Hi guys i was wondering if the first spark plug (from right to left) seems to be fouled by water? I just changed these spark plugs today and it seems like they are rusted, but i changed them 3 or 4 months ago. I was told my one of the mechanics that maybe the head gasket might be leaking a bit. No white smoke or coolant in oil or vise versa. I think i did loose some power, but thats hard to remember. I have the car for a year and its stock. I just want to know if there is water coming into number 4 cyl or if there is anything else that can cause this plug to go bad in so little time. I am missing coolant, but thats because the cap on the radiator is not good, i think. Its not running hot and it hasnt overheated on me. Please help!!!!!!!

 

Huh, wish I could be a psychic.

 

No. But you should be using anti seize compound on those plugs.

 

It could be. Is your coolant orange ? I know oreilly sells orange coolant. You should do a compression test.

 

Nop ive been putting water only for a while now... just recently ive been putting green antifreeze. I think am gonna take of the head get it repaired and change the gasket. I mean there is nothing more that can cause that. and its the only one cylinder. Ive already switched the injectors and the problem is still on cyl. number 4. what do you guys think?

 

Usually when water or coolant is getting into a combustion chamber and being burnt the spark plug is super clean and even sometimes glazed. This is because everything in the combustion chamber gets a constant steam cleaning.

I'd be more worried about the aluminum looking splatter on the insulator of the second plug from the left. If that happened while the plug was in the engine. That can be a sign of detonation.

How is your car performing?

Why are you changing out platinum plugs after only 3-4 months?

 

the car runs fine. I cant tell if it lost a bit of power or not, but it works fine. I change them because the car starts missing or bucking if you will. A change of spark plugs will stop the bucking and the car will run fine. and if the engine was detonating wouldnt that produce a check engine code??

 

If you don't have a knock sensor it won't throw any codes.. and as far as I know none of the 96 US Accords have a knock sensor.

So the car runs fine, but it heats up and it bucks and misfires if the spark plugs aren't replaced every 3 months.

You should have a compression test carried out. It coudl very well be a small coolant leak in the head gasket.

Here is a link to a spark plug diagnostics sheet; DIY Spark plug diagnostics

In a normal running engine, the spark plugs should have a light tan/brown tint to the ceramic insulator. From the looks of those 4 month old spark plugs. Your engine is far from running normal. All 4 of your spark plugs show different conditions, almost as if they were pulled from 4 different engines.

 

I am gonna do a compression test tomorrow. It does not heat up thats the weird thing. The temperature is stable at less than half .

 

quick update guys i went ahead and send the head to the machine shop. the guy said that the head was warped and he changed all the seals. the car is done and i feel that it runs better it doesnt backfire anymore so i think it was the head