So I'm changing the plugs at 100,000 miles for the first time on my 03. When I removed the back plug, it's ceramic electrode insulation on the tip was broken off. About a third of it was missing. Is this sometime to worry about? Do I have to try to get it out of the combustion chamber? Or have the pieces of it most likely been forced out of the chamber already?

 

Did you just break it, or is it old?

 

at 100,000 miles???? gosh I feel srry for that s2k

 

Heh, yeah I should've changed them earlier, but it is the recommended interval ya know.

 

Well, I didn't just break it. It's the old plug. It definately looks like it cracked and broke off though. Not just burned or worn.

It's been running fine. I'm thinking that the pieces would've gotten forced out the exhaust valve probably. What about putting some water in that cylinder and cranking the engine without a plug in to wash out any debris?

 

100,000 miles is the normal life of oem plugs so thats not the issue here. you could hve gotten extremely lucky and had it all blow out the exhaust, or you oculd have some really f***** up cylinder walls. Compression and leakdown test would tell most of the story here.

 

water = extremely bad idea.

you have a chance at really messing up your motor. I would spend a few hundred bucks and either buy/rent a boroscope. Or have it towed to the honda dealership so that they can look at it with theirs.

 

Chances are you have a plug that has burnt down over 100k mi. No, its nothing to worry about now.

 

100k just happens to be the US mandatory minimum emissions time. The plugs look worn at 40k and should be replaced at 60k, with factory plugs.

 

The electrode definately looks like it cracked. But parts of the cracked edges look worn, so I'm thinking it may have happened a while back...