Plug colours...

Reddish deposits like that can be a sign of lead fouling back in the 4* & 5* days. Could easily be caused by an additive as Ron says, but if you're not running one, that sort of rules it out.

If it's not ignition, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of carburettor icing. The conditions are right for it at the minute. It doesn't need to be that cold (less than 20 degrees is enough) as it's high humidity that causes it. This last week has been really balmy, so it's possible you're getting a touch of icing. IIRC, brownish sootey deposits are a symptom....

Might be worth investigating? Just a thought....

Michael
 
OK I shall continue on plan a this evening and check all the plugs. Then I'll know where I am I guess.

Thanks :)

Rich
 
Completely firing in the wind here.

From http://www.automedia.com/Spark_Plug_Diagnosis/ccr20030701sp/1

Signs
Normal: When the engine is running the way it should, normal-reading plugs will look pretty much the same way they did when they were new and first screwed into the engine block.

Normal, but with red coating: The red coating is a result of the additives in lower-quality unleaded fuel and will be visible on the plug's ceramic insulation. The red coating is not an indication of any engine problems.
Click to expand...

Seeing you say you use supermarket petrol (and implying some <prejudice> here), I wonder if it's a case of additives in the fuel that's causing it. I understand you haven't added any... but maybe the supermarket, refinery, etc have. i.e. the additive(s) may have added before you even put the fuel in your tank.
 
Hey darth. Hows the force treating you these days?

Yep - I'm hoping that's the case. Was too dark once pheebs was in bed this evening to do anything, and we're off to bridlington tomorrow for a seaside excursion so will get some time on PAE on sunday all being well. The red coating does seem to be either fuel additives or water from reading around, and tesco 99 octane is higher octane than anybody elses fuel (except for shell vpower - but pae objects to that!). they must achieve that somehow.
 
I used to get a similiar coating if I occasionally overdosed my Standard Flying 12 with lead additive and octane booster, No Idea why I used it because the old sidevalve would have probably run on creosote :LOL: (if you could still get it)




John
 
The post with documentary evidence from darth above would seem the most likely explanation. An octane booster and/or other additives in the mix placed there by the fuel company themselves!

Ron.
 
The force is treating me well, only making me feel a day older every day... :p

I'm somewhat surprised at PAE objecting to V-Power! :shock: Our old Vauxhall seems to think it's the Belgian chocolate of petrol. (A mix up (albeit fortuitous) at the pumps some weeks back... old age again! :p)

A thought just occurring to me, maybe totally wrong I admit in advance; I wonder if it's directly or indirectly related to the "ethanol in petrol" issue? :?:
 
I had to pop outside and take one of the plugs out of Vanessa. She only has Tesco momentum 99. I've not had the plugs out for over a year I guess. the last time I filled up was last weekend for a trip to my parents - round trip of about 170 miles..... and they're a lovely brown colour, the sort of colour we aspire to when armed with our Gunsons kit at tune up time :D

Mind you, Vanessa does always get a dose of tetra-ethyl lead at every fill up, so I'm usually running a minimum of 101 octane :D :D

And boy, does she love it! :D

Bri.
 
Hmmm . Really starting to wonder what tesco put in their fuel , especially as my recent troubles started about 500 yards after filling up there ! Gonna look for an alternative .
 
well no seaside today... The 416 blew its headgasket just before(thank goodness!) we went on the M1... so 2 cars out of action!

Rich
 
Yep. New gasket set purchased. Most of head dismantled. So hopefully sorted this weekend! Didn't overheat completely so no need for skimming.
 
webmaster said:
Why do you think they can give you 5p off per litre ! :shock:
Click to expand...

Coz every little helps !

Good luck Rich , sorry phebes didn't get her day out .
Keep at it .
C
 
I've been using Tesco's 99 for eight years and touch wood etc not experianced any problems yet... hope I havn't tempted fate now :|
on the odd occasion when I've had to use other fuel I have found a lack of power and at idle seems to feel like its running or 6/7 cylinders at best
so I try to stick to tesco 99 or V-power from shell.

Oh and changed my plugs in March and they were light grey/brown as normal.
 
Don't forget that the appearance of a spark plug is a repesentation of the mixture at the engine speed prior to switching off. So if the engine was at idle prior to the plugs being inspected, then this will be what you will see. Of course, if there is significant detonation occuring at some point in the rev range, then the tell tale signs will remain, but the colour of the plug will represent the idle mixture.

Ron.
 
rockdemon said:
Yep. New gasket set purchased. Most of head dismantled. So hopefully sorted this weekend! Didn't overheat completely so no need for skimming.
Click to expand...

Are you sure ?, I tried that once, just cleaned up the head, fitted a new gasket, and it didn't work, compressions were all over the shop.

How come it overheated, did you have coolant loss ?

Very carefull inspection of the head face should give you an idea if it's gone soft etc.

You can get a full kit, including head gaskets, steel shim, head bolts, and uprated ladder rail, but it's £110+ http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-K-SERI...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2eb4d2bd31

On the basis that they're pretty easy to work on, it's probably worth just trying the cheap option first, and if that doesn't work, then give it the fully monty treatment.
 
Well i ache from head to toe after that, but the 416 is running up to temp and isnt firing water out of the front of the engine which is a good start!

PAE will get attention later in the week!

Rich
 
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