes i was wondering if it was loose.  that would be my preferred explanation.  didn't notice it when removing it and i am always careful to torque them up when fitting. however i do recall having issues with the rubber bung in the socket attaching to the plugs and having to remove one or two plugs after fitting to get it off again (thus crushing the crush washer twice).  i have since glued the rubber to the inside of the socket.

threads look very similar to number 3, no carbon just oil from unscrewing though a small amount of it. 

[Kevin Wood]

They do tend to work loose in time.

When fitting, I always torque them up, then go and have a brew before returning and checking them again. Often they need a little more as the washer has compressed a little.

Even still, I had a misfire yesterday that I believe was down to a plug having worked loose.

[omega2018]

i admit to copper greasing these plugs when fitted.   

i should add for what it's worth there have been no relevant error codes for the life of these plugs except, recently, misfire cylinder 5 (not 4) during the 'V6 just dies ' problem. crank sensor failed 17K miles into their lives but threw no codes. 

[Doctor Gollum]

iadmit to copper greasing these plugs when fitted.

i should add for what it's worth there have been no relevant error codes for the life of these plugs except, recently, misfire cylinder 5 (not 4) during the 'V6 just dies ' problem. crank sensor failed 17K miles into their lives but threw no codes.

That will really help the cats. Not

[omega2018]

iadmit to copper greasing these plugs when fitted.

i should add for what it's worth there have been no relevant error codes for the life of these plugs except, recently, misfire cylinder 5 (not 4) during the 'V6 just dies ' problem. crank sensor failed 17K miles into their lives but threw no codes.

That will really help the cats. Not

not even the dollop i put on each electrode?  

of course i didn't put the grease anywhere near where it could get into the cylinder so there is no chance of it getting to the cats,  what a pointless post .

 i mentioned the grease because it 'might' have assisted the plug in working loose (though i very much doubt it, it would have helped the plug get more screwed in for the same given torque). for steel plugs sitting in a alu head for up to 80K miles it is fairly common to copper grease the threads.  not to mention to help avoid cross threading them.  this time when i put the plugs in i did it dry because they went in easily by hand on the end of a rubber tube.

[Doctor Gollum]

Have personally experienced plugs working loose in less than 20k. Without grease.

If you honestly believe that no copper slip made its way to the cylinder then you're mistaken. And before you say minute, rember that the cats work on a molecular level...

[omega2018]

Have personally experienced plugs working loose in less than 20k. Without grease.

If you honestly believe that no copper slip made its way to the cylinder then you're mistaken. And before you say minute, rember that the cats work on a molecular level...

this is just stupid.  copper is already in cats.  copper is used in fuel lines. copper is already in petrol. i've never seen anywhere that copper grease should not be used for spark plugs because of the cats.  then there is the issue of how does it physically get into the cylinder, assuming it is applied to the plug thread and not the cylinder thread (which it was).   "minute" amounts? given any miniscule amount will go on the first piston fire in 80,000 miles of motoring i don't think the word 'minute cover it'.  "cats work on a molecular level.." ok sherlock so in an urban area at street level how many molecules of copper are already in the air that gets sucked into the cylinders, over 80,000 miles of motoring? bit more than a few molecules left on a spark plug thread i think.

[TheBoy]

Plugs do tend to work loose around 30k, hence I've never seen the point in the quad electrode plugs, and always fit twins to mine...   ...and secretly hope it helps with the difficult to ignite LPG burn.

[Kevin Wood]

Just to be different.. mine are currently triple electrodes.

[Nick W]

iadmit to copper greasing these plugs when fitted.

That will really help the cats. Not

If you've ever had to deal with a seized/broken plug, or a stripped thread you would ALWAYS use a smear of copperslip on plugs. Those were bad enough on OHV engines, where the plugs tended to be accessible. But a modern 4 valve per cylinder where they're buried deep in the head makes for a difficult and/or costly repair.


As for the OP's original problem, it still sounds like a faulty MAF to me.

[omega2018]

i admit to copper greasing these plugs when fitted.

i should add for what it's worth there have been no relevant error codes for the life of these plugs except, recently, misfire cylinder 5 (not 4) during the 'V6 just dies ' problem. crank sensor failed 17K miles into their lives but threw no codes.

That will really help the cats. Not

oh dear, lots of dead cats then...

"Almost all spark plugs use a copper cored Center Electrode to conduct the electricity, jump the gap, and promote heat dissipation. " www.ngk.com




etc.. etc...

[Doctor Gollum]

I would probably spend more effort trying to solve the problem instead of picking holes...

Then again, it's not my car... So crack on

[Webby the Bear]

I don't lubricate plugs but I would put a drop of oil on the threads if I thought there was going to be an issue getting them out.