As the title implies...I am having a re-occurring problem with my spark plugs going bad and causing my engine to eventually run like complete *** like one cylinder isn't even firing (I get a horrible vibration when taking off from a start & significant loss in power).

This FIRST happened 2-3 months ago... I replaced all 4 Bosch plat plus plugs the previous owner had in it & found one to appear more fouled than the others.

So me and my buddy replaced them w/4 brand new NGKs (no I didn't bother to gap them as I never had an issue w/my previous Honda's).

We take it for a test run and the first 5-10 min it runs great - lots of VTEC action runs great. But then on the way back the car begins to kinda hump...like a huge studder. I pull over and we notice the exhaust is coming out in a definite pulse not steady normal exhaust flow.

So come to find out one of the brand new NGKs got melted!! Totally fouled in like less than 10min of driving!

Honda took a look at it and threw in a used plug and it ran fine (the other option was 4 new ones installed for $75 - no thanks). They said to keep an eye on it and if it was re-occurring they may need to do "further analysis".

So fast forward to 2 weeks ago...it was -10 degrees here daily on and off for weeks (its HELL) and I noticed a slight hiccup or studder in the idle on these cold morning starts but figured it had something to do w/the super-cold temps & the 1 used spark plug..didn't really notice any power loss etc.

Now today same slight studder in the idle but nothing major...I go to wash my car and every thing seems pretty much normal BUT on the way home it seems a bit piggy.

Then I get to an intersection and can't take off it was like my car was stalling but instead the was this horrible vibration...and it comes on now any time I take of or accelerate. It feels like ****...just like it did 2-3 months ago.

So basically my question is....what is wrong w/my engine. What would cause one cylinder to constantly foul plugs?

Obviously something is off/wrong & I will prob have to break down & take it to Honda but I was wondering if anyone had experience w/this problem or had knowledge of what the prob is and what parts potentially may need to be replaced.

Advice please!

THANKS!!!!!!

 

What did the plugs tips look like(color), and what number plug are you useing?
Have you put any kind of Octane Booster in your fuel?

 

So we pulled the plug in cylinder #1/4? (the one at the far right as you stand @ the front of the engine bay) and it was BAD.

We looked down where the bad plug was and could see significant residue on the piston head (Carbon build up?). So my friends dianosis was carbon build-up = Pre detonation = Bad spark plugs every 2-3 months!! The other pistons we looked at just have a consistant, smooth coating of gray residue where as the one w/the bad plug looked like it had a chunk of **** on it.

here is the most ghetto Digital pic ever....http://www.we-todd-did-racing....D.jpg

So if this carbon buildup it the problem is there an easy way to remove it? Is there a REALLY good engine additive that would work. Taking the engine apart to clean the cabon sounds expensive (I can't do it myself).

PS: Cottonwoodz... bringin' back the classic avatar...nice...
Now as to the color...I would describe the metal as BLACK and non-existant (melted off). #plug....well 3 cyl. had the correct one..BUT the used one Honda trew in there turned out to be the wrong #!!! it was "5" where the correct NGKs were "6". Octane booster...yes maybe once in the last 2-3months.

EDIT: fu@k, how the hell do I post a pic - do I need a website to host it? (yeah, I'm a moron)

EDIT#2: ok lets see if the pic works now....


Modified by LudeBoyLeRoy at 11:33 AM 2/1/2004

 

hmmmm ok well this is a bit of a shot in the dark (going by your description...)

have you checked the wires/distributor cap maybe even the distributor itself? sounds like the cylinder is intermittently misfiring or not burning all the gas inside for some reason (that would explain the carbon build up). maybe the fuel injector is toast or something (and putting wayyy too much gas in).

things to think about...whatever it is you know it's isolated to that 1 cylinder, so that should make diagnosis somewhat easier.

 

possibly? I really don't know..

by the way looks liek the pic doesnt work...how about that link?

ok how about this...OLD Vs NEW:





Modified by LudeBoyLeRoy at 12:06 PM 2/1/2004

 

Holy ****, you got some major problems...

I would say you have somekind of pre-ignition.



Modified by Cottonwoodz at 2:47 PM 2/1/2004

 

wow, that is a definate pre-ignition problem, if thats what im seeing correctly that the tip has been melted away..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudeBoyLeRoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We looked down where the bad plug was and could see significant residue on the piston head (Carbon build up?). </TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont know, I think you have some other problem with that cylinder. If your melting your plug like that, just imagine what the piston and valves look like in that cylinder. Im really suprised that you dont have a hole in the piston.

There has to be a reason why there would be carbon build up in that cylinder. Unburned fuel would cause it. Or it could be you sucked something up into that cylinder and damaged your piston, causeing a hot spot?????


Modified by Cottonwoodz at 2:55 PM 2/1/2004

 

yeah that spark plug was pretty friggin bad

we were looking down into the cylinder w/a flash light and it was dark and cold as hell out so I didn't look long...but it looked like build-up. Now that I think of it..I think Honda mention that it might have a little "pitting" but that compression was fine 180-ish.

So how the hell can I slow down or stop this from getting worse, I will still take it to Honda but in the meantime.

Again is there any carbon-build-up engine additive I could try or should I just take it to Honda.

Any Honda Mechanics on here?

Any Suggestions are welcome!!

 

definietly pre=ignition,but if the plugs are melting away like that,id say maybe even some detonation too at some point.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LudeBoyLeRoy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Again is there any carbon-build-up engine additive I could try or should I just take it to Honda.
!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

there is some stuff called sea-foam
it's supposed to get rid of carbon build up to a degree,
you could try that

 

I don't know if honda did this on Preludes or not but it is worth a shot. At the shop I work at we had a problem with a car(believe it was a 92 accord) having a missfire on one of the cylinders(it was either number 1 or number 4). It turned out that the egr passagways in the intake manifold had all gotten plugged up except for the one cylinder. Thus the egr valve was dumping everything into that cylinder. Now, I can't remember if it caused massive plug failure like you have, but it may be worth a shot. On that car we actually pulled the manifold, drilled out some metal plugs, cleaned the passageways and reassembled. I think my old boss said that now they use a 3 part chemical system to clean the intakes out instead of having to pull them off and clean them by hand. This may or may not be what you are experiencing. May be worth a further look into.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yellow_jacket &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't know if honda did this on Preludes or not but it is worth a shot. At the shop I work at we had a problem with a car(believe it was a 92 accord) having a missfire on one of the cylinders(it was either number 1 or number 4). It turned out that the egr passagways in the intake manifold had all gotten plugged up except for the one cylinder. Thus the egr valve was dumping everything into that cylinder. Now, I can't remember if it caused massive plug failure like you have, but it may be worth a shot. On that car we actually pulled the manifold, drilled out some metal plugs, cleaned the passageways and reassembled. I think my old boss said that now they use a 3 part chemical system to clean the intakes out instead of having to pull them off and clean them by hand. This may or may not be what you are experiencing. May be worth a further look into.</TD></TR></TABLE>

damn good advice
freak situations caused by freak problems

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Anyone know how effective that Sea Foam is? Any first-hand experience?

THANKS AGAIN!!

 

You can also use the GM stuff for cleaning the engine. It's like "top engine cleaner" or so. If you search, you will find it easy as there was a thread about it like a month ago...