Just installed the NGK TR6's in my 2001 L and my rough idle improved SLIGHTLY. I'm still waiting for the dealer to install a new MAF that will hopefully lean out my rich condition and fix my idle once and for all.

Here are my original Motorcraft plugs, pulled from my Lightning at 4755 miles. Please note I have absolutely no modifications. What do you all think?

NOTE: Spark plug numbers are for discussion purposes only and don't represent cylinder #!

 

 

Are you replacing your MAF with something different then what the '01 comes with?

 

Just pulled mine out tonight my electrode looks alot thinner than yours. Mines a 00 with 14k miles chip and filter

 

I got this from the Autolite web page

Light tan or gray deposits are normal, and an indication that everything is working well. If everything is very white, with glazed deposits on the insulator tip, the spark plug is too hot for the engine, or at least for the conditions for which it was used. If black sooty deposits are present, a too rich fuel mixture is likely, or the spark plugs' heat range may be too cold for the application

 

Ben, the plugs look good. It does look like #7 is running different than the others though, a tad more carbon on that one. Why do you say the truck has a rich idle? Usually a rough idle is caused by a lean condition, not rich. Based on how that #7 plug looks, I'd ask the dealer to performance a power balance test with the WDS, and then if it shows a problem with #7, have them do a relative injector flow test, that will tell if the injector is putting in too much fuel.

 

They all look OK to me. None seem to have been to lean.

 

Let me add a footnote, the #5 looks a lot cleaner because it's actually only 3 days old. That was the plug the dealer replaced because the WDS showed it was lagging in the power balance test. So I guess we can ignore that one.

Aus6321, the dealer is just going to replace my MAF with another stock one (90 MM I guess).

Sal and Lightning Boy, you guys seem to think the plugs look ok, but doesn't the black soot indicate a rich running engine like Don's/Autolite's description says? I'm not trying to say anyone is wrong here - just looking for some clarification. Are you guys saying the plugs look "normal" because they *ARE* a little rich (sooty?). Or are you saying they look ok and not rich at all?

Sal, I didn't mean to imply my L has a "rich idle." I meant to say that my dealer thinks the truck is running a little rich in general (the old plugs smelled a little like fuel, and my fuel economy dropped from 13-14 to 10.5 MPG in one month). Perhaps they confirmed that I was getting a rich A/F mixture with the WDS, but they did not share this info with me. You may be right - my rough idle may be caused by a lean condition, but maybe the A/F mapping or mixture is so messed up that it goes rich as soon as I get on the gas. The dealer seems convinced the MAF is the culprit, but it sure sounds like it could be anything from the PCM to an injector.

The MAF swap should only take a couple minutes and we'll know pretty quickly if my engine's still not running right after that. I'll ask for them to run an injector flow test, as you suggested, if a problem persists.

Thanks again everyone for your help. More comments and feedback are welcome!

 

Are any of the platinum "pad" missing? The last set of plugs I saw from an 01 with under 5k miles every one of the platinum contact pads were gone. Enough motivation for me not to run platinum plugs in my truck.

 

Well also through my many years of dra racing , I have to say I think they look good. Its hard to read a plug not knowing the conditions they went through just before they were pulled. To get the most effective read would be to make an all out blast , shut down an pull one . to see a plug that was a normal driver or an idler just before it was pulled is different. Like they said #7 is alittle different, Possible Coil pack. It seems that is the easiest miss by the dealers I have seen on any 5.4
just my 2 cents

 

I'll say this; Ben, you can surely take some pics--and post them! Those have to be the best 'shots' of plugs I've ever seen--clearer than any book illustration/pic. Thanks for the effort and time it took.

Dan

 

Silver-Bolt, sorry I am not sure about the platinum "pads" you are referring to.

walker887, you're right the plugs were pulled after regular driving and some idling I'm sure. I would have done what you suggested before pulling them had I known any better.

LIGHTNINROD, thanks! I am really concerned about the health of my L, so I wanted to put as much informaton as possible before the collective wisdom of this forum. I'm glad I did go through the trouble of snapping and posting these pics, it is turning out to be a valuable lesson for myself and maybe others too.

 

BMW, Yes it is hard to read them after reg driving, and with the L even harder to go to the track run and stop right there and pull one , I think it is either #7 inj or #7 coil pack, I'm leaning toward the COP.

 

Ben,

They look pretty normal for stock plugs. Here is a pic to compare.

 

I posted when I changed my plugs a few weeks ago,but one question wasn't answered....why did my plugs have a purplish tint on them? I thought I had read that this was common with nitrous use, but my truck is bone stock....