Help me read my TR6 spark plugs

[Boostie]

Hey guys, the car started running like crap the last week. It originally had some hesitation during warm starts and then the last time it was having low end power issues and sounded like an exhaust leak (more like a dump truck then normal) I am running an open down pipe so it usually sounds like one but had more of a put put noise. I checked everything over, made sure things were tight and limped the car home. Upon getting there I had a misfire code in cylinder 7 pop up. Today I finally got to pull my plugs, here is what I found. I had just set my hptuners to scan misfire and there was no current misfire happening. It did have history missing in cylinder 7.


Cliffs
Car ran fine all summer until the last 4 times taking it out.
Info: 600 miles on plugs, 7# of boost, all gaps still the same (0.028")
Symptoms: Hard warm start, low end hesitation, misfire when warm
Codes: Cylinder 7 misfire, Engine misfire
Solutions: ???

[/IMG]

Plug 7

Click to read more...

 

[SleeperLS]

plug 7 looks like the cylinder is running pretty rich. I think it is the whiter the leaner. Your coils still good?

 

[Boostie]

Coils appear fine. When I pulled the car out of the garage to remove the plugs, I was scanning and the car was not misfiring in any cylinder. I have noticed that this problem seems to happen when the car is warm and has devoloped during the last 4 times driving it.

 

[SleeperLS]

I dont really know jack about ls1's...but that plug looked like it is toast to me. Too much buildup to get a proper spark 100% of the time maybe. I would think that it is either a weak coil or your injectors aren't flowmatched? (complete guess)

 

[willizm]

Did you replace the plugs and run the car? Does it feel better. I know one of the caveats to a turbo ls1 is routine plug changes.

 

[Boostie]

Injectors are 60# seimens that as far as I know were flow matched. I did read a post on ls1tech of someone having to swap tr6's about twice a year. My dad also said he had a gto back in the day that would go through plugs every 500 miles or so. If this is a simple fix where I can throw in a new plug I would be extremely happy. I am leaving for school in less then a week and really would not want to leave the car in a state thats not 100%.

 

[Boostie]

Did you replace the plugs and run the car? Does it feel better. I know one of the caveats to a turbo ls1 is routine plug changes.

Not yet, I am thinking of scooping up a new plug for cyl 7 and maybe scooping up some msd wires. Do the symptoms and ugly colored plug sound like the source for the symptoms I was having? I don't understand why this would only happen when the car is warm?

 

[SleeperLS]

Not yet, I am thinking of scooping up a new plug for cyl 7 and maybe scooping up some msd wires. Do the symptoms and ugly colored plug sound like the source for the symptoms I was having? I don't understand why this would only happen when the car is warm?

With how ugly that plug looked I would think it could easily cause a miss. I actually changed my spark plugs with every oil change on my monte. They are cheap and an easy peace of mind. I would just try the new plug and see if it fixes it. If it does, then just change all your plugs every 3k or something

 

[Eagle]

#1. WAY too much anti seize. WAY.
#2. Move #7 coil to another cyl, see if it follows.
#3. Replace your wires. Don't care if they are brand new. Replace them.

Retest.

Plugs in my car last ~500-1000mi, because past that I can't read them at all.

 

[SleeperLS]

Eagle, Do the plugs go out that quick because of the extra boost? or is it just a lsx thing?

 

[Boostie]

You guys would recommend moving the plug first before replacing it? They have a smidge over 600 miles on them so following every one's trend replacing them all wouldn't be a bad idea. Everything on the car has been perfect with no DTC's all summer until now

 

[Eagle]

Don't get me wrong. They don't "go out" - but with as much tuning as I do on the car, you need to be able to reliably read the plugs to back up your scan data. So I change them more frequently than they need to be changed.

 

[Eagle]

Also:

1. what injectors are you running?
2. how old are the injectors?
3. how is your fuel system routed?

 

[SleeperLS]

I would just change all the plugs first, if that doesn't fix it then you can move on. But, at least you know the plugs are new and won't be the problem any more

 

[Eagle]

something fouled the plugs, that's what I'm suggesting he try to figure out.

new plugs are required at this point

 

[Boostie]

Also:

1. what injectors are you running?

Seimens 60#

2. how old are the injectors?
Less then a year, less then 700 miles

3. how is your fuel system routed?

Factory style with stock rails and lines. Pressure doesen't drop at all on my gauge.

.

 

[SleeperLS]

I agree, there has to be a source. My issue similar to this was the coil pack, hopefully it is something as easy

 

[Boostie]

I know a lot of people run them but from my experience with other cars I have to ask before buying them. Is there any known issues running msd wires? Right now I have AC Delco wires on the car.

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

Don't get me wrong. They don't "go out" - but with as much tuning as I do on the car, you need to be able to reliably read the plugs to back up your scan data. So I change them more frequently than they need to be changed.

how long does it take you to change the plugs on an ls1 ?

 

[Boostie]

how long does it take you to change the plugs on an ls1 ?

I pulled those 4 plugs in less then 10 minutes. With regular rear facing headers the twp firewall plugs are a pain.

 

[Eagle]

Not very long on my car, but most of the stuff in the way is gone. No AC no AIR.

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

good to know,
thread hi jack over.

 

[6literEat'r]

before you put all new plugs in id do what eagle said and swap the plug with a known good one that isnt missing and see if the misfire moves, that way your not throwing parts at the car,your not wasting good plugs IF it still misses, and you can get an idea of whats goin on and go from there.

possibly swap a coil if need be too with another cyl. if need be




least its on the driver side..lol all kinds of rooom there

 

[Boostie]

I cleaned the plugs and am going to re-install them. I really don't have a lot of time to screw with troubleshooting it right now and really would hate to give up with something simple. I might just get her up and running and then do all new plugs, wires, and possibly coils over the winter. I've been planning on ripping everything off and going another route with the car but I cant throw the towel in just yet. The car should be fine since its just going to be moved in and out of the garage a couple times over winter.

 

[Boostie]

Cleaned the plugs up and have them back in the car. Going to take it for a quick ride datalogging and monitoring individual cylinders. Ill report back my findings when I get back.