Your opinion on spark plug

[tef]

Shown in the picture are two spark plugs, the old and the new. What's your opinion of the old spark plug? Is it worn out or is it still good?

[Yuko]

It is very worn out, but doesn't show any sign of engine problem. Just toss some new plugs.

[FishyMan]

I'm not a pro, but I was told and have always stuck w/ OEM.

[JohnGD]

The plug on the left - does it have carbon on the tip or is that a platinum pad? It seems to have a larger gap and looks like double-platinum plug?

The plug on the right, looks like NGK's Iridium-IX with taper ground tip? Just go with it.

[Zembonez]

Plug on the left looks a tad worn but otherwise fine.

[tef]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

The plug on the left - does it have carbon on the tip or is that a platinum pad? It seems to have a larger gap and looks like double-platinum plug?

The plug on the right, looks like NGK's Iridium-IX with taper ground tip? Just go with it.

The left plug is a NGK Iridium IFR6A 11. I don't know what it originally looked like or when it was installed. Anyway, when I first l looked at it, I thought it looked OK. Then I compared it to some new ones. Then I didn't think it looked good. For future reference, I just wanted to get some experienced eyes on it.

I've already put the bank 2 plugs in. The bank 1 plugs are going to have to wait until summer because of having to remove the plenum.

[BMR]

Color looks good. So no probs with air/fuel ratio or oil fouling.

As for being worn, I think with the platinum/iridium plugs, it's difficult to tell without a microscope. There's such a little tiny bit of platinum/iridium there when they're new, it's hard to see wear without magnification. So unless it's totally gone and the electrode is just a nub, it's impossible to see how much wear is present. I don't even bother to look at 'em closely anymore. Just change 'em out at 100k or so and call it good. JMHO.

[JohnGD]

Yeah, that looked kinda like a platinum ground pad but looks like a different Laser Iridium than current generation of IFR6T11 (-A- and -T- are different firing tip designs). The older design could have been installed at the factory - some V6s come with Densos in one bank and NGKs in the other. The plug looks ok, but is dirtier than I'm used to with iridiums that I thought it was a platinum.

I'd change them every 60K miles even if the tips still look good. Go ahead and try reaching in to Bank 1 at least see if you can reach all boots. I don't think you should need to remove the plenum.

Originally Posted by tef

The left plug is a NGK Iridium IFR6A 11. I don't know what it originally looked like or when it was installed. Anyway, when I first l looked at it, I thought it looked OK. Then I compared it to some new ones. Then I didn't think it looked good. For future reference, I just wanted to get some experienced eyes on it.

I've already put the bank 2 plugs in. The bank 1 plugs are going to have to wait until summer because of having to remove the plenum.