red tip spark plug???
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From: Norman Oklahoma
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From: Norman Oklahoma
91 from a 7 11
Last edited by MBMCustoms; Mar 24, 2009 at 03:43 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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From: Depew, NY
.04 when in boost will probably blow the spark right out. Most boosted applications will not have the gap over .038. Most will run .028-.036 depending on boost and heat range of the plug itself. Ideally you should be running the largest gap without spark blowout to get the biggest ignition spark possible.
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From: NEPA
I have the GM Stage 3 pulley (2.99), and I'm using the factory NGK IFR6V-10G iridiums in my car (yes my 07' came with laser iridiums from the factory, not the platniums) and they are gapped at 0.035. Also, i run Sunoco Ultra 93 and nothing else and have never had a problem. Car runs great .... plugs are burning clean.
.04 when in boost will probably blow the spark right out. Most boosted applications will not have the gap over .038. Most will run .028-.036 depending on boost and heat range of the plug itself. Ideally you should be running the largest gap without spark blowout to get the biggest ignition spark possible.
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From: NEPA
Stock gap for 2007 Cobalt SS/SC is 0.039 as per the owners manual. When I pulled my stockers to check the gap they were at 0.035 from the factory. 0.045 is way to large for a F.I. car.
i made a mistake, stock gap is .042, its deffinetyely not .039 though. read the manual again
My car's been runnin like **** for a while so my buddy and I pulled my plugs and I have red tips too...look just like urs. And I don't use octane booster, just run 93. I'm goin back to the dealer and getting a compression check done cuz I also get an antifreeze smell from the exhaust when the car is running. Maybe you have the same issue I do?
Just curious, is your car throwing any codes too? Cuz I'm getting that too rich code and I think it might have something to do with these messed up plugs we seem to have
Just curious, is your car throwing any codes too? Cuz I'm getting that too rich code and I think it might have something to do with these messed up plugs we seem to have
Last edited by ~Mike~; Mar 24, 2009 at 08:44 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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My car's been runnin like **** for a while so my buddy and I pulled my plugs and I have red tips too...look just like urs. And I don't use octane booster, just run 93. I'm goin back to the dealer and getting a compression check done cuz I also get an antifreeze smell from the exhaust when the car is running. Maybe you have the same issue I do?
Just curious, is your car throwing any codes too? Cuz I'm getting that too rich code and I think it might have something to do with these messed up plugs we seem to have
Just curious, is your car throwing any codes too? Cuz I'm getting that too rich code and I think it might have something to do with these messed up plugs we seem to have
Well i plan on calling the dealer on thursday and trying to set up an appt and when I finally get it in there, I'll let ya know what they say the issue is. If they give me a real problem instead of just guesses on what it might be that might give you a starting point as to how to fix urs up
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Well i plan on calling the dealer on thursday and trying to set up an appt and when I finally get it in there, I'll let ya know what they say the issue is. If they give me a real problem instead of just guesses on what it might be that might give you a starting point as to how to fix urs up
Just googled and found this..
"Red to purple deposits on one side of the core nose are an indication of a fuel additive. While many of these deposits are non-conductive and do not contribute to lack of performance, some fuel additives contain octane boosters that leave conductive deposits on the core nose. Care should be taken to select fuel additives which are compatible with ignition systems and do not contain conductive materials such as octane boosters"
It's gotta be something in the gas we're using. I usually fill up with circle k 93(cuz i work there, gotta keep myself employed lol) But I've never used a fuel additive/octane booster. Who knows, maybe all our plugs are turning red cuz gas is crappier and needs an additive which is why the price suddenly went down roughly 3 bucks a gallon a while back. Still going to the dealer and finding out for sure tho...
"Red to purple deposits on one side of the core nose are an indication of a fuel additive. While many of these deposits are non-conductive and do not contribute to lack of performance, some fuel additives contain octane boosters that leave conductive deposits on the core nose. Care should be taken to select fuel additives which are compatible with ignition systems and do not contain conductive materials such as octane boosters"
It's gotta be something in the gas we're using. I usually fill up with circle k 93(cuz i work there, gotta keep myself employed lol) But I've never used a fuel additive/octane booster. Who knows, maybe all our plugs are turning red cuz gas is crappier and needs an additive which is why the price suddenly went down roughly 3 bucks a gallon a while back. Still going to the dealer and finding out for sure tho...
How do you not have 93? lol 91 is such a random octane rating, at least it is to me. I've always ever seen it 87/89/93...and in some cases like shell or somewhere i've seen 87/89/91/93/94...have no idea what the hell the 94 would be for tho lol
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From: Norman Oklahoma
i live in south central Oklahoma.... i guess that exlains it
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From: Boston & SoCal
Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl.
Or commonly abbreviated MMT and is the primary anti-knock substance found in octane boosters that also happens to cause the red/rusting buildup on the spark plugs. Some areas of the county still utilize it in pump gas but it is being phased out in many locations due to the toxicity and better/cheaper oxygenates available such as ethanol. There isn't a problem running a bottle every now and then if you can actually utilize the extra detonation resistance, just realize you're going to have to change the plugs a lot more often.
And if you're going to buy the stuff make sure to get one of the ones that will actually work, such as the NOS brand "Racing" formula. It usually costs around $10 per bottle but has enough MMT to raise the octane level multiple full points. All the other cheap stuff may advertise as raising the octane a certain number of "points", but in actuality you only get tenths of a full octane point (or in other words, depending on the product it may only effectively raise the octane level from 91-octane to 91.5 or 92-octane).
As to the plugs, copper generally work best in forced induction applications that run rich. It has nothing to do with the conductivity of the material, but due to the fact that the copper center electrode has a lot more surface area that makes it less susceptible to fouling compared to the much smaller iridium and platinum tips. Also those smaller electrodes on iridium and platinum plugs can easier become a hot spot in the combustion chamber if the temp range is too high.
A well tuned car with appropriately matched plugs shouldn't have any problems with those types of plugs, but the combustion chamber is still going to eat them up faster (especially if the iridium or platinum plugs have a conventional ground electrode that still wears down quicker than the center electrode material). Copper plugs will work just as well and potentially better if the car runs really rich for safety, and with how cheap they are if you're changing them more often it also gives you more chances to "read" them while changing to monitor the health of the engine.
Or commonly abbreviated MMT and is the primary anti-knock substance found in octane boosters that also happens to cause the red/rusting buildup on the spark plugs. Some areas of the county still utilize it in pump gas but it is being phased out in many locations due to the toxicity and better/cheaper oxygenates available such as ethanol. There isn't a problem running a bottle every now and then if you can actually utilize the extra detonation resistance, just realize you're going to have to change the plugs a lot more often.
And if you're going to buy the stuff make sure to get one of the ones that will actually work, such as the NOS brand "Racing" formula. It usually costs around $10 per bottle but has enough MMT to raise the octane level multiple full points. All the other cheap stuff may advertise as raising the octane a certain number of "points", but in actuality you only get tenths of a full octane point (or in other words, depending on the product it may only effectively raise the octane level from 91-octane to 91.5 or 92-octane).
As to the plugs, copper generally work best in forced induction applications that run rich. It has nothing to do with the conductivity of the material, but due to the fact that the copper center electrode has a lot more surface area that makes it less susceptible to fouling compared to the much smaller iridium and platinum tips. Also those smaller electrodes on iridium and platinum plugs can easier become a hot spot in the combustion chamber if the temp range is too high.
A well tuned car with appropriately matched plugs shouldn't have any problems with those types of plugs, but the combustion chamber is still going to eat them up faster (especially if the iridium or platinum plugs have a conventional ground electrode that still wears down quicker than the center electrode material). Copper plugs will work just as well and potentially better if the car runs really rich for safety, and with how cheap they are if you're changing them more often it also gives you more chances to "read" them while changing to monitor the health of the engine.
Did you use Marc Heitz to change your fuel filter? I'm due for one soon, wondering how much they will charge me. Also the O'Reileys near me has BKR7E's in stock so you don't have to order them next time.
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From: Depew, NY
Just googled and found this..
"Red to purple deposits on one side of the core nose are an indication of a fuel additive. While many of these deposits are non-conductive and do not contribute to lack of performance, some fuel additives contain octane boosters that leave conductive deposits on the core nose. Care should be taken to select fuel additives which are compatible with ignition systems and do not contain conductive materials such as octane boosters"
It's gotta be something in the gas we're using. I usually fill up with circle k 93(cuz i work there, gotta keep myself employed lol) But I've never used a fuel additive/octane booster. Who knows, maybe all our plugs are turning red cuz gas is crappier and needs an additive which is why the price suddenly went down roughly 3 bucks a gallon a while back. Still going to the dealer and finding out for sure tho...
"Red to purple deposits on one side of the core nose are an indication of a fuel additive. While many of these deposits are non-conductive and do not contribute to lack of performance, some fuel additives contain octane boosters that leave conductive deposits on the core nose. Care should be taken to select fuel additives which are compatible with ignition systems and do not contain conductive materials such as octane boosters"
It's gotta be something in the gas we're using. I usually fill up with circle k 93(cuz i work there, gotta keep myself employed lol) But I've never used a fuel additive/octane booster. Who knows, maybe all our plugs are turning red cuz gas is crappier and needs an additive which is why the price suddenly went down roughly 3 bucks a gallon a while back. Still going to the dealer and finding out for sure tho...