I know there is already another thread going on with detonation, but I didn't want to thread jack..What is the easiest way to tell if you are detonating by reading the spark plugs? I read that crack porcelain is a give a way..but anything else? I don't hear any pinging noise, but I was wondering. I also read that black pieces or silver pieces being fused to the porcelain is also an indication..I do see some black on the porcelain, but I'm not sure if thats anything to worry about...The black thing I see on the porcelain looks like this..*...only burned..I'm thinking it's normal since the the cylinders are getting pretty hot. The only reason I ask this is because...I had a timing gun (borrowed) and I set my timing a little higher..got afraid of detonating so I retarded it back BUT..I didn't have a timing light this time..so I guesstimated and put my distributor to the middle section which is where it is stock correct? I just want to make sure I am not detonating. Oh yeah..the porcelain on the spark plugs is not cracked and I am running 91 octane and 6 heat range NGK's...

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

 

I found this picture on a website and its from a car that was rich and had detonation....the black specks on the plug are supposed to be the black particles that are fused to the porcelain..mine looks nothing like that...the black on my plug doesn't look like specks like that...it just looks like pieces of the porcelain were heating causing a really small line or * looking thing that looks burned..

 

when you had a timing light on your car , did you cross the blue 2 pin connector under passenger side kick panel? same one used for getting codes? if not you have to next time you use a gun on that car. it disables real time ECU adjustment. also car must be as warm as it gets under operation. start it up , hold your revs up to like 2500 till the fan comes on. than do it.

 

Silver specs are the main sign. For a real clear look do a 3rd gear pull and at redline shut the car right off and let it coast to a stop. Then pull the plugs and have a look. You have to turn car off during pull because letting it idle will cover up stuff..

 

Thanks guys!! and yeah, I did jump the connector..I know that if your plugs are too hot that the color will start to change on the arch...starting from the electrode end trace it back to where it is welded and where the color starts to change that is a heat indicator...on one of my plugs my arch starts to change color a little before the bend that goes ove the electrode...basically the color starts to change and right after it starts to bend. Is that ok? Weird thing is..that is the only one like that. One of my plugs color starts to change close to the electrode end which means it is too cold. Any ideas? Why does the color change further down than the rest? One another plug the color started to change (I think) right where the bend started..or maybe a little before.

Thanks for your help guys!!