improperly gapped spark plugs

[BLLDOGG]

what kind of damage would come to this. i had the spark plugs changed in one of my cars about a month ago and the person didnt gap them. the guy said they were pregapped. [img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img] came to my mind when i heard this. the car started misfiring yesterday so i went and got some new wires (95K on the original so i figured i'd go ahead and do it), and a spark plug gap measuring tool and gap puller. they were suppose to be at 0.54 and most wouldnt fit onto the measuring tool and one was touching. they were a mixture of black and gold. the car ran fine after fixing the problem but i was wondering if you guys think some damage might of accoured to the plugs that would shorten the life of the plugs? my guess is yes but i want you guy's opinion.

[ September 26, 2004, 02:31 AM: Message edited by: BLLDOGG ]

[WishIHad$$$]

No damage, it would only cause a misfire.

NEVER trust "Pre-gapped" spark plugs.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by WishIHad$$$:
No damage, it would only cause a misfire.

NEVER trust "Pre-gapped" spark plugs.

im like that with pergaped to but out of the 18 NGK plugs i have gaped not one was off.

th only affect to small a gap would have is bad gas milage bcaes so little spark is exposed to the A/F mixture it does not ingnite all of it

[terminaldegree]

Well, if one "was touching" as you say, that would certainly account for a misfire. I usually gap my plugs myself [I'm OCD like that] before I give them to someone to install. Of course, DIY on a 2000 isn't that bad.

BTW, I've read in a few places that the iridium tipped plugs shouldn't be gapped out of the box. It had something to do with risk of damaging the tiny elements of those plugs. So when I put mine in, I didn't gap 'em.

[BLLDOGG]

just curious, what would happen if you damaged the plug tips?

[99v6cam]

My guess is that the cylinder that the plug was for wouldn't get a spark and thus wouldn't fire. Then you'd be a one of a kind 5 cylinder camaro (untill you fixed it of course).

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by BLLDOGG:
just curious, what would happen if you damaged the plug tips?

umm it the tip breaks of into the bang area it could hurt somthing

[majeskyb]

Originally posted by terminaldegree:
Well, if one "was touching" as you say, that would certainly account for a misfire. I usually gap my plugs myself [I'm OCD like that] before I give them to someone to install. Of course, DIY on a 2000 isn't that bad.

BTW, I've read in a few places that the iridium tipped plugs shouldn't be gapped out of the box. It had something to do with risk of damaging the tiny elements of those plugs. So when I put mine in, I didn't gap 'em.

I've heard that about the platinum plugs also. BTW, how would you go about gapping those bosch plitinum 2 and +4's?

[93camaro_zzz]

Originally posted by WishIHad$$$:
No damage, it would only cause a misfire.

NEVER trust "Pre-gapped" spark plugs.

Thats the truth. It depends. I think if it was undergapped (too small a gap) I think it could cause it to run lean. And to big... a missfire. When I put on my ignition coils, and wires, I over gapped mine 5 hundredths. I dont know if it did anything though.

[L32Projekt]

Originally posted by BLLDOGG:
they were suppose to be at 0.54 and most wouldnt fit onto the measuring tool and one was touching.

Hold on there Sparky! I know this is an older thread, but with your recent problems I think there may be a connection. NO spark plug ground should be touching! A common problem on the L67 (S/C 3800 Series II) is when you have too much detonation, the piston breaks at the first ring land and a chunk comes up off of the top of the piston, smacking the spark plug in the affected cylinder and closing the gap! Usually happens in #3 cylinder, but can happen elsewhere. I'd suggest having your vehicle's cylinders borescoped and see if there's any damage to your pistons, to include a compression test!!!

Anyone installing a spark plug could tell just by looking at one that something isn't right if you can't get a gapping tool in there, so the smashed plug probably happened while installed in your engine. Get it checked!

[BLLDOGG]

its all good man. this isnt for my camaro thankfully [img]smile.gif[/img] i think the spark plugs were just never gapped so some were touching from smaking around in the box [img]smile.gif[/img] i'll check the plugs in the ford (this is what i was working on) just to make sure though. thanks

[L32Projekt]

Thank god, I was about to freak, lol. It was late and I was tired as hell when reading your post, sorry! :D