Glow plug mystery

[NitroMED]

Hey Guys,

I'm frustrated as hell with this one. For whatever reason and only in the past few days, I'm blowing plugs left-n-right. The last 2, I didn't even get a tanks worth. Nice blue smoke from the ass, temp around 220F, I have no idea. This past Saturday, I replaced the plug and ran the ride for 3-4 passes. It stalled out and I couldn't turn it over. Pulled the plug, stuck it in an igniter I have and NOTHING. Installed another plug and the EZStart is reporting a green Motor and Glow Plug light, but haven't taken her out yet. I expect this plug will blow to0. I have no freaggin clue what hell is going on here and don't even know where to start troubleshooting this one. I'm running 20% Nitro Fuel.

I did have a little bubble between the cooling head and block, but this was solved when I tightened the head mount screws. I did notice the ground wire was touching the adjacent engine mount screw, but it's just ground, I really didn't think it mattered. I did stick in a 36T Spur and 16T Clutchbell so after the remount the ground wire was touching in my haste to reassemble everything. I did free it up, but like I said before, I haven't taken it out so I don't know if this will do anything, but again, it's ground so I don't see where this would come into play.

PLEASE HELP before I drop this thing off the 5th floor of the nearest parking garage.

Thanks guys,
MED

 

[granjer]

What kind of 20% fuel? just curious really. I switched from Traxxas due to the excessive smoke and still running lean issue. Can you post pics of the failed plugs? what color are they? are they wet or dry when you pull them?

 

[MudWild680]

Sure there isnt any 'garbage' floating around in your engine?

 

[NitroMED]

My reply

Ok, the second question....junk in my engine. I have no idea. I'm pretty religious cleaning out the air filter and such. I don't meet to sound inept, but how would I would check this?

I was using McDonnell fuel, but just changed. My LHS started using a new fuel and to be honest, I didn't even check the name...I do trust these guys. I would need to check when I get home. However, the glow plug issue started on my last tank of the McDonnell. Regarding glow plug color...I was really hoping to see black deposits and pitting, but nothing. In fact, the freaggin glow plugs still looked brand new when I pulled them. Regarding wet/dry...interesting question because they were a little 'oily' to the touch so to speak. R u suggesting, I didn't fully seat them and some after run engine oil made its way out and essentially burnt out the plug? I'd like to think I fully seated them, but I guess anything is possible.

I have another plug in now and I was going to try and run a tank full this evening to see if anything usual happens.

I just have no guess what so ever with this.

What do you think?

 

[MyREVOis2fst]

Here,
i had the same problem with my truck a few days ago, if your still using the 3.3, or any other engine. your most (99 percent sure) likely out of tune. way out of tune actually. a great starting place is to close the high speed needle on your engine, and do the same with the low speed. then you turn the high speed needle four full turns counter-clockwise. adn make the low speed needle 5 or 6 turns the same way. these preferences are for the 3.3 only. i now run a dynamite .19 and the preferences for that are at 2 and 1/4 open (HSN) and 4(LSN) open. both were turned to the closed position and then opened as precedes.
-Mike

---------- Post added at 10:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------

have any questions just ask me.

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

one more thing, the traxxas nitro 20% fuel kicks ass and is perfect for the revo. only because it is made for the setup and engine. one more thing, the best glow plugs that i have found are the high heat reds. ask for some at you LHS, they will know what to give you.

 

[Rolex]

Sure there isnt any 'garbage' floating around in your engine?

That would be my suggestion.
If a filament broke on the first plug, the rest of them are being hit by the pieces. You will also be damaging the cylinder walls.

 

[w bill]

Are you running the right plug lenght if you got a long when you need a short that would do it check what you need in there.

 

[Teejay]

Here,
i had the same problem with my truck a few days ago, if your still using the 3.3, or any other engine. your most (99 percent sure) likely out of tune. way out of tune actually. a great starting place is to close the high speed needle on your engine, and do the same with the low speed. then you turn the high speed needle four full turns counter-clockwise. adn make the low speed needle 5 or 6 turns the same way. these preferences are for the 3.3 only. i now run a dynamite .19 and the preferences for that are at 2 and 1/4 open (HSN) and 4(LSN) open. both were turned to the closed position and then opened as precedes.



on your traxxas 3.3, factory needle setting are 4 turns out(counter-clockwise) for high speed needle, then 1.75 turns out (counter-clockwise) for the low speed needle.