Good information for lightning owners with pullys....
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 1
From: SE Mich
Here is what my stock plug w/a 4# lower and no chip looked like after about 5k miles.
The pic looks a little mis-meading. It appears to be a shadow on the insulator. But it's not. It is white. A sign of excess heat. Or so I'm told.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...4427&anum=3590
Here are my NGKs with 17700 miles on them.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...8430&anum=3590
And now I just pulled them last week at 23k miles and am trying out some densos.
(don't have a pic yet but they look almost identical to the 17k miles photos)
WOT
The pic looks a little mis-meading. It appears to be a shadow on the insulator. But it's not. It is white. A sign of excess heat. Or so I'm told.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...4427&anum=3590
Here are my NGKs with 17700 miles on them.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...8430&anum=3590
And now I just pulled them last week at 23k miles and am trying out some densos.
(don't have a pic yet but they look almost identical to the 17k miles photos)
WOT
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,097
Likes: 0
From: DETROIT, (formerly Eaton County, Michigan)
I'm sure the tune has something to do with it, but there are other factors.
the tune compensates the correct a/f ratio and timing, which is essential for our trucks.
BUT:
a clogged fuel filter --> Lean --> Burned up plug
Bad Gas --> Detonation --> hole in piston, plug damage
No air filter --> lightning bugs get sucked into combustion
chamber and that glow in the dark chemical reaction with a fuel misture will blos apart your engine
Your MAF sensor goes bad, your truck is going to run real lean or rich --> plug damage.
The Spark plug is an indicator of a symptom that something is wrong with your engine, not the plug itself is bad.
Think of it like a Chlorine strip for hte pool. You put the strip in the pool, it changes color, indicating if the pool chlorine level is Too high or too low.
the strip is simply a tool to determine what is wrong.
A spark plug can be argued to be the same thing.
you pull your plugs and inspect them, you can learn a LOT about your engine, Lean, rich, Hot, Cool, aww heck there is a lot more also. detonation etc...
I've heard Platnium plugs aren't good for boosted engines, but my Jeep grand Cherokee sure does like them.
I don't think one plug is neceesarily better than another.
I had stock then went to Denso, not Ihave NGK.
the only reason I went to NGK from Denso, is I wanted stronger Porcelian on the spark plug. When I pulled the denso's they were in perfect shape, so I know my tune is right on (dyno tuned) and my engine is working properly (at least the combustion chamber)
ANOTHER THING.
I strongly belive if your plugs are installed correctly! with the correct tools and not trying to "rig it" and you torque them down to the correct torque, they are not going to spit a plug.
UNLESS you do it when the aluminum is hot (soft) and you screw up the threads.
There is my 2 cents.
the tune compensates the correct a/f ratio and timing, which is essential for our trucks.
BUT:
a clogged fuel filter --> Lean --> Burned up plug
Bad Gas --> Detonation --> hole in piston, plug damage
No air filter --> lightning bugs get sucked into combustion
chamber and that glow in the dark chemical reaction with a fuel misture will blos apart your engine
Your MAF sensor goes bad, your truck is going to run real lean or rich --> plug damage.
The Spark plug is an indicator of a symptom that something is wrong with your engine, not the plug itself is bad.
Think of it like a Chlorine strip for hte pool. You put the strip in the pool, it changes color, indicating if the pool chlorine level is Too high or too low.
the strip is simply a tool to determine what is wrong.
A spark plug can be argued to be the same thing.
you pull your plugs and inspect them, you can learn a LOT about your engine, Lean, rich, Hot, Cool, aww heck there is a lot more also. detonation etc...
I've heard Platnium plugs aren't good for boosted engines, but my Jeep grand Cherokee sure does like them.
I don't think one plug is neceesarily better than another.
I had stock then went to Denso, not Ihave NGK.
the only reason I went to NGK from Denso, is I wanted stronger Porcelian on the spark plug. When I pulled the denso's they were in perfect shape, so I know my tune is right on (dyno tuned) and my engine is working properly (at least the combustion chamber)
ANOTHER THING.
I strongly belive if your plugs are installed correctly! with the correct tools and not trying to "rig it" and you torque them down to the correct torque, they are not going to spit a plug.
UNLESS you do it when the aluminum is hot (soft) and you screw up the threads.
There is my 2 cents.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
A History Lesson
A lot of guys know to say "remove the stock plugs" but really don't know why. The events that happened with the stock plugs happened before many of you guys had a Lightning.
Sal and a few others had issues with the stock plugs when pushing the limits with timing and/or nitrous back in the day. The pulleys were not huge back then.
The Platinum in the center electode would not melt retaining heat until the porcelain cracked. The porcelain is not weaker than that of regular plugs.
The copper plugs will melt the center electrode when things go wrong and 9 times out of 10 will not damage the motor.
When the Denso's first came out I thought what's the difference between them and stock platinum plugs when it comes to taking out the porcelain before the center electrode. Well, time has proven there is no difference. The only advantage the Denso has over the stock plug is the availiability of colder heat ranges to prevent some of the overheating.
Sal and a few others had issues with the stock plugs when pushing the limits with timing and/or nitrous back in the day. The pulleys were not huge back then.
The Platinum in the center electode would not melt retaining heat until the porcelain cracked. The porcelain is not weaker than that of regular plugs.
The copper plugs will melt the center electrode when things go wrong and 9 times out of 10 will not damage the motor.
When the Denso's first came out I thought what's the difference between them and stock platinum plugs when it comes to taking out the porcelain before the center electrode. Well, time has proven there is no difference. The only advantage the Denso has over the stock plug is the availiability of colder heat ranges to prevent some of the overheating.
Last edited by LTNBOLT; Oct 7, 2003 at 04:59 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,636
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
BigFan,
Exactly.
Most all of the time there are no problems but when things go bad they usually go really bad.
The stock plugs were removed to err on the side of caution. It is really more of a precautionary thing than a must do thing.
People have heard "Remove the stock plugs" so much that it's like Chicken Little saying "The sky is falling".
It's a good idea to change the stock plugs but it's not a must do by any means.
Exactly.
Most all of the time there are no problems but when things go bad they usually go really bad.
The stock plugs were removed to err on the side of caution. It is really more of a precautionary thing than a must do thing.
People have heard "Remove the stock plugs" so much that it's like Chicken Little saying "The sky is falling".
It's a good idea to change the stock plugs but it's not a must do by any means.
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
I have a JDM chip.I am happy with this tune.It looks like it is running good and I get 12.60s out of it at the strip.The transmission shifts nice and have no major complaints.I do have a slight surging at certain cruise speeds but no chip is perfect so im happy.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally posted by Crued
I'm so sick of putzes saying something like that with their stupid popcorn icon everytime something vendor related comes about.
I'm so sick of putzes saying something like that with their stupid popcorn icon everytime something vendor related comes about.
is that it reminds of the fat chicks at work who stink up the break room and the surrounding office areas with their cheese popcorn that they eat everyday at 3PM because they can't wait until dinner at KFC!! "It's fat free". Not when it's saturated with a 1/4 stick of butter, moo cow!! Oh yeah. Relax bud. Go beat someone up if you're that frustrated.
Dan
Banned
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
Ray,
Glad the chip is working out. Jim and I didn't know what to think of your other post since I know on one instance when you were in need of a chip to replace the programmer and didn't want any down time we were their for you. As well as at an event with our parts we took them back no ? asked. Hopefully this is the same person and we're not crossing names. It happens sometimes. Sorry if I am. Again, glad the chip is working out great for you.
Justin@JDM
Glad the chip is working out. Jim and I didn't know what to think of your other post since I know on one instance when you were in need of a chip to replace the programmer and didn't want any down time we were their for you. As well as at an event with our parts we took them back no ? asked. Hopefully this is the same person and we're not crossing names. It happens sometimes. Sorry if I am. Again, glad the chip is working out great for you.
Justin@JDM
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
From: New Hampshire
Yes this is the same Ray from NH. Yes You guys absolutly took care of me a couple of different times.and YES I do like my chip very much.And YES ,JUSTIN,YOU personally came through for me a couple of times.YES I appriciate it.On a negative note,i can honestly tell you just as many LIES were told by JIM personally to me .i do have alist of 4 things specific that I could say but like I said,I dont want to get into my problems ive had in the past.Right now,im a happy customer.If you thoughly look through any of my post.I am DEADLY HONEST about how I see things.As I said,I have no axe to grind with you guys.Personally i am a happy customer for the most part.But ill be honest again and tell you that there always have been issues with 'JDM the company" and unlike many people on here,I can COMPLETLY seperate my personal feelings with business feelings..I dont want to get into a JDM bash,I said what i felt in the other post.As a business owner,i hold myself to a certain level of honesty and integrity when dealing with the public and i can tell ya,in majority,The public $ucks
believe me,Im sure you guys have your points but it all comes down to honesty with me.I WOULD buy from you again.But that doesnt change the way I see things .You know what i mean???? i hope so .
believe me,Im sure you guys have your points but it all comes down to honesty with me.I WOULD buy from you again.But that doesnt change the way I see things .You know what i mean???? i hope so .