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pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Ocala FL
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 Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:44 pm Post subject: Broken spark plug ! |
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For the last few days my bus has been running a bit ruff after start up, misfire symptom. Drove it a couple days thinking it might clear up. After it was warmed up seemed better but not right either.
First checked the rotor and cap, seemed OK. Went ahead and touched up the contacts. Still ruff running, humm?
Checked the plugs and found one was wet. Obviously not sparking consistently. Upon closer examination I see a small crack in the electrode. I blew on the plug and the ceramic fell out ! Dang I am glad this didn't happen when the engine was running and ingest it !!!!
The plugs are Bosh Super and only have about 2000 miles on them.
Could this be a defective plug???
All the others look normal.
Anything out the better than BOSH? maybe NGK?
_________________
1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
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Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
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tclark
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Joined: November 21, 2005
Posts: 926
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pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Ocala FL
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting ! When I was a kid I always used NGK in everthing I had from dirt bikes, lawn mowers and even my 944 and loved them.
Off to Napa tomorrow for 4 new of new NGKs I will report my results right here !
THANKS !
_________________
1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
--------------------
Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10078
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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randywebb
Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005
Posts: 3815
Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:27 am Post subject: |
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best plugs for his Bus?
or for his 1990 Vanagon RS 2.1 ? (waht does the RS mean anyway)?
- what plugs would you use for an '86 2.1L Vanagon?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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Perales
Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2007
Posts: 2046
Location: Nova Scotia
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| randywebb wrote: |
best plugs for his Bus?
or for his 1990 Vanagon RS 2.1 ? (waht does the RS mean anyway)?
- what plugs would you use for an '86 2.1L Vanagon? |
NGK BP6ET for the 2.1 WBX
You are right though, he did say his "bus" and he has a '67, however since he is posting it here I assume that he is referring to his 2.1 WBX.
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-- 1987 Westfalia automatic (Captain Vino) |
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91DOKA
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Joined: January 29, 2008
Posts: 81
Location: LA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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RS ??? I think he does not realize his van has a Volks drivetrain but wishes it has a RS Carrera.  |
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AtlasShrugged
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2008
Posts: 1605
Location: Decatur, Ga. USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Broken spark plug ! |
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| pete000 wrote: |
For the last few days my bus has been running a bit ruff after start up, misfire symptom. Drove it a couple days thinking it might clear up. After it was warmed up seemed better but not right either.
First checked the rotor and cap, seemed OK. Went ahead and touched up the contacts. Still ruff running, humm?
Checked the plugs and found one was wet. Obviously not sparking consistently. Upon closer examination I see a small crack in the electrode. I blew on the plug and the ceramic fell out ! Dang I am glad this didn't happen when the engine was running and ingest it !!!!
The plugs are Bosh Super and only have about 2000 miles on them.
Could this be a defective plug???
All the others look normal.
Anything out the better than BOSH? maybe NGK?
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Broken insulators can be a sign of detonation, meaning, too much spark advance or a lean mixture. Bosch plugs are not what they used to be. A defective plug would be very unusual though. Over torquing the plug when installing might do it too. Not to say a bad plug could not happen. Be sure and check your timing and mixture once the plugs are replaced. Look for an air leak too. |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10078
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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Good point, but that plug doesn't appear to have the other telltale marks of chronic detonation (gray or black peppering). I think it was just faulty or got mishandled. You can see staining down the electrode and inside the insulator fragment, which makes me think it was fractured for a little while before the problem was discovered and the symptom was caused by the arc escaping thru the fracture to ground inside the body, giving very poor ignition when cold.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is kryptonite to doctrine. |
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RCB
Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005
Posts: 4143
Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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| tencentlife wrote: |
| Good point, but that plug doesn't appear to have the other telltale marks of chronic detonation (gray or black peppering). I think it was just faulty or got mishandled. You can see staining down the electrode and inside the insulator fragment, which makes me think it was fractured for a little while before the problem was discovered and the symptom was caused by the arc escaping thru the fracture to ground inside the body, giving very poor ignition when cold. |
Good eye .10.... |
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pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Ocala FL
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, I think it is a bum plug.
I never over torque my plugs and handle them carefully. Bus just had the timing checked and its right on the money. No pinging on this one either. Mixture is also good as it passed smog with a really clean report.
It did not give warning at all, drove fine then the next morning it was off and on I drove it for three days off and on before discovering the broken plug.
Napa has the NGKs but I didn't have time to stop by today...
_________________
1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
--------------------
Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
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pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Ocala FL
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| 91DOKA wrote: |
| RS ??? I think he does not realize his van has a Volks drivetrain but wishes it has a RS Carrera. |
True, true !
_________________
1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
--------------------
Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
|
| Back to top |
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pete000
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2004
Posts: 642
Location: Ocala FL
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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NGKs are so much better ! I have to agree the bus just seems more responsive and smoother...
Thanks for the tip !
_________________
1990 Vanagon RS 2.1
1967 Deluxe 21 window
--------------------
Koni Shocks
H & R Red Springs
Addco Sway Bars Front-Rear
18 X 7.5 and 18 X 8 OEM Porsche Wheels
Recaro Power-Heated seats |
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