Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

Reading spark plugs - when to change

Ron Burgundy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Messages
4,795
Reaction score
4,229
Points
113
Location
NSW
Members Ride
VF II SS
Ac Delco plugs. Just pulled one to check the condition.

Car's done just under 50 000km
Original engine was replaced at 35 000 km.

1. Do these look like 50 000 or 15 000km plugs ? i.e. did Holden reuse original plugs on new motor.

2. What do they tell you about how the engine is running ?

3. Are they still good ? I.e. no need replace.

Would love to hear some thoughts :)

To me they look like original plugs and it appears there is some carbon buildup on them. i.e. running a bit rich.

However, they dont look like they need to be changed yet.
 
Last edited:

Ron Burgundy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Messages
4,795
Reaction score
4,229
Points
113
Location
NSW
Members Ride
VF II SS
Here they are...
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20201123-092837_Gallery.jpg
    Screenshot_20201123-092837_Gallery.jpg
    152.3 KB · Views: 368
  • Screenshot_20201123-092859_Gallery.jpg
    Screenshot_20201123-092859_Gallery.jpg
    180.5 KB · Views: 344
  • Screenshot_20201123-092940_Gallery.jpg
    Screenshot_20201123-092940_Gallery.jpg
    143.9 KB · Views: 311
  • 20201123_093956.jpg
    20201123_093956.jpg
    254.5 KB · Views: 305

gossie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2011
Messages
2,570
Reaction score
953
Points
113
Location
Gold Coast.
Members Ride
VE International 3.6L
Look good to me.
Just gap them before they go back in.
 

shane_3800

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
4,180
Reaction score
1,751
Points
113
Age
35
Location
places
Members Ride
vr commo
They have plenty left. Likely the originals. The little tip when it gets to the cone section well about 10 thou off thats when they're gone. Or when the earth strap starts to get eaten away when it's nice with a difined square shape its good. If the earth strap is worn the little bit of tungsten on the end will be gone.
 

3rspecB

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2016
Messages
1,006
Reaction score
1,273
Points
113
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
VF2 SSv Redline, White Manual Sedan
The look good. All 8 of mine were similar to these, so I replaced them with stock plugs. 47.5k the car has travelled. My car is not stock though.

Resized_IMG-20201030-WA0007.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Ron Burgundy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Messages
4,795
Reaction score
4,229
Points
113
Location
NSW
Members Ride
VF II SS
The look good. All 8 of mine were similar to these, so I replaced them with stock plugs. 47.5k the car has travelled.

View attachment 216558

Oh wow. They definitely look worn at 47 000km. Mine look very different which makes me think they might have come new with new engine
 

Big Red VF-SII Go-kart

I love puddles.
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Messages
1,166
Reaction score
392
Points
83
Location
Darwin NT
Members Ride
VFII MY17 SV6 (LFX) Sportwagon (SOLD)
After prolonged, high speed travel the plugs will be greyish-white with minimal blackening of the thread base. The black looks to have a bit of luminance about it — is this oil??

Why are you replacing them?
The plugs also appear out-of-gap, but still serviceable. Scheduled replacement is around 140,000km,. I don't see why there should be excessive wear or misfire before then. If excessive wear is evident at 50k, you need to find out why before replacing them with new plugs.
 
Last edited:

Skylarking

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2018
Messages
9,993
Reaction score
10,317
Points
113
Age
123
Location
Downunder
Members Ride
Commodore Motorsport Edition
@3rspecB, it is odd that your plugs are worn @ 47.5k kms yet the service life is 140k kms?

What was the reason you looked at the plugs so early in their life and what would be the cause of such an early demise?

@Ron Burgundy the following video may be of interest to you


 
Last edited:

Ron Burgundy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Messages
4,795
Reaction score
4,229
Points
113
Location
NSW
Members Ride
VF II SS
After prolonged, high speed travel the plugs will be greyish-white with minimal blackening of the thread base. The black looks to have a bit of luminance about it — is this oil??

Why are you replacing them?
The plugs also appear out-of-gap, but still serviceable. Scheduled replacement is around 140,000km,. I don't see why there should be excessive wear or misfire before then.

I just removed one to see if they are still good. Was not planning to change them per se.

No oil on them. Just some glossy carbon. Minimal.

The gap looked fine to me. It's meant to be 1mm anyway...
 

Big Red VF-SII Go-kart

I love puddles.
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Messages
1,166
Reaction score
392
Points
83
Location
Darwin NT
Members Ride
VFII MY17 SV6 (LFX) Sportwagon (SOLD)
I just removed one to see if they are still good. Was not planning to change them per se.

No oil on them. Just some glossy carbon. Minimal.

All good!
 
Top