OK, serious question: what is this white stuff on my spark plugs? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mölyapina · #31 03-02-2014, 06:30 PM

Sheesh, dude... what did we do to you that you had to bring this thread back on topic?

Thanks, BTW

gatorblue92 · #32 03-02-2014, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Nono, you guys don't understand. My skin is like that because it got so used to petroleum products; now that it doesn't have contact with them, it goes nasty. Sometimes I'll soak them in some gas for a few hours to liven them up, but I pretty much have to wait 'till it's warmer outside and I can spend more time with the car before my hands will look normal again.

So wearing gloves would obviously be idiotic. Next thing I know, you guys will tell me to stop chain smoking, too, even though I just turned 18 and can finally do it legally.

Well played sir. This is why we need a like button.

Mölyapina · #33 03-03-2014, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

Well played sir. This is why we need a like button.

Thank you

. But are you suggesting that we become more like BW? Heresy.

I'm going out now to finish the job... I dropped a plug between the heat shield and firewall... and still have to install the three plugs in the rear bank... and it's ~12 degrees out. So wish me warm.

jplinville · #34 03-03-2014, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.C.

Are you wearing gloves?!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

No, I have a skin condition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.C.

It really looks like you are wearing gloves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

No, I have a skin condition. It's what happens when you don't wear gloves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

You should wear gloves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.C.

It would keep the skin condition from developing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

Nono, you guys don't understand. My skin is like that because it got so used to petroleum products; now that it doesn't have contact with them, it goes nasty. Sometimes I'll soak them in some gas for a few hours to liven them up, but I pretty much have to wait 'till it's warmer outside and I can spend more time with the car before my hands will look normal again.

So wearing gloves would obviously be idiotic. Next thing I know, you guys will tell me to stop chain smoking, too, even though I just turned 18 and can finally do it legally.

Perhaps the best conversation on all of Peach Parts...

Mölyapina · #35 03-03-2014, 01:16 PM

I got them done! I had to leave at 9:20 and ended up closing the hood at 9:10

. Still made it on time, though.

The car is smoother and more powerful now. The extra power really makes a difference in how much the car is downshifting on the highway.

The old plugs (the originals, 20-year-old AC Delcos that were 20k overdue) looked like the engine was running little rich towards the end, so I'm assuming that they were the reason I was only getting 20 MPG. I'm shooting for 25-28 MPG on the next tank but not varying my driving style from before --i.e., I'll still be doing mostly highway, averaging about 75 MPH or so.

P.C. · #36 03-03-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

I got them done! I had to leave at 9:20 and ended up closing the hood at 9:10

. Still made it on time, though.

The car is smoother and more powerful now. The extra power really makes a difference in how much the car is downshifting on the highway.

The old plugs (the originals, 20-year-old AC Delcos that were 20k overdue) looked like the engine was running little rich towards the end, so I'm assuming that they were the reason I was only getting 20 MPG. I'm shooting for 25-28 MPG on the next tank but not varying my driving style from before --i.e., I'll still be doing mostly highway, averaging about 75 MPH or so.

Might be time to change the radiator hoses before 20 years of exposure to ethylene glycol finishes converting them into primordial goo...

Mölyapina · #37 03-03-2014, 06:34 PM

I checked all the hoses while I was under the hood, and they still look good and feel good -- no cracking, not too flexible, not too hard.

I think I'll leave the hoses in there just for the coolness factor of having the original GM hoses under there. I like vintage cars -- I check Hemmings out of the library regularly and read everything in it, I am subscribing to Hemmings Classic Car, have read Cobra in the Barn, Hemi in the Barn, and Corvette in the Barn, etc. I am a big fan of survivor cars, and the Buick actually gives me something a bit like that to mess with

. So everything is staying original unless it must be messed with (like the spark plugs).

INSIDIOUS · #38 03-03-2014, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jooseppi Luna

I checked all the hoses while I was under the hood, and they still look good and feel good -- no cracking, not too flexible, not too hard.

I think I'll leave the hoses in there just for the coolness factor of having the original GM hoses under there. I like vintage cars -- I check Hemmings out of the library regularly and read everything in it, I am subscribing to Hemmings Classic Car, have read Cobra in the Barn, Hemi in the Barn, and Corvette in the Barn, etc. I am a big fan of survivor cars, and the Buick actually gives me something a bit like that to mess with

. So everything is staying original unless it must be messed with (like the spark plugs).

I had the unenviable pleasure of changing out the original plugs on a 98 GM recently. Only 160,000 on the odo. Hardly anything left of them, more than double the original gap. No discernible difference in performance.

Mölyapina · #39 03-03-2014, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

I had the unenviable pleasure of changing out the original plugs on a 98 GM recently. Only 160,000 on the odo. Hardly anything left of them, more than double the original gap. No discernible difference in performance.

Ew. No discernible difference in performance? Is the engine tired?

Mölyapina · #40 03-04-2014, 09:44 AM

Wow, I had to go somewhere early this morning, and at an ambient temp of ~0, it started (almost) right up. HUGE difference from the extended cranking i was getting in the teens before this.