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What could cause spark plugs to foul up?

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    What could cause spark plugs to foul up?

    Just had them changed maybe 6 months ago and when I step on the gas to accelerate hard sometimes it bogs and now I changed them out and problem solved, but the real question is what's causing them to foul up like that?

    Recent Maintanence from previous year:

    - Spark Plug wires
    - O2 Sensor replaced
    - New Spark Plugs

    That's pretty much it.
    sigpic

    #2
    Excess oil consumption (worn rings or bad valve seals), excess fuel consumption (excessive fuel pressure, leaking injectors, oversized injectors), misfires, or partially plugged catalytic converters are all possible causes.
    The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
    Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL

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      #3
      are they platinums?
      Build thread

      Bimmerlabs

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        #4
        google this and you will find a lot of info... http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/engine/plugs.html
        sigpic
        "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."

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          #5
          Plugs should be changed at every other oil change, so ~every 6 months. They are a wear item you know.

          What do you mean by fouled anyway? You can foul from too rich a mixture or too lean a mixture or from just being old.

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            #6
            Originally posted by NitroRustlerDriver View Post
            Plugs should be changed at every other oil change, so ~every 6 months. They are a wear item you know.

            What do you mean by fouled anyway? You can foul from too rich a mixture or too lean a mixture or from just being old.
            That often? WOW, that just seems excessive to me...
            Hemingway said it best. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

            Help a brother out, buy your detailing products here...

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              #7
              maybe on 1960s engines, but I think M20 plugs last quite a bit longer than that.
              Build thread

              Bimmerlabs

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                #8
                Fouled up meaning it bogs my car when I drive, but when I replaced them this afternoon the car drove like a champ.

                And referring to above I'd think plugs last a lot longer than 6 months even 1 years. Well I'll have to see what happens in another 6 months and go from there. Man could be many things, but oh well for now...
                sigpic

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by nando View Post
                  maybe on 1960s engines, but I think M20 plugs last quite a bit longer than that.
                  I think BMW said they were good for 20,000 miles

                  I change mine once a year
                  1989 cirrisblau-metallic 325i

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                    #10
                    Too much fuel, weak secondary ignition or oil control problems (rings or valve guides/seals)

                    Approximately 15K (Inspection Service) change interval

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                      #11
                      Speaking of too much fuel. How much do you guys get ona tank of gas? Average. I know everyone's driving habits is different. I mash on it once in a while, but I only rack up maybe 210/tank the most. What are you guys getting on average?
                      sigpic

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                        #12
                        On my Eta i was getting 280-300

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by optimusp517 View Post
                          Speaking of too much fuel. How much do you guys get ona tank of gas? Average. I know everyone's driving habits is different. I mash on it once in a while, but I only rack up maybe 210/tank the most. What are you guys getting on average?
                          that's pretty poor, about 14 miles per gallon assuming a 15 gallon fill up (driven to the reserve light). you should be getting at least 270 on a tank, conservatively.
                          Build thread

                          Bimmerlabs

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                            #14
                            Originally posted by nando View Post
                            that's pretty poor, about 14 miles per gallon assuming a 15 gallon fill up (driven to the reserve light). you should be getting at least 270 on a tank, conservatively.
                            Crap who's going to help me fix the issue or help me locate it? That is really bad! I wonder what it could be... at this point. Where would you guys suggest first?
                            sigpic

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                              #15
                              Originally posted by optimusp517 View Post
                              Crap who's going to help me fix the issue or help me locate it? That is really bad! I wonder what it could be... at this point. Where would you guys suggest first?
                              Check your fuel pressure and check the regulator's vacuum like for fuel leaking out of it.

                              Did the spark plug cables have a sensor on the #6 plug? If it's DME 1.3 and this isn't working it will not fire the injectors semi sequential and may cause this.
                              I'm Not Right in the Head | Random Rants and other Nonsense1st Order Logic Failure: Association fallacy, this type of fallacy can be expressed as (∃xS : φ(x)) → (∀xS : φ(x)), meaning "if there exists any x in the set S so that a property φ is true for x, then for all x in S the property φ must be true".

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