Spark Plug Visual Inspection
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Saturn L300. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Normal operation - Brown to grayish-tan with small amounts of white powdery deposits are normal combustion by-products from fuels with additives.
- Carbon Fouled - Dry, fluffy black carbon, or soot caused by the following conditions:
- Rich fuel mixtures
- Leaking fuel injectors
- Excessive fuel pressure
- Restricted air filter element
- Incorrect combustion
- Reduced ignition system voltage output
- Weak coils
- Worn ignition wires
- Incorrect spark plug gap
- Excessive idling or slow speeds under light loads can keep spark plug temperatures so low that normal combustion deposits may not burn off.
- Rich fuel mixtures
- Deposit Fouling - Oil, coolant, or additives that include substances such as silicone, very white coating, reduces the spark intensity. Most powdery deposits will not effect spark intensity unless they form into a glazing over the electrode.