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Author
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Topic: Oily Spark Plugs
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-25-2004 11:57 PM
 
I pulled out my #8, #7 and #4 plugs. #8 had a lot of oil around it, and was black on the firing tip. #7 was more white than black and no oil. #4 was oily, but only about half as #8, and the firing tip was white. I changed #8 and #4 and readjusted the timing and it seemed to smooth out alot, but I cant get the hesatation out of it. What gives? Is the oily plugs something to be concerned about? I have a 289 with Headers and a 2bbl. My tune-up don't have 50 miles on it and the Pertronix has less than 7 or 8. Thanks in advance for your time and info. 
IP: Logged |
trashline
Gearhead Posts: 1217
From: Levittown, Pa
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 12:25 AM
 
is it just oil or is it oily build up consisting of dirt and such? well if i had 50 miles on a motor and the plugs were fouling then id be worried. im i change my plugs every three months bc i need new rings. but i am waiting for a new motor which i will be picking up nest tuesday. im not sure what to tell ya there should be a warrenty on the motor if you had somebody rebuild it------------------
1966 mustang coupe
200ci 3 speed tranny
msd 6a ignition, blaster 2 coil, 2 inch exhaust to a glass pac, stock rear,coming soon single out header,and cold air intake (homemade).
white w/ black interior
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 01:20 AM
Sorry, I did'nt mean I had 50 miles on the motor, just the tune-up. On the #8 plug, the oil is around the threads on the plug, not too much on the tip itself. The tip is more burned black, but the one next to it is more white on the tip. That would be the #7 plug.
Then on the #4 plug, the tip is almost snow white. I just changed the oil, and there was no water anywhere. Any possibilities on why this is happening? 
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johnmustang
Gearhead Posts: 5701
From: British Columbia , Canada
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 03-26-2004 09:36 AM
This should answer your questions.http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley2/sparkplugreading.html ------------------
JOHN
65 FASTBACK 2+2.....14.44 @ 107mph 1/4
87 TAURUS WAGON
03 F150 XLT SUPER CREW 4X4 SHORT BOX
Member:Vancouver Island Mustang Association
M&M #1710
65 FASTBACK
2003 F150 XLT SUPER CREW 4X4
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 12:17 PM
Thanks John, I added that page to my bookmarks for future reference. Gonna take all the plugs out and mark what cylinder they came from to try to pinpoint the problem a bit more. Thanks again. Bill
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trashline
Gearhead Posts: 1217
From: Levittown, Pa
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 12:52 PM
well i know for a fact that my valve cover leaks too that could be why there is oil on the threads . when you look in the plug hole can you see any oil? sitting there? it could just be seeping down from the cover. or you could have had valve guide seals or need new rings. were they black from oil or just black? maybe your not running a hot enough plug a good plug should be brown to gray with you particles on the plug what so ever.------------------
1966 mustang coupe
200ci 3 speed tranny
msd 6a ignition, blaster 2 coil, 2 inch exhaust to a glass pac, stock rear,coming soon single out header,and cold air intake (homemade).
white w/ black interior
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18143
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 03-26-2004 01:05 PM
Thats what my plugs use to do. I had bad valve guide seals. I drove the car for over 4 years like that. I wouldn't worry to much about it unless it's fouling the plugs. Try stepping up to a hotter plug make sure your not running to rich on the carb side too.
Like trashline said check the valve covers too.------------------
SCOOP oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc. My Pics
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 04:36 PM
OK, on the plugs, the last 2 anyway, were Motocraft. What should I be useing, like a Splitfire? Also, are the plugs pre-gapped? I have a Chilton book for the car, and it calls for like a 40 or 41, can't remember right now. Someone told me to go with a wider gap for a hotter plug. Anything to that? Now about the carb, I messed with the 2 screws on the front. First, I go in with the screw on the r till it almost dies, then come out till it idles good. Then I do the same thing on the left side. Is this the right thing to do? Thanks for taking the time to help me figure these things out. I could not have done 3/4 of the work on my car that I have without the help of everyone who has pitched in. 
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adragon8u
Gearhead Posts: 4768
From: Oceano, Ca. member# 2895
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 04:51 PM
I'm sure I speak for the others here when I say that you quite welcome and that that's what this site is all about. They have helped me tremendously in the past and I have no doubt that they will in the future also. As for gapping the plugs, I never trust pregapped and always double check. I would also double check your points for tune up purposes. Sounds like you have the correct method down for the carb mixture.------------------
"I started with nothing, and I still have most of it left"
http://webpages.charter.net/adragon8u/mystang
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18143
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 03-26-2004 05:11 PM
Get some Autolite plugs gap them at .035-.040.Your right on the carb but get a vacuum gauge and set to the highest reading. ------------------
SCOOP oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc. My Pics
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adragon8u
Gearhead Posts: 4768
From: Oceano, Ca. member# 2895
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 05:16 PM
Hey Ron, I think I'm about to learn something useful again. Could you elaborate on the vacuum gauge? ------------------
"I started with nothing, and I still have most of it left"
http://webpages.charter.net/adragon8u/mystang
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 05:20 PM
OK, on the vacuum guage, where can I get one, Auto Zone? Also, if my choke is disconnected or broke, will it affect the way my car runs? It had or still has a manual choke but not connected to the choke. How do I do that? I'm getting a 4bbl and intake in about a month, but I still want to hear it purr the best it can till then. For now I just feather the pedal till I get it to run long enough to set it by hand. It works but it it a pain.
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18143
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 03-26-2004 05:30 PM
Yes Auto zone will have one. Just find a good manifold vacuum source. Then one screw all the way in and then out slowly until you hit the highest reading, then do the next one, and in between each screw setting I like to rev it alittle let it settle back down and then go and do it all over again until you get the highest reading. You can also use a tach but I like the vacuum gauge better. I plug into were my trans vacuum source plugs into the intake. ------------------
SCOOP oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc. My Pics
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 05:36 PM
Thanks Scoop, I'm calling Auto Zone right now.
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 05:48 PM
OK, Scoop, Auto Zone said they din'nt have one. Don't think the woman knew what I was talking about, and to tell ya the truth I dont know what I'm talking about. Please tell me as close to exactly as you can as to what type and where to connect it. Sorry for being so ignorant on this, but it is a whole new ballgame to me. Changing oil is me forte.
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18143
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 03-26-2004 06:05 PM
This is just like the one I have. It'll come with instructions too. http://www.actron.com/cgi-bin/web_store.cgi?page=cp7803.htm&cart_id=6580810_13356 ------------------
SCOOP oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc. My Pics [This message has been edited by Fastymz (edited 03-26-2004).]
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 06:11 PM
Thanks alot Scoop, I called Auto Zone again and talked to someone else. They have one for 25.99 so I will soon be the proud owner of one myself. Thanks for the info, keep ya posted.
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adragon8u
Gearhead Posts: 4768
From: Oceano, Ca. member# 2895
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 06:14 PM
So that could be hooked up to where my modulator(lol, everytime I spell that out I hear Marvin the Martian)line comes from the tranny into the intake right?
Sorry grourown420, don't mean to hijack your post, but I'm learning here right along with you.------------------
"I started with nothing, and I still have most of it left"
http://webpages.charter.net/adragon8u/mystang
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-26-2004 06:17 PM
Take all the space ya need, you might ask something I didnt know and was wondering myself.
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Fastymz
Moderator Posts: 18143
From: Reno Nv USA MEM#1240
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 03-26-2004 06:18 PM
Mike thats where I do it at. I know it needs to a manifold vacuum source. I took a small peice of tubing with the same end as the tube that goes to the trans now. I remove the vacuum line from the intake that goes to the trans.Put the short piece of tubing and tighted it down. And hook up the gauge to the open end of the new tube. Hope that makes sense.------------------
SCOOP oddly obsessed with big scoops on little Mustangs 65 coupe,351w,C4,Big Boss 429 hood scoop,8" 3.40 TracLoc. My Pics [This message has been edited by Fastymz (edited 03-26-2004).]
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adragon8u
Gearhead Posts: 4768
From: Oceano, Ca. member# 2895
Registered: Mar 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 06:32 PM
That makes perfect sense Ron. Thanks for the tips. Now it's my turn to go aquire a vacuum gauge ------------------
"I started with nothing, and I still have most of it left"
http://webpages.charter.net/adragon8u/mystang
IP: Logged |
trashline
Gearhead Posts: 1217
From: Levittown, Pa
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 03-26-2004 11:09 PM
plugs ive always ran 46 by autolite but i have msd ignition so i gap my plugs at .050 of an inch. you can go to a split fire but i dont know what numder it is.------------------
1966 mustang coupe
200ci 3 speed tranny
msd 6a ignition, blaster 2 coil, 2 inch exhaust to a glass pac, stock rear,coming soon single out header,and cold air intake (homemade).
white w/ black interior
IP: Logged |
grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-27-2004 03:20 AM
OK, bought a vacuum guage that has a fuel pump pressure guage also. Just wanna be sure we're on the same page. On my 289 it has a line from the manifold just behind the carb that runs down toward the trans. The line pulls right off the nipple on the manifold. So to be sure about this, I just connect the guage to the line and not the manifold? I regapped my plugs to 34, Champion plugs, and it smoothed it out a lot. If I don't have vacuum, what does that mean?
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N266fords
Gearhead Posts: 1373
From: Spokane ,WA USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 03-27-2004 03:38 AM
No the gauge hook to the manifold piece not the tube that goes to the tranny.
If you want to keep it (the tranny modulator line) hook up you can get a tee so the one side hook to the manifold vacuum port the other to the vac modulator on the trans and the other part of the t to the gauge..Hope this Helps
Bruce
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-27-2004 03:42 AM
Yes it does Bruce, and thanks so much for the info. The guage came with a tee. One last question, how much vacuum should I be pulling?
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N266fords
Gearhead Posts: 1373
From: Spokane ,WA USA
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 03-27-2004 03:51 AM
I dont know your compression cam specs and other but 14-17 would be fine if it is bouncing and not steady then you might have other problems.Also I would never buy splitfire plugs.
Later Bruce
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-27-2004 03:56 AM
OK Bruce, thanks for the info. I'll check it out first thing. Sorry to beat it to death.
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-30-2004 09:51 PM
OK, the highest I could get was 20, and some times it would drop to 19. I think I got a miss, but the 2 bbl I have has seen it's better days. My Chilton manual talks about valve lash, and how to adjust them, but I dont know if this is really difficult. Anyway, any feedback on this will be appreciated.
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whiteknight289
Gearhead Posts: 1000
From: Wheaton, IL, USA
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted 03-31-2004 11:02 PM
All good info on the vac gauge and how to adjust the carb. Something you may be missing on the oily spark plugs...
Since only the back cylinders are affected I saw on another post here you may be sucking oil down the intake manifold. Check the pcv valve (should be in the passenger side valve cover towards the rear). There should be a hose connected to the rear of the carb spacer plate. Sometimes people run the hose directly to an intake manifold runner and then the oil vapor that gets sucked up from the valve cover goes right down that runner into those cylinders. One more thing, get your 2 barrel carb running sweet before you attempt a 4 barrel! Any problems you might be having will be magnified.
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grourown420
unregistered
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posted 03-31-2004 11:11 PM
Thanks for the heads up white knight, I'm going in Saturday and not coming out till I find out what the problem is. If at all possible, it will purr like a kitten. Looks like the intake ane 4 bbl is a while away yet, so I have got to do with what I got for now. Thanks again and hopefully I will have good news Sat.
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