zeroptzero

The centre electrode has eroded on the plugs, so the gaps are larger than what they started at. They come from the factory at .039" gap, and the recommended gap is .043 " as they expect that gap to grow over 100k miles. The service limit for gap is .051". Who wants to keep their plugs in their engine for 100k miles is beyond me. FWIW my factory plugs were over the service limit for gap at 50k miles , so I replaced them at that point. I could clean and re-gap those plugs if they were going back into service, but Honda doesn't want people messing with gaps as there is a risk of damaging the plugs if people don't know what they are doing, so they don't recommend touching that gaps, just replacing them.

shind3

Let me guess, you have an AP1 and are adding at least half a quart every 1000 miles. Because that is excessive oil consumption related ash deposits on the plug for 50K miles, in my opinion.

pghs2kid

that is correct lol

zeroptzero

Don't sweat the oil consumption, even 1 quart per 1000 miles can be normal on ap1's. Enjoy the ride and replace spark plugs when needed.

pghs2kid

yeah my 03 had about the same oil consumption. I've never been overly concerned about it. I check it every other day and never let it get beyond a half qt low.

Thinking about just going with copper plugs and replacing them every 20k miles. If my oil consumption is the cause of this, is there really any point in using a plug that should last 100k when i only get maybe 30 out of it before it looks like this?

zeroptzero

Good question. I would say using a less expensive plug that is changed more often is a better investment. I use the NGK IX series of Iridium plugs, they need to be gapped but it's not a big deal for me to do it, they will probably be swapped out every 3 years for me. NGK also has less expensive platinum plugs (GP series I believe), or the copper plugs like you noted. This way you can gap them at .043" (1.1mm) right from the start, rather than starting at a lower gap with expectation that they will eventually open up with use.

The deposits on the outside surface of the ground electrode have no negative effect on performance, it just looks ugly, so it looks worse than it is. The plug gaskets were leaking gasses upwards onto the porcelain bodies by the looks of things, so it's a good time to swap them out. I have no desire to leave a plug in place for 100k miles on any of my engines, they can physically last that long but it isn't a pretty sight when they come out.

Billman250

Plugs are guaranteed to stay put at 24 ft-lbs. 20 is likely ok.

The S2000 plugs can hit 80 ft-lbs before breaking in half, with no damage at all to the threads in the cylinder head. Just extra insurance that 24 is safe.

pghs2kid

Just to update, I replaced the plugs with a NGK bkr7e-11. Figured I might as well check the gap on the sooted up plugs that came out just to see. They were all still at .042 which I believe is OEM spec?

Either way, with the new plugs I noticed a increase in MPG...unless its just a placebo affect

while I was at it I also replaced my vtec oil pressure sensor that was leaking out of the wiring connector, and cleaned my pcv valve. The S is now running good as new!

Billman, how would you feel about those compression results? 180psi on all cylinders... like dead nuts the same for each. Test was done at operating temp, cranking at WOT. I did a valve adjustment probably 30k ago. Could this be the result of tight valves? I remember going on the tight side (.08 intake was snug, .010 exhaust was snug)

Billman250

180 across the board is healthy. Many factors can raise the test numbers, but consistency is a great indicator of engine health.