What Do You Think Of My Plugs?

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by Babble, Apr 18, 2018.

  1. Hi all,

    I'd value your opinions on my plugs???
    I'm no mechanic, just basic skills, so all help and advice will be greatly received. Thank you in advance. :thumbsup:
    Am I running too rich?

    anyone who has helped/replied to my previous posts/threads will know I'm trying to sort slight running issues - slight lack of power. He just seems more lethargic than 2 years ago, more so on even the slightest of hills.
    Used to cruise ok at 60, now he just doesnt seem happy at that speed.
    Normal roads seems ok - 30mph etc,
    pulls away from standing ok,
    tick over timing set at 7.5 below TDC
    Cold start cutting out and lumpy tick over seems cured with a new Fuel Temp Sensor, thanks to @davidoft :thumbsup:
    All 3mm vac hoses replaced, plus S boot replaced.

    I thought I'd try and do as much as I can, before coming to TechEnders, and looking a complete wally if it is something as simple as the plugs.

    I forgot to take a pic of No 1 plug.
    and oh joy, what fun it is getting No2 plug out....why on earth is the hole not lined up with the tin ware, lol :lol:

    Anyway, I'm Babbling on as usual:oops:, just thought I'd ask you all and show my pics.

    Plugs are Bosch W8CC, and have done 700 miles
    Gaps all tight, using feeler gage on 0.028mm
    2.0 injection GD engine.

    DSC_5528 No2 plug.jpg DSC_5525 No 3 Plug.jpg DSC_5526 No 4 plug.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 19, 2018
  2. Look fine to me , a little soot isn`t a bad thing - better a tad rich rich than running lean ...
    (as mine is :mad: )

    :hattip:
     
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  3. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    Have you done a compression test, if not will bring tester to TE , always a good place to start diagnosing
     
    Babble likes this.
  4. That would be grrrreat :thumbsup:

    Garage it went to last year said they had, but to see/do it for myself would be brill :D,
    I think they said it was 30.......but who knows o_O

    Thanks :thumbsup:
     
  5. The bright white inner core is the bit that concerns me. The engine is running rich, but it is getting hot enough to burn the carbon off the inner core. Engine must be getting too hot.

    Timing at idle is pointless and most of the type 4's are set to 5 ATDC. Check the max advance is not above 30 BTDC with the vacuum hoses disconnected at least 3K rpm.

    Type 4 engines are very prone to eating their cams so it would not surprise me if you were due a rebuild too.,
     
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  6. Hi, thanks for the reply and help :thumbsup:,
    Blimey..., I hope not, but maybe thats why it's getting letharigic on motorways 'coz it's too hot.:eek:
    Ok, I'm on it , like a tramp on chips ;)

    Hopefully some nice people at TechEnders can help me do that. :D
    I bought a cheapo, connect to plug leads type thingy rev counter a few weeks ago, so that it could be set at advance
    but it's impossible for me to hold timing gun, rev counter, and hold the throttle open etc, at the same time,
    unless I get spaghetti arms , lol

    thanks again;)
     
    Flakey likes this.
  7. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    You will get plenty of help
     
    Babble likes this.
  8. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    No need for a rev counter, just give it a boot (finger) full of revs.

    I hope your compression isn’t 30!
     
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  9. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    It is basically enough revs that the timing stops advancing. Which is loud
     
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  10. ginger ninja

    ginger ninja Supporter

    A temperature gauge could be in order. I used to have a type 4 engine and it blew up coz the thermostat flaps were stuck open (or was it closed?) anyway got red hot and I hadn’t realised. The white part of the electrode on the plugs do look like it’s getting hot in the noisy cupboard. Especially as the surrounding parts are quite sooty.
     
    Babble likes this.
  11. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    ^Are you sure?
     
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  12. LOL, maybe my brain freeze......thinking of tyre pressures:oops:

    I've just checked somes pictures i had from last August
    cylinder 3 was 130 psi,
    cylinder 1 was 120 psi
    no pics of the other two cylinders.
     
  13. Thanks for the reply :thumbsup:

    Feeler gauge used on them all, so I hope my limited mechanical knowledge did it correctly.
    These W8cc plugs have done 800 miles, but I've got some more - WR7cc plugs, which is what was in it before, maybe it doesnt like the W8cc ???
    I cleaned the soot off that you can see in the pics, and I'll have another look at them at Techenders and replace them ???

    I've turned down the AFM mixture 1/4 turn.
    Also I had the oil changed yesterday, it was 15w 40, done 800 miles, but maybe to thin making it get too hot ???
    So I've got 20w 50 in it now.

    TBH, I just don't know what to do, I'm grasping at straws, with my limited knowledge.
    Fed up of lining garages pockets with no results.:(

    Sorry no sense of humour in my post, I've kinda lost the plot :eek::oops:
     
  14. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    Less than a week now and you'll get some free advice :thumbsup:
     
  15. Thank you, I'll be sooooooo grateful :D

    I hope it gets me there. :eek:
    My bus is ace, but these running issues are taking away the fun.
    An evening or two with you all, Cider, JD, good giggles and Camper cooked bacon for breakfast are the remedy :beer::food:
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2018
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  16. Flakey

    Flakey Supporter

    How far is it for you, which direction are you coming from ?
     
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  17. I'm one of the lucky ones, about an hour away;)
    ( as long as the M6 doesnt turn into an NCP car park:eek: )
    I've a Brummie accent for you all to take the Mick out of, lol:lol:
     
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  18. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    It was the size of the plug gap that I was asking you to confirm. If you’re sure it’s 0.028mm it’s too tight, it’s probably 0.028” (0.7mm) but worth checking you haven’t picked up the wrong feeler gauge.

    With modern fuel it’s not so easy to judge mixture by the plug colour but those do look like they’ve been running hot. You normally want to use the coldest plug possible that won’t foul but be hot enough to burn off combustion deposits – try the WR7CC plugs. Note: this is plug temperature, not engine temperature.

    15w40 should be fine in a type 4 in good condition. 20w50 will also be okay and possibly better in an engine with highish miles.

    Have you checked that the distributor mechanical and vacuum advance work? And have you adjusted the timing at full advance as mentioned earlier?
     
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  19. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor


  20. Thank you for the reply, and reading my thread properly.......... i obviously didn't read what I typed, lol. :rolleyes:
    Typed mm, should have typed inches........ definitely and imperial feeler gauge, so 0.028"
    "" With modern fuel "" I'm running him on Shell V Power.
    Used Asda fuel 3 years ago when bought him, It didn't like it much, then normal Shell, now the V Power and it did seem a bit happier until all this started last Spring.
     

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