Today I decided to pull my spark plugs out, curious to see what they looked like. Interesting enough, they seemed to have a snowy white color (which has always been thought to be bad in my mind) The very tip of the electrodes were not showy white, they looked like the correct color, but the rest of the area was snowy white, as well as (I believe its called the conductor, but its the piece that hangs over the tip of the plug). I showed someone this and they said it could be running too lean, and that it could be because of my cold air intake, and that if it is too lean it is very very bad for the motor because of detonation, and could damage the plugs as well. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance. On all the other hondas ive had, when I pulled the plugs theyve came out filthy rich/black, even with cold air intakes.

 

Yep, sounds like you are running lean. I'd recommend some dyno time and possibly something like a V-AFC to do some tuning.

A lean condition can lead to detonation but this is not the only danger. A lean mixture burns hotter then stoich and can melt valves, ring lands, rings, pistons, or even just warp the head and cause a blown head gasket.

I'm not sure what could cause a lean condition and not throw a CEL. Could be a problem with the MAP or 02 sensor (reading low).

Get it dyno'd and see if it's out of spec. If so, you either need to diagnose and fix the problem, or use a tuning device to add some more fuel.

 

If you're detonating, you can tell because there will be small "balls" of material on the plug electrode (the byproduct of small uncontrolled explosions in your motor).

However, if they just appear white-ish brown, you're probably fine. My plugs were what I'd consider pretty white when I pulled them, but the car is completely stock.

Put your plugs in a flatbed scanner and post the results. It'll make diagnosis much easier.

 

The stock plugs are too hot IMO. Lots of people have switched to Denso IK24 plugs (1 step colder) with good results.

 

The plugs wont give an accurate reading of general combustion. Only the last burn and remains of a few burns before that.

Therefore, your only looking at what your plug is 'seeing' at idle before you took your pluugs out.

If you want to see what they are doing at WOT, then do a WOT run in 2nd, switch off at whatever RPM you want to read then coast to a stop and take your plugs out.

 

Ditto the above. Good post. Unfortunately, it's a PITA to do.

 

well I pulled the plugs off of another s2k with 36k miles and completely stock, they looked ALMOST the same except the tip was a little tiny bit darker. Also, I have noticed that the gaps on mine are way off, .030in instead of .040-.044in, do you think that could make a difference? Im going to re-gap today and drive it for a while like that then check.

 

The brand of fuel that you use can have an effect on the color of the spark plugs due to the different additives.

 

I always thought my plugs were dangerously white too....I have almost 80k miles on mine now though and it makes around 215 rwhp still so I don't think there's any engine wear associated with it. I guess they just run leaner than normal motors.

 

Like i said, the stoich ratio for closed loop operation is faily lean in terms on plug colour.

Amd you really cant see the burn rungs at the bottom of the ceramic on a std plug unless you section (cut) it.