1QWIK7

iTrader: (33)

Ok, after 2 years of owning my car, i decided to do the plugs on my car. Even though the car ran great past 2 years, recently i have experienced some weird mishaps i wanted to clear up. First off i had the stock 7s and 9s before the change. I put all 9s since i have pretty much all the bolt ons minus PFC, pullies. Im non seq btw.

Here are the plugs (trailing, leading) from the front housing



They look pretty decent to me. I do alot of city driving so not much WOT, looks to me it ran pretty rich most of the time. Plus all the times in the winter where i just warm it up for a couple of minutes, then shutdown. Not sure if that means anything.

Ok here are the plugs (trailing, leading) from the rear housing



If you look at the trailing plug, you will see the tip of it is GREEN!!! When i first saw that i was like wtf. Then i remembered that when i pulled the plug wire, i didnt even need to pull it, i literally flicked it with my finger my mistake and it came off. That particular plug looks like i may have been detonating??? a bit?? The electrode looks normal like the plugs from the front housing but the green looks like it was just wasnt firing right.


Now my impression after the spark plug change.

I noticed that (even before i tuneup), that i have been recently experiencing the 3k hesitation. Upon slow acceleration up to 3k, i would get some little, very little hesitation. Also, i had to experience boost cause that would show if the new plugs made any difference. Since today was pretty nice out (about 56 degrees), it didnt take long to get car up to temp since i came home 2 hours prior to tuneup, the car needed like 5 minutes for operating temp. Well i turned off one block, 3.5k shift to second and held at 4k. I waited for the car in front of me to get a good lead so i can step on it a bit. Car was about a good 1/8 mile ahead so i stepped on it. About 4200rpm, non seq twins kick in and im like WTF!! I can feel the car squat and im moving! That instantly made me smile. lol

I now know that even though boost felt normal back then, i think i really brought the full potential of it now. Felt like a new car. Now i just have to take care of the 3k hesitation.

Questions: What was that green stuff on the trailing plug? And do you think some damage was done because of that? i mean god knows how long that trailing plug wire was loose like that.

Thanks

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

the green is oxidization from non contact with the spark plug wire contacts, replace your spark plug wires as well or it will also cause a possible misfire condition.

wstrohm

Green usually indicates the presence of copper compounds such as chlorides. Probably bad news about the plug wire contact, as Karack wrote.

1QWIK7

iTrader: (33)

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

Yeah i figured something was wrong. Um do you think it will do it again? Cause that wire wasnt on fully when i pulled the plugs on HOWEVER when putting the new plugs in, i made sure all plug wires were snug. I made sure all 4 of them clicked into place.

I really dont want to do the plug wires any time soon. I mean it was a PITA for me to be under the car for a good hour sticking my hands in there taking them out. The plugs didnt give me a hard time but the space for tools did and made me nausious (sp).

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

you can add some tune up grease(dielectric) to the wire contacts in the boot if they are not in too bad of shape but usually the boot is loose because the contact is corroded and spread thin.

it is a much better idea to just replace the wires and not worry about it happeneing again on a long drive in the middle of nowhere.

the plug wires are under the upper intake manifold, if you can handle a little cost just pay someone to replace them, the intake doesn't need to be fully removed to access the coils but it does have to be loosened and raised and some components disassembled and removed. i know its a PITA but it depends on how much peace of mind you want, otherwise the problem may recur.

alberto_mg

With a little practice, it will go much quicker I do my plugs at least once a year or every 7-10k miles. Rotaries like new spark plugs alot

What kind of wires are u running?

1QWIK7

iTrader: (33)

Yeah next time im under there (for the next oil change), ill check the plug boots and put some dielectric grease on them.

Um the wires are ngk, "supposedly" the owner before me (certified mazda mechanic) replaced the plugs and wires 1 week prior to when i picked up the car for the first time. So i hope these wires are good for a bit more longer.

And not like i didnt know how to change the plugs lol, reason why it took literally an hour because that last plug, the front rotor trailing was up there and i was in a stiffy laying position, it was sooooooo umcomfortable. Not to mention the ratchet handle couldnt get up there because there was a harass on the way and i couldnt attach the handle to the socket. So i had to use an open end wrench to loosen and tighten it back. That took alot of time, seems like the threads on those plugs are endless. The first 3 plugs took about 10 minutes.