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#1
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spark plugs
A not so honest indy replaced the plugs as part of diagnosing what turned out to be a fuel distributor issue. A week later the good indy gave me back the plugs, which had black deposits on the tips,etc. It seems a shame to throw them out. Can they be cleaned & made usable?
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#2
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I do it all the time! I rarely replace plugs - just clean and regap. I've been doing it for over twenty years for all the cars I take care of with no ill effects on performance. I replace the plugs when the center electrode is worn too far. The money saved has added up over the years.
I clean plugs by grit blasting. Besides removing all the deposits, the key point is to clean the insulator nose around the center electrode. Deposits on the insulator can provide a leak path for the spark. Then I finish-clean the plug by wire-wheeling the threads and inspect around the insulator to make sure there is no leftover grit trapped inside. Just a reminder - don't forget to put a thin coat of neversieze on the spark plug threads before installation.
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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K |
#3
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Thanks.Good point about the antiseize. However, I'm lacking whatever tools are needed for grit blasting-is there any chemical cleaner, like wiping/brushing with acetone, which would work?
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#4
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No, the porcelain really needs to get cleaned. And grit blasting is the only way. I sometimes wire brushed deposits from plugs during the leaded gas/12,000 mi tuneup days, but I don't think that's a good idea anymore.
I'm fortunate that I've always had a grit blaster at my disposal. I've seen a tool made specifically for cleaning spark plugs. All you need is shop air. It's basically a hand held grit blast gun with a bag that recycles the abrasive. J C Whitney may have it.
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95 E320 Cabriolet, 159K |
#5
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You should never use a metal wire brush near the center electrode insulator. If its surface is not perfectly smooth, it will abrade the metal bristles, leaving a conductive track on the insulator. Many surfaces and all ceramics are harder than common metals, and will present this problem, particularly if they are supposed to be an insulator.
Steve
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'91 MB 190E 2.3 '08 RAV4 Ltd 3.5 '83 Lazy Daze m'home 5.7 |
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