Hows my sparkplugs look, *warning big ass pic*
 

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/2540/img0761qy.jpg
(click on pic multiple times to get bigger pic)

Recently picked up a beater, has a bit of a rough cold start sometimes and a tiny bit of a unstable idle only sometimes also.. other than that it runs good..

just wondering what you guys think of the plugs, does it look like it needs a change? how many kms you think are on them?

Can't really tell from the pics, but my opinion of Bosch plugs aren't that high.

I'd say just spend the $20 and get new NGK plugs.

I prefer NGK's over Bosch also, unless they're going in a German car.

Looks like they're burning fine, so your a/f is probably ok and you're not leaking oil into the cc. Centre electrode is just starting to wear out though. Just spend a few bucks and replace them. Also check the condition of your cap, rotor, fuel/air filters and that your timing is on.

Maybe clean your intake manifold and replace your valve cover too.

middle two look white--- means burning slightly lean


outside two looks nice and brown-- means burning fine.


either way get some GGGG- powers and you should be aight... recheck in 100 kms. if the same plugs exhibit the same colors then look into it further

what kind of car? I see a couple of problems that may need addresing

Replace them as copper tip plugs are quite cheap. I'd replace the Valve Cover gaskets too. Speaking of bosch, even the euro community recommend NGK over Bosch. ;)

its for a 88 corolla sedan with the carburator

people here can see a valve cover gasket problems from looking at the plugs?:confused:

there is oil on the spark plugs, the spark plug galleries are filling with oil cuz the valve cover tube seals are leaking

I can see through your computer....get off tube8 NAO!!!

hey...that does make sense

yup, the valve covor gasket was leaking like crazy, when i got the car it was covored in oil, i was about to replace it but lordco gave me the wrong gasket, i had the valve covor off too and found out after it was the wrong one -.-

the original gasket looked pretty mint, so i just cleaned it off and put it back on, retorqued the bolts to 7 ft lbs and doesnt seem to leak so far.. but i geuss time will tell..

not sure if it was leaking threw the spark plug gaskets or not though..

soon im going to pick up a distro rotor, plugs, and will see how it runs, since those are cheap parts... the plug wires that are on the car are NGKs and look quite new? but cant realy tell how old they really are by looking..

No way. Tube8 is my home screen.

A spark plug and boot that are soaked in oil will missfire.

check the resistance with a voltmeter

replaced the plugs, car runs a bit better but still getting a bit of a misfire while idle, i increased the idle and it helped alot, you can barely feel it misfire now..

just replaced a bad thermostat cause the car didnt heat up fully, not sure if that would cause a misfire.. probably not im geussing..

so i think i can live with the slight misfire now that its barely even noticable, hopefuly it doesnt come back though

only problem now is the exhaust or catconverter sounds clogged, its kind of like a pop pop pop noise coming out of the rear, not that loud though, i thought it was coming from the catconverter at first but today i think i found out its coming from the exhaust since its much louder back there..

i am not sure if this sound is a misfire or a clogged exhaust pipe, what do you guys think? the exhaust does look really old, first i thought the pop noise was an exhaust leak so i covored up most of the exhaust leaks i could spot..

Did you check your timing?

i have no idea how to check the timing, you need to line them up TDC right? not sure how to do that.. the poping noise is only there while idleing, not while driving and you cant hear it from the inside of car.. still have a sluggish start sometimes..

almost sounds like its too lean or a vacuum leak

You need a timing light. Pick one up and it's pretty useful in the future.
Usually its around 16 degrees BTDC, but look up the specs for your vehicle.

i finaly picked up a timing light and tachometer..

the problem is if i set it at 15 degrees BTDC it would idle really low(500-600rpm), and when i drive it, it just accelerates really really slow..

i had no choice but to bump it back up to 30-40 degrees BTDC(900-1000rpm), where it has the best acceleration..

im not sure what is wrong, maybe the crank shaft pully was not put on properly? im confused.. not sure if i should set at 15 degrees BTDC(very slow), or leave it at 35-40 degrees BTDC where it picks up speed nicely

edit- almost forgot, i connected the timing light to all plugs to see if they all light up, all do but plug#3 seems to light up quicker then the rest, plug#2 also lights up a bit quicker than #1 and #4... not sure if this is suposed to happen, hopefully someone can tell me

cant hurt to just replace them friend. its a cheap fix and regular maintenance :P

what car is it?

car runs great now, only problem now though is it seems to be running rich, i say its running rich because i get popping noises coming out of my exhaust every so often while idleing, i can only hear it pop when i am outside of the car not inside... is there any carb tuners that can tune this thing to run more leaner?

btw this is a 88 corolla carbed motor which was mentioned above

you in burnaby? ATEB is on the same street as visions just off imperial...trying to remember the street name.. John or Phil know how to tune a carb.. Maybe give them a call , they know their stuff.