17/12/2025
Details of what each spark plug indicates about your carโs condition:
Top Row
- Normal spark plug: The insulator tip has a light tan or grayish color, with minimal deposits. This means the engine is running efficiently, with the correct air-fuel mixture and proper ignition timing.
- High fuel consumption: The plug appears black and sooty, indicating incomplete combustion from a rich air-fuel mixture (too much fuel, not enough air). Possible causes include a faulty oxygen sensor, clogged air filter, or malfunctioning fuel injector.
- Lean air-fuel mixture: The plug may look white or have eroded electrodes, with little to no deposits. A lean mixture (too much air, not enough fuel) can cause overheating and potential engine damage, often linked to vacuum leaks, clogged fuel injectors, or a faulty mass airflow sensor.
- Excessive amount of additives: The plug has an unusual orange or rust-like discoloration on the insulator and metal components. This is typically from overusing fuel additives or oil treatments that leave behind deposits.
Bottom Row
- Poor condition of valve stem seals: The plug shows oil deposits (wet, oily coating) on the electrodes and insulator. Worn valve stem seals allow engine oil to leak into the combustion chamber, leading to incomplete burning and fouling.
- Valve damage or broken piston ring lands: The plug may have visible damage (e.g., cracked insulator, melted electrodes) or heavy deposits mixed with metal particles. This points to internal engine issues where combustion gases or debris are escaping due to damaged valves or piston components.
- Prolonged engine operation with detonation, use of low-octane fuel, or very early ignition timing: The plug has signs of overheating, such as a blistered or melted insulator tip, or eroded electrodes. Detonation (knocking) from low-octane fuel or incorrect timing causes extreme heat that damages the plug and can harm engine parts over time.
- Oil burning due to worn or stuck piston oil rings: Similar to valve seal issues, the plug has thick oil deposits, but this is caused by piston rings that canโt properly seal the cylinder walls. This allows oil to enter the combustion chamber, leading to smoke from the exhaust and reduced engine performance.