Spark plugs removed after 4,000 miles...Yikes?

[ltslimjim]

^Still on my current tank with 3 ounces of MMO to the 10 gallon fill. I will have to report back on MPG, sound/idle etc, after the next few tanks without additives(about a month from now).

Replacing the plugs alone has helped a lot. I just hope it WAS the additives and not a mechanical condition developing.

 

[ltslimjim]

...and judging by 'this' guide back around when this app was made, the conditions might be best categorized as normal?

 

[fiddler2068]

The normal plug in that picture doesn't have burn marks like yours.

Otherwise, yeah, your plugs look normal.

fiddler

 

[hattaresguy]

This looks like a case of fixing something until its broke. Stop putting additives in your tank, they are not needed, just gas.

I bet if you do that and yank the plugs after another 5k miles they will look fine.

 

[hooligan24]

the last set of NGK V Power 4306's I removed my Neon had the same marks. I didnt put much thought into what the marks were, and tossed them in the trash. I did however, use Redline fuel system cleaner in maintenance doses.

 

[ltslimjim]

^Interesting, I'll avoid Red Line and heavy concentrations of PEA fuel system cleaners, until I pull these plugs in the future for comparison. Of course, it's probably just coincidence, but part of me wonders truly.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

My truck lost low speed drivability after running some PEA cleaner and some Stabil E10 in separate tankfulls. I only ran this as I got a REALLy bad tank of gas. # tabnks of Shell later, still not back to smooth low speed running. I may have to pull plugs and dont want to as they may be 'warranty marked' OEM ford plugs. Stay away from anything with MMT in it. That will kill plugs and o2 sensors fast.

 

[ltslimjim]

MMT?

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Instead of lead - Methyl cyclopentadienyl Manganese tricarbonyl - The stuff that leaves a reddish brown deposit on everything. Was (is?) used in 104+ octane boost and the Hi-Tec brand gasoline additive.

 

[FZ1]

Looks like it's burning oil. Lol. Look,if the motor is a 4 stroke,then you don't have to mix the oil with the gas.

 

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
Looks like it's burning oil. Lol. Look,if the motor is a 4 stroke,then you don't have to mix the oil with the gas.


Why is that so? I'm seriously not knowledgeable enough in that area here so help me out, please.

I still don't think MMO caused this, I believe it was the 2.5x recommended overdose using the Red Line SI-1. "Treats up to 25 gallons" for the 15 ounce bottle...well, I threw in the entire thing and know that was a mistake.

The plugs from before; in which I had already started using MMO prior to removal, did not have the same look as these. These plugs had only seen 5 tanks(at most) of MMO. That's about 426:1 ratio...and IMO the only way, at that dilution, could MMO have done this would be from adding it on top of the full tank and it starting to drink the MMO first before it mixed with the gas well, but that's being OCD and not likely what happened.

I tried TC-W3 out once, but it was way easier to OD on that(no more than 2 ounces/10 gallons, if that) . So, MMO did the trick at no more than 3 ounces or so on a full tank(10 gallons), and wasn't so easy to OD on.

PS: I'm over-revving the engine at times(not severely mind you) as the clutch is starting to go, and slippage occurs/power transfer to the wheels is delayed or non-existent on occasions.

Such as last night facing uphill at a light(car close behind me), so once green I proceed to attempt a WOT and I don't ride the clutch long enough and the disk slips, changing to 2nd gear doesn't help...its still recovering from 1st gear disc slip and is revving too high in 2nd.

I come back into Neutral, rev the engine, and then clutch/go back into 2nd and it finally takes well. I'm sure as regards oil loss, with this many miles especially, over-revving conditions for whatever reason, may be increasing oil consumption for sure as the rings are probably 'somewhat' stuck allowing blow-by.

To top it all off, the VTEC solenoid is starting to leak at the base of the solenoid itself(when purchased, it had codes stored for the VTEC oil pressure switch, no CEL since then as the remaining code was for the infamous 02 senor which costs $650 at the dealer)...

Anyhow, getting new tires before the winter and then clutch next and this car is set. If somehow the VTEC leaking at the solenoid is bad enough or gets worse, I'll just replace it too.

 

[urchin]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
My truck lost low speed drivability after running some PEA cleaner.


Unless the percentage of PEA far exceeded the normal 50-60% in the additive bottle, and you only had a tiny amount of gas in your tank, it is unlikely, it might be related to the "carrier" of the PEA detergent. But I highly doubt that as well.

ARCO were you mucking around excessively again?

Again MMO is NOT designed for fuel systems, and most manufacturers specifically state NOT to use additives like this. I think it DID cause or at least add to a problem.
Have you read your owner's manual or called Honda to ask them about putting MMO into your fuel system. Don't be surprised if they yell at you when you tell them.

Use only approved detergent based gas additives like PEA based Chevron Techron or similar.

 

[ltslimjim]

Ironically, IMO the Red Line SI-1; misused by myself admittedly, caused the plugs to appear the way they did far more than the MMO ever did. So, IMO the PEA product did the dirty(or revealed how poorly this car has been cared foor).

 

[FZ1]

Just don't think it's a good idea to introduce oil into your fuel system.

 

[ltslimjim]

^Point taken, but aren't 'some' form of lubricant blended into gasoline, especially with high ethanol content?

Well, I re-filled yesterday and the MPG was just under 41, and that was only half of the tank on the new plugs. I believe I've found my MPG issue, I didn't at MMO to the refill, so we'll see how fuel economy 'trends'.

 

[FZ1]

I think our Honda engines are capable of 500,000 with good care and no additives. My 02 V6 auto is at 115,000 and I'm worried about my transmission,not my engine.I drive it as carefully as I can. No Wot. Glad it's just the plugs. Cheers!

 

[urchin]

Originally Posted By: ltslimjim
Ironically, IMO the Red Line SI-1; misused by myself admittedly, caused the plugs to appear the way they did far more than the MMO ever did. So, IMO the PEA product did the dirty(or revealed how poorly this car has been cared foor).

Actually PEA is one of the least likely additives to leave ANY residue behind since it is designed to clean carbon and NOT leave any of itself behind in the process
. MMO is the most likely culprit.