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Allegedly burnt spark plugs?

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by Robpm, Mar 21, 2021.

  1. Mar 21, 2021 at 5:17 PM
    #1
    Robpm

    Robpm [OP] Member

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    Just got told that I need new spark plugs because they looked “dark and burned”. I have a suspicion that nobody actually looked at them because I replaced them literally 2 weeks ago. I guess I’m not fully familiar with what “burnt/overheated” plugs look like as opposed to obviously oil fouled ones, so I wanted to sanity check before I blow up on this dealership. Am I crazy or do these look very normal? Or do I just not know what burnt plugs look like (which is fully possible). The dark areas in the threads is just anti seize.

    00487D02-7ECE-4342-A37D-024B7E1964AD.jpg
     
    Rambo MARINE Recon likes this.
  2. Mar 21, 2021 at 5:22 PM
    #2
    nudavinci64

    nudavinci64 Robert @ Holy Horsepower

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    Boosted Money Pit....
    Those look light years ahead of the abused ones I took out. Tips are new
     
  3. Mar 21, 2021 at 5:26 PM
    #3
    Poncate

    Poncate Well-Known Member

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    Look new to me or at least a couple weeks old
     
    michael roberts and Robpm[OP] like this.
  4. Mar 21, 2021 at 5:27 PM
    #4
    Bishop2Queens6

    Bishop2Queens6 Well-Known Member

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    They look fine to me. Dealership is trying to upsell you.
     
  5. Mar 21, 2021 at 8:31 PM
    #5
    Sprig

    Sprig Well-Known Member

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    Those are obviously new/recent plugs that don’t need replacement for another 30000 miles. I wouldn’t trust that dealership, I’d take the truck elsewhere.
    Although if they were put in 2 weeks ago it looks like the have rust on them. What’s up with that?
     
  6. Mar 21, 2021 at 8:45 PM
    #6
    GSRON

    GSRON Well-Known Member

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    Looks like a bit of copper anti-seize that got pushed up the threads to the sealing rings.
     
  7. Mar 21, 2021 at 9:26 PM
    #7
    ROAD DOG

    ROAD DOG Well-Known Member

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    ‘ who ‘ told U ...................U need plugs ????

    dont know why U hold up 3........not 4 ???

    how many miles on plugs shown ?????

    iv asked b4 that plugs get remoced & stay in correct order so that they

    Can Be Read properly !!!!!

    the tips do look alright save the side electrode do NOT look healthy

    ‘ dark/burned ‘ they arent yet lean ‘ Over Heated ‘ maybe
     
  8. Mar 22, 2021 at 9:57 AM
    #8
    Bishop2Queens6

    Bishop2Queens6 Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]

    I would worry if your spark plugs look like any of these. Obviously they don't.
     
  9. Mar 22, 2021 at 2:21 PM
    #9
    Robpm

    Robpm [OP] Member

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    Thank you everyone, I thought I was going crazy for a minute and just didn't know about some weird specific type of spark plug damage, but it's just a garbage/sketchy dealership as I suspected.

    yep, just got a little eager with the anti-seize after stripping the socket on my front diff drain plug the same day




    I've got the V6 so I just pulled the three that aren't a PITA to get to, since I was doubting they even looked at anything at all

    I've always seen this picture (or similar) and gone with that, and always thought it was fairly obvious when the plugs were bad. Dealership claiming things looked "dark and burned" had me second guessing myself
     
    Poncate likes this.
  10. Mar 22, 2021 at 2:35 PM
    #10
    Knute

    Knute Well-Known Member

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    Plugs look good. Maybe running a bit lean.

    FWIW, iridium is not needed in the 4.0L V-6 (1GR-FE)

    Also hard to read plugs when the engine hasn't been properly "chopped".

    Suggest another dealership for service.
     
    michael roberts likes this.
  11. Mar 24, 2021 at 7:50 PM
    #11
    joeyv141

    joeyv141 Well-Known Member

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    Your plugs are fine, unless you paid diag for a running issue then the tune up is a mileage based recommendation.
    Don't bitch at the dealer unless you paid them for a in depth vehicle inspection.
     
  12. Mar 24, 2021 at 7:59 PM
    #12
    b_r_o

    b_r_o Gnar doggy

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    Good luck "reading" an iridium plug... that literally never wears at the tip. The ground side may get deformed a little but it takes a long time

    A severe fuel issue (rich or lean) could discolor it or leave deposits behind.. but the CEL would let know there was a problem long before you looked at the plugs

    Those aren't even the correct plugs for the truck. Dealership was trying to do you a favor
     
  13. Mar 24, 2021 at 8:19 PM
    #13
    US Marine

    US Marine Semper Fi

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    Definitely overheated !!!!

    Those spark plugs are the wrong heat range ( to hot) also molten metal or aluminum on the porcelain and ground strap is not a good sign
     
    b_r_o likes this.
  14. Mar 28, 2021 at 6:05 PM
    #14
    ROAD DOG

    ROAD DOG Well-Known Member

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    u make specious assumptions yet ask for help

    if yhe other plusa are apita unlikely U will do the right thing

    iv asked 100 times plugs be pulled & # labeled from respective cylinders

    if U cant I CAN read spark plugs.....................far easier that reading tea leaves

    or having NOTHING to go on when matters are screwd up
     

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