I've been concerned that my coolant seals might be going and it was almost time to change my plugs anyway so I pulled these to look for "wetness". They look pretty normal to me, but I thought I'd throw them up here for some opinions. On the 3rd pic you can see some "goo" on the ceramic body, any ideas what that is? What about the residue on the threads? Any comments welcome, thanks.

http://www.jrx7.com/images/Plugs/SparkPlugs1-5-02-1.JPG

http://www.jrx7.com/images/Plugs/SparkPlugs1-5-02-2.JPG

http://www.jrx7.com/images/Plugs/SparkPlugs1-5-02-3.JPG

 

It looks to me like you might be running a little rich, unless you havent chenged them for a long time... do you have ign. amp? they look a little white and kind of chaulky, the one looks kind of beat up too, I would look into it if those were my spark plugs

 

The goo on the ceramic body is melted sealant from the knock sensor. This is common on all FDs. As for the residue on the threads, it should be anti-seize. The color of the plugs looks good. It should be a creamy brown color.
I'm running a little rich so my plugs are much darker. As long as it's not ashy and white your o.k.

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. Anyone know what they would look like if there was a coolant seal leak? Would they literally be wet with coolant?

 

It depends on how the coolant seal is damaged. When mine was leaking there was no signs of coolant on any of my plugs.

 

trex is right. my seals went and no signs of smoke or spark plug fouling. i think the combustion gases were going into the cooling system but the coolant was not going into the combustion chamber. Either way the seals were still shot.

 

?? I always thought darker = richer... and lighter (such as his seem to be -but not bad at all) = lean or even coolant leak

 

It looks to me like.....................
those are my plugs!
John

 

Jr,

Are you getting any whote smoke out the catback?

~A

 

Ant,

Only in the AM.

JR

 

I wouldnt worry about it right now. I would just drive it til there is alot more smoke.

If your getting it in the morning it might just be the normal "morning smoke"

 

JR you have seen the pix of my FD when the coolant seals went right ? you could barely see my car when i started man that looked cool.

 

Mine's not that bad, but close on the real cold AM's though. Thing is the smoke doesn't smell like coolant. It does sputter when first started, usually after it's sat for more than a day. I smell coolant when I'm sitting in the car driving, usually when I first turn on the heat. The car is loosing coolant, about 1/2 cup a day. Haven't been able to find the leak, if there is one.