spark plugs gone rust colour!

[89civic]

just took my spark plugs out today, cars been hard to start when cold and misses when cold on acceleration and sometimes when hot on idle. so i took them out and the ends of them are rusty or something. i read the code on them and looked at the code in the manual and they arnt the right plugs. why would they go this colour?

i had a service 7500kms ago, (1 and a half years ago) by ultratune. the guy at autobarn said the plugs they put in doesnt even match any of the models around my year either

[aaronng]

What's the number of the plugs that were on your car? Could you take a pic of your plug as well?

From NGK's site, BCPR6E-11 or BCPR5E-11. The first one is a cooler plug, while the 2nd is a hotter plug. Will need a pic and part number of your current plug.

[JasonGilholme]

They won't be rusty but they do sound like they haven't been able to burn the fuel properly. They go an orangy colour when they're not working properly.

Get the proper plugs and they won't discolour like they have. It might even solve your idling/accelleration issues.

[Slow96GSR]

Here... http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/diagnosis.htm


Also here, 3rd paragraph... http://www.wjjeeps.com/service/sparkplugs.htm

"Some fuel refiners in several areas of the United States have introduced a manganese additive (MMT) for unleaded fuel. During combustion, fuel with MMT causes the entire tip of the spark plug to be coated with a rust colored deposit. This rust color can be misdiagnosed as being caused by coolant in the combustion chamber. Spark plug performance may be affected by MMT deposits."

Change the plugs, do a compression and leak down test to be safe, and see if this happens again.

[89civic]

i already changed my plugs, i tryed to get a photo but its to blury. the number is BKR5E, they are a very dark orange. i got the new ones and put then in. idles smoother and doesnt miss. i got the BCPR6E-11 ones. would it have been a mistake to put these plugs that ultratune used in?

[JasonGilholme]

BKR5E?? Sounds similiar to the plugs that go in my barina.

I think aarongs got a code book tho.

[rexedup]

orange rusty looking tips usually happen when people use octane booster regularly, they must be replaced if this colour

[aaronng]

Here... http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/diagnosis.htm

Also here, 3rd paragraph... http://www.wjjeeps.com/service/sparkplugs.htm

"Some fuel refiners in several areas of the United States have introduced a manganese additive (MMT) for unleaded fuel. During combustion, fuel with MMT causes the entire tip of the spark plug to be coated with a rust colored deposit. This rust color can be misdiagnosed as being caused by coolant in the combustion chamber. Spark plug performance may be affected by MMT deposits."


Great link!
Australia stopped using MMT in 2004.

[89civic]

lol i have used octane booster once, the guy said that i might have to use octane booster when i showed him the old plug, but i used it about 2 months ago. i use the mobil 98 octane petrol. can this effect it to? using high octane in an old car

[aaronng]

The difference between the 2 is that the BCPR6E has a "projector insulator" and it has a "5/8" hex with projected tip" (probably the part that connects to the leads).

btw, in 1 and a half years, you did only 7500km of driving? Did you change your oil every 6 months?

[89civic]

The difference between the 2 is that the BCPR6E has a "projector insulator" and it has a "5/8" hex with projected tip" (probably the part that connects to the leads).

btw, in 1 and a half years, you did only 7500km of driving? Did you change your oil every 6 months?

yeh, im still on my L's. so i dont drive my car much, i jus take the car closest to the driveway. i changed my oil about 2 months ago aswell, i used that high milage stuff from penzoil, but i think i need my carbs tuned.

[aaronng]

lol i have used octane booster once, the guy said that i might have to use octane booster when i showed him the old plug, but i used it about 2 months ago. i use the mobil 98 octane petrol. can this effect it to? using high octane in an old car
You shouldn't use octane booster in your car. Your car should use lead replacement additive if it was meant to run on leaded. Was it meant to be run on leaded petrol?

[JasonGilholme]

Doubt it was meant to run on leaded.

[89civic]

nah wasnt ment to be leaded. says 91ron in the book. there is a ticking sound coming from under the rocker cover, is it the spark plugs sparking? ben doing it for a while, i thought it was the old plugs, then the tappets. but the manual doesnt have anything about the tappets in there. so could it be them? it isnt as loud now with the new plugs

[JasonGilholme]

Sounds like tappets, won't be injectors cause your baby is carbs.

[aaronng]

nah wasnt ment to be leaded. says 91ron in the book. there is a ticking sound coming from under the rocker cover, is it the spark plugs sparking? ben doing it for a while, i thought it was the old plugs, then the tappets. but the manual doesnt have anything about the tappets in there. so could it be them? it isnt as loud now with the new plugs

Then run your car with 91 or 95 RON. No point running with 98 RON. And no octane booster in the future too.

Tappets sound like "tap tap tap", exactly like a non-turbo traditional diesel engine.

BTW, have you cleaned your carby yet?

[89civic]

Then run your car with 91 or 95 RON. No point running with 98 RON. And no octane booster in the future too.

Tappets sound like "tap tap tap", exactly like a non-turbo traditional diesel engine.

BTW, have you cleaned your carby yet?

yep, sounds like a diesel. how do i go bout fixing them, is it just needing propper gapping or something?

yeh i cleaned my carbs, followed the instructions on the bottle( run the car at fast idle and squirt into carbs) is that right?

[JasonGilholme]

Theres a few different ways to do it but as long as the carbs are clean you've done whats needed to be done.

As for the tappets, check the internet for the proper gaps, buy a feeler gauge and get cracking. Not hard to do and will solve your problem. Don't expect it to be fully gone though.

[aaronng]

This is the manual for the EF. But if there is an EF with the same 1.5L carby engine, you should be able to use the same valve clearance specs:
http://downloads.hondatech.info/Auto/Manuals/Civic/Ab0VE.Honda%20Civic%20(1988-90)%20Service%20Manual%20EF.zip

[89civic]

thanks fellas. are tappets and the valves the same thing. my mate changed his tappets in his skyline and said it was easy as. made the noise fully go away. is it bad to have the sound? mine is fairly loud at cold idle but gets quieter when it warms up

the manual i have is crap, its all overseas stuff. single carb mounted on top ot the engine. not like mine at all so i cant really use it to do stuff under the hood

oh btw my new plugs are starting to go that orange colour to.