In order to perform the check we should follow the following steps: Ride the scooter warm. The plug should be fairly clean. If none of this works, you should call your local small engines repair shop to have it … It could have the tip missing or any of several other problems. Being able to “read” a spark plug can be a valuable tuning aid. You may be able to see this arcing on a dark night with the engine running. The coil on that year should be able to make a bright blue spark at least a half of an inch long. Dry and Wet Fouling Although there are many different cases, if the insulation resistance between the center electrode and the shell is over 10 ohms, the engine can be started normally. A lean spark plug will have little to no color on the insulator tip. Contact us and we’ll send over an electrician who can diagnose and fix the problem ASAP. 46 Posts . Check the spark plug and the ignition wire to be sure they are both properly functioning. Use a Coil-on-Plug (COP) Probe You'll hear an electric snap or crack at the same time. Sometimes, a visible spark at the outlet is normal. The coil voltage measures about 100 volts and should be 130 volts. For many racing engines, spark plug color is a window into the engine combustion process that can be used for tuning. Check for faulty or sticking choke, overly rich fuel mixture, ignition problems, leaking fuel injectors, or spark plug heat range is too cold. In today’s cars, say Firestone Complete Auto Care technicians, if a plug starts to fail then the most obvious event should be the check engine light coming on or even flashing. Is this OK?? Spark plugs have 2 jobs. Spark Plug Tuning - Light My Fire The Tiny Spark Plug Should Be A Big Tool When It Comes To Tuning Your Race Engine. The black spots (look like pepper sprinkled on the plug) indicate a little too much heat on the plug which causes detonation by having the heated plug fire off the mixture prior to the spark firing. If you have electronic ignition, a hotter spark is produced that will jump through old spark plug wires. According to AA1Car.com, this occurs when the spark plug fails to fire… A spark, big or small, could cause an electrical fire. Dry: Black Soot Buildup . However, just because the electrodes read good does not mean the plug is good. A yellowish color is typically caused by leaded gas. Like many automotive components, spark plugs don't last forever. Spark plugs in general are always a controversial topic – copper vs iridium, hotter vs colder, single or multiple electrodes, brand vs brand and plenty more. Exposure to heat and combustion byproducts changes the colors on the various parts of the spark plug. Fundamentally, there are two types of spark plugs. With the explanations above for its extremes, the spark plug is a good indicator for smaller settings issues which then become less obvious. You think your gas quality has to do with the color of the spark. A good spark plug should show an open circuit between the center electrode and the tip. A plug that has racked up miles should have a brownish or grayish color on the insulator and electrodes, but some gas additives have been known to turn fresh insulators blue, pink or purple. Remove the spark plug and use a wire brush to completely clean the spark plug. Pull a spark plug and then reconnect it to the spark plug cable. The voltage at the coils are low. A hot spark plug maintains a higher internal operating temperature to burn off oil and carbon deposits, and has no relationship to spark quality or intensity. How often should I replace my spark plugs? A common malfunction is a wet spark plug. Spark plug heat range is too cold for the operating conditions. In this article, we’re just going to discuss heat range. Plugs change colors and the different colors can explain such things as if the engine is running too hot or if the engine is worn. The color should be read by looking at the porcelin insulator and compared to the plugs shown on the next few slides. A light tan/gray color tells you that the spark plug is operating at optimum temperature and that the engine is in good condition. As the gap between these two points grows, the voltage required to bridge the gap increases proportionately. Conversely, a cold spark plug has a shorter insulator nose and absorbs more combustion chamber heat. Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this question. A clean, white insulator firing tip and/or excessive electrode erosion indicates this spark plug condition. This condition is ideal, the spark plug and engine air/fuel mixture are operating properly. Normal spark plug color. Have someone crank the motor and hold it close to the block. The insulator is often tinted the color of charcoal. I hear the spark should be a blue color. DH Spark Plug off rear cylinder with 500 miles with AC, FP fishtails and dealer flashes. 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