The 5.4L is a hard motor to keep functioning correctly. If it happened to just one, you may want to double check the part number, as you may have been given one wrong spark plug. It's not common for a electrode to actually do any real damage. Spark plugs do wear out over time, although the actual lifespan varies depending on the type of plug in question, the condition of your engine, and your driving habits. Separated/Broken Spark Plug Removal. The second one the loop was broken off completely, the third one was wet, fourth one good. Spark plug ceramic broke off - Piston Damage? Thread starter Bigfwop; Start date Jun 29, 2020; Reply. Advice needed! I was on my way from Kalamazoo to Ann Arbor, MI (about an hour and a half to 2 hour drive) and my car started to miss fire in the first cyclinder. I just changed the spark plugs in my Jeep today after about 30k miles as per the maintenance schedule. Spanish German French Chinese Italian Russian . Engine. (1) Spark plug selection ・ As a countermeasure to increased stress on the ground electrode, changing to a spark plug with a small ground electrode is an effective way to handle the problem from the plug side. But spark plugs can break off, particularly in engines that have been sitting for long periods of time. Typically spark plugs are not difficult to remove as long as the plugs are replaced on a regular basis. The construction of a spark plug shell is like a "hollow bolt". Surface gap plugs present the flame kernel to the piston (or rotor) more directly, reducing the travel time from the spark to the combustion gases. The constant heating and cooling of the engine every day can cause the rubber to stick to the spark plugs or the distributor electrode … ・Ground electrode is broken in the middle or at the base. E3 has taken multiple spark plug design features, such as cut back ground electrodes, sharp edges and surface gaps, and combined them to create a new ground electrode design. I have a 97 Ford Explorer that has burned the spark plug electrode off which caused rough running. 2005 Mazda 3 with 150K miles I installed TR6ix plugs 15K miles ago. Hey, so his is an odd one. Since then (now at about 110,000mi) I have had to change the plugs about every 15,000mi due to same engine light and rough idle. Spark plug electrode broken. Tis the season for tune-ups, my friends! A spark plug has a relatively simple construction and is nearly maintenance-free, except for the adjustment (gap) of its electrode and periodic cleaning or replacement. Figure 1 . I was told the stock plug actually broke but was assured no material in cylinder. Wear factors for spark plugs. It looks as though the Ground electrode has snapped clean off. The problems are, there is no warning before it happens and it cannot be put back into place. Jun 29, 2020 #1 As the title suggests, I encountered a Broken piston ceramic sheath/shield as shown below. Plug was passenger side rear plug. The passenger side plugs are always fine. He did tell me that before this began happening, the cylinder 2 spark plug blew out of the head. Mode 1: The ground electrode shield is left behind as an empty shell. I'm thinking head gasket? If the engine is not performing properly and on removing a spark plug it is found that the electrodes have melted or the porcelain insulation has broken, this could be construed as a spark plug fault, but note that some other possible causes for the poor engine performance are problems with the … 71 months. I couldn't see anything looking into the cylinder, and the place where the electrode broke off looks to be as dirty as the area around it, so I assumed it broke off a long while ago. Examples: 2-ground electrode plug, small ground electrode plug (taper cut), racing plug, surface discharge plug, etc. Upon pulling the spark plug, we can see that the center electrode is melted and fused with the ground (side) electrode. N54. Note 1: The standard spark plug types fitted in high-revving, high-output engines are the multi-electrode type that is not so susceptible to electrode breakage and the type with a sparking portion that does not project very far; be sure to use the authorized spark plugs. Bosch indicates low KV will cause ground electrode damage, aka barely enough spark to fire the plug, additionally they indicate additives can be the cause. Spark plugs are a popular item to change, and it is important to know what a good spark plug vs. a bad one looks like.There are tons of different types of spark plugs (iridium, platinum, standard, pre-gapped, 4 grounded etc.,) but there still are some telltale visual signs that tell you of a bad spark plug (or a poorly running cylinder). Spark plugs usually fall into the first category, and that’s what this article is going to discuss: Using spark plug diagnosis to look for possible issues with your engine. If its not the spark plugs its the cam phasers making noise. To view this web site in another language. Broke a spark plug off in an '06 explorer 4.6l 3v head. No power and wants to die. Well, the very bad news is that evidently the electrodes off one spark plug broke off into the engine!!!!! This is when things go from easy to hard. Visits to this page : The Problem. If you see melted electrodes, blisters on the insulator, or any white deposits it is a sign of a burnt spark plug. This has happened about 5 times already. Other manufacturers indicate loose plugs can be the cause due to vibration (NGK), also loose plugs tend to damage plug threads, as the thread is the point of electrical connection and loose plugs would experience intermittent grounding. I pulled the plug last night to find that he electrode was broken off. The other cylinder where just the very tip of the spark plug broke it looks like the tip of the electrode got smashed between the outer edge of the piston and the head (combustion chamber). I am trying to figure out where you live because in the US from 2002 till current there is absolutely no reason to replace the water pump when changing the head. We get so many 5.4L in with broken off spark plugs. Mar 13, 2019 24 Fort Myers. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > If you let your spark plug wires go for more than 30,000 miles without being changed (and even sometimes if you don't), they can be difficult to remove. So I started to disassemble it and noticed the spark plug was fairly loose in the cylinder. A spark plug is quite easy to install and remove. Forums. Check your owner’s manual to ensure that you have the correct spark plug for your specific car. OK going down the 1320 and it boggs down really bad in third, I see white smoke coming from the rear. But the cylinder wall does have 3 very fine grooves worked into it. If excessive force is required to remove the plug, it could be traced to one or more of the following causes: Now it is running the same as before. Discussion. If the ground electrode is getting broken off, you may be using spark plugs with too long a reach and they are getting struck by the pistons. (Page 1 of 3) Is this happening to all four or just one? Will be checking plugs again soon. The 1# cylinder where the valve broke off there is a tiny pit on the edge of the piston smaller than a pencil lead. Refer to the appropriate removal procedure as required. Found one of my spark plugs without the electrode, as you can see in the photos. The problem is that it didn't break in any of the 3 normal methods but the plug actually broke off just below the nut head at the start of the t … Spark plug electrode broke off inside engine!! Halfway through taking the engine apart (just before taking Exhaust/Intake manifold bolts out) I had a conversation with a mechanic of 25 years tell me to stop and just put it back together. A few times I have had broken spark plug in the forward-most driver side cylinder. But, sometimes, things don’t go as they should, and the plug actually breaks off. This is a picture of a broken off spark plug with the porcelain in tact from a 2004 through 2007 Ford engine (Stage 1 Repair). The 2006 Ford F-150 has 46 problems reported for spark plugs break off in head. If the spark plug separates after following the Spark Plug Removal Procedure, it will fail in one of three modes. If it just lost the electrode then a new spark plug may fix it. Original Poster. Any ideas? minibm. Bigfwop Lurker. There are several factors that play a role in spark plug health, but the most common reason for them to wear out is that they’re just old. Then I noticed the ground electrode … I gave the pull cord a tug and it was locked up. Average repair cost is $1,210 at 88,550 miles. While a properly installed spark plug will come off with ease, a broken plug will definitely cause problems. I am just impressed the spark plug came out at all. This is why you hear the plight of broken plugs being raised by antique tractor restorers. It is one of those jobs that does not need a professional. You don’t have to take the whole engine apart to find your spark plugs, making the inspection and the use of them for diagnosing many car troubles simple. Spark plug Porcelain broke off Discussion in ' Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting ' started by Thomas Ziongas , Feb 10, 2014 . ... the contact area between the flame kernel and the electrodes is smaller than with a 2-electrode spark plug, ... and so people used to performing maintenance on conventional spark plugs may find that using a brush to clean off carbon deposits will bend the electrode. Very often this is how the spark plugs come out of the engine. Once a new plug … Have to pull the spark plug to do a compression test. My first thought was that it had overheated and was detonating so I let it cool off for a few minutes and tried to restart it. Burnt Spark Plugs – Besthomegear.com. Well I took out the spark plugs and the first one on the drivers side has a dent in the loop that goes over top of the electrode? If it does loosen, it will be subject to abnormal vibration and this can cause the ground electrode to break off. If you exceed the recommended torque, the shell can shear off below the hex. Setting the gap on the spark plug electrode determines the voltage length and duration of the spark. You can remove the plug and dry it off, wait a few hours, or try it another day after it dries out. Spark Plug with Broken Electrode – Besthomegear.com. 11 posts. The shop did a leak down test and found that the one cylinder that had the broken spark plug is experiencing about a 30% compression loss. A spark plug that has an improper gap will show certain signs and symptoms. Burnt. On the right is a broken spark plug, with the lower extension missing. If the electrodes are broken off or flattened, it is likely that the wrong spark plugs are installed. Before attempting to remove the spark plug, … Reply Reply Author. If a spark plug is too long, it can protrude into the combustion chamber and hit the piston or a valve. 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