Killing Plugs

[CH3-NO2]

My engine stalled today after I ran low on fuel. It would not fire up again, so I thought I would remove the plug and check to see if it was ok. It was completely dead. The coils looked fine, but it would not light up.

Is this pure coincidence or can running out of fuel burn out plugs? Bear in mind that the plug was only a week old.

 

[Revo Rancher]

Was this also the plug you used for break in?

 

[CH3-NO2]

Nope, I've replaced since then.

 

[vbgagnon]

Plugs are finiky, somtimes you can go 3-4 gallons on one, and sometimes you can go 3-4 tanks on one. I honestly don't think your plug was blown because you ran out of fuel.

Its just one of those things that you have to have spares for in your pit box.

 

[olds97_lss]

Yeah, I've had the same kind of thing. My LHS charges $7-$8 for an OS #8 plug. Sometimes they last a few gallons, some times they blow in a quart. I've had a few crap out with less than 3 or 4 tanks of fuel. Usually, I get at least 2 gallons out of a plug before it starts getting iffy.

 

[CH3-NO2]

Cool, looks like it was just its time then!

Come to think of it, it did stall a couple of times for no apparent reason, just randomly the other day and once today before the plug died. So I guess it was giving me signs.

When anything weird like that starts happening, I always check the condition of the plug, as you could end up trying to chase the tune of your engine, only in the end to find it's a dodgey plug.

 

[supercharged]

you say the coils look fine
is the ignitor fully charged?

 

[CH3-NO2]

It was definately the plug, as I removed it and replaced it with a new plug and it started up right away, so the ignitor was fine. Plus, I keep a spare dodgey plug (i.e still glows, but won't run the engine properly) in my tool box to quickly test if the ignitor is still charged.

 

[Plaidfish]

I can't figure this out yet either....I had/have a bunch of RG mills...I can run those all day long w/o ever thinking I blew a plug (OS #8) but I run the same ones (recommended by LHS) in my VZ-b and I'm lucky to run a gallon on 1 plug......I had a FR .27.....ran great but blew plugs all the time (10 tanks maxx)...got another one.....it sucked for amny reasons but I never changed the plug....stupid P/S got replaced after 10 tanks and I still used the same plug.....
all I know is if you take the plug out and "read it" you can tune your engine even more precisely....if it's (coil) black and looks burned obviously it's too rich....if it's light grey and bent or misshapen in any way it's too lean.....