spark plug help. advice, do i need new ones?

Question

[1990 accord] my plugs are about 1 and a 1/2 month old now, i recently checked them and they came out burnt and really dark from the tip of the rim part where the thread starts. they had oil on them in the past, but i took care of that problem. the spark plugs look really nasty compared to other ones i see from other cars and my question is
do i have to buy new ones again??
if yes, what gap should they be at? its a 1990 accord, i currently have them at .35 gap size...
i saw online that they should be around .41-.44, is this better for them?

Answer 1

when you put your plugs in did you put anti-seize lube on the threads?

your shouldnt have to buy new ones, just take a wire brush and clean them.

DO NOT touch the gap, when you buy them they come specially gapped to your car.

keep in mind they will b black because they are pretty much constently on fire.



hope this helps

Answer 2

If the spark plugs are embedded in the valve cover rather than the plugs screwing in the head beside the cover the way they used to, the oil is probably coming from the tube seal and running down on the tip when the plug is removed. If so, you will find oil on the outside part of the plug as well. I find it hard to imagine the engine has been working well all this time and has suddenly been drenching one plug with oil. That also doesn't fit in with the basic complaint - not starting. I'm pretty sure the oil is a red herring. The make, model, and yar are important from here on in. No car is made to just quit, and each one has different weaknesses. As a quick test though, you can get a can of starting fluid and see if the engine responds to that. If so you only need to get gas to the engine, if not you are looking at ignition or compression (like a timing belt, if your model and year has one).

Answer 3

Chances are that your idle air control valve and throttle body are too dirty to function correctly and making you burn too much fuel. Clean them both thoroughly. What brand of plug are you using?? Factory plugs are NGK, but you should try Nippondenso iridium or TT plugs. They simply work better. Hopefully, you were not duped into using an American made plug, they are junk. Also, use only a "top tier" fuel to keep deposits down. Usually the oil seen on a Honda plug is from a leaking valve cover gasket. The oil covers the plug as you try to remove it. Remember to use only genuine Honda coolant in this car. Anything else eventually eats away the metal in the cylinder head and gasket. Good luck!!!

Answer 4

That is all wrong. It should be more like 0.043 (not 0.41 to 0.44 - that would be about 10x). :-)



Anyway your gap wrong right now. When you buy the newer Platinum / Iridium tips plugs the CANNOT be gapped. The tips can break because the metal is so hard (or break in the cylinder). But you should check just in case it was gapped wrong - if so just return it. Also are your plugs the right temp type / range?



You don't need to buy another set. Since they are fairly new, just spray clean them (with carb cleaner) and put it back. Make sure you use anti-seize compound and properly torque them.





good luck...

Answer 5

The plugs should come pre-gaped but it is always best to check them. What you have them gaped at now is to close and is probably not burning off all the fuel and it is running rich. I would change them and get the specs from who you are buying them from.

Answer 6

re gap the plugs to 42 and they will burn off the oil and be clean as new after a few miles.

Answer 7

Try the new 4 prong splitfire plugs,they come preset,also try using lucas gas additive in every other fill-up, this helps clean your fuel system. Sounds like your injectors a dirty...good luck