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Gone but Together Again.
Dad & Uncle
Picture of h2oys
posted
I’ve tried searching on the internet for a simple explanation to no avail so I ask you:

What story do my old plugs tell?



They came from a 2015 Subaru Outback, 2.5 liter, with 95k miles.
 
Posts: 3841 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: November 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Staring back
from the abyss
Picture of Gustofer
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Seems like an awfully large gap to me.


________________________________________________________
"Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
 
Posts: 20821 | Location: Montana | Registered: November 01, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Technically Adaptive
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Check your owners manual, I believe Subaru spark plugs call for 60K mile replacement, if those went to 90k miles, they're fine.
 
Posts: 1392 | Location: Willcox, AZ | Registered: September 24, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Savor the limelight
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The one on the right is saying “Why is there oil in here?”

Are Subaru 2.5s known fir valve guide issues?

The other three are singing “Three of these things belong together, one these things just isn’t the same…”
 
Posts: 11818 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
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They are saying "Change me!"
 
Posts: 9053 | Location: The Red part of Minnesota | Registered: October 06, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Unflappable Enginerd
Picture of stoic-one
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They look burned, that is NOT a 1.1mm gap.


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Posts: 6383 | Location: Headland, AL | Registered: April 19, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of ftttu
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I haven’t changed plugs for quite a while now, but I changed a lot growing up as a hot rodder and later as a DIYer. Many things have changed, and the biggest is ignitions.

We eventually switched to electronic ignition after a while, and I remember our plugs looked different after a similar amount of time.

We used to jet our Holley carbs so our plugs had a level of copper color. Now with the latest and greatest electronic ignitions and injection systems, i don’t know.

But the basics were, the darker they were the more rich it was running. The lighter, lean.

I have a ‘23 Forester Wilderness, and due to the difficulty of getting to the plugs on the boxer engines, i will leave that up to the pros now. Good luck!


Retired Texas Lawman
 
Posts: 1226 | Location: Texas | Registered: March 03, 2016Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of BlackTalonJHP
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As cheap as plugs and wires are I usually change 40-50k miles. As far as the oil on plugs, check and replace your spark plug tube seals. I'm more familiar with Subaru EJ engines than your engine though.

Replace the wires too. I've worked on EJ engines that were still running with broken wires (usually break right at the plug) and it's a cheap and easy replacement.
 
Posts: 1109 | Location: Texas | Registered: September 18, 2019Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Thank you
Very little
Picture of HRK
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Looks like they have been in too long for the most part, #2 and #4 do look a bit like some oil may be getting into the combustion chamber, likely a valve seal, does it smoke a bit at start up after sitting overnight?



 
Posts: 24502 | Location: Gunshine State | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
7.62mm Crusader
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I believe those are old Splitfires. Not sure if they are still made.
 
Posts: 17995 | Location: The Bluegrass State! | Registered: December 23, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
No, not like
Bill Clinton
Picture of BigSwede
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I's tired boss



 
Posts: 5658 | Location: GA | Registered: September 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Gone but Together Again.
Dad & Uncle
Picture of h2oys
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by rizzle:
Check your owners manual, I believe Subaru spark plugs call for 60K mile replacement, if those went to 90k miles, they're fine.


That was my fault. I made an "assumption" they would be due at 100k and not 60k. Imagine my surprise when I realized I was overdue by 35k.
 
Posts: 3841 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: November 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Gone but Together Again.
Dad & Uncle
Picture of h2oys
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by ftttu:
I haven’t changed plugs for quite a while now, but I changed a lot growing up as a hot rodder and later as a DIYer. Many things have changed, and the biggest is ignitions.

We eventually switched to electronic ignition after a while, and I remember our plugs looked different after a similar amount of time.

We used to jet our Holley carbs so our plugs had a level of copper color. Now with the latest and greatest electronic ignitions and injection systems, i don’t know.

But the basics were, the darker they were the more rich it was running. The lighter, lean.

I have a ‘23 Forester Wilderness, and due to the difficulty of getting to the plugs on the boxer engines, i will leave that up to the pros now. Good luck!


Three places I called, including the dealer, all wanted +$400 for the job. I spent $95 on the plugs and said a lot of foul words as to the design of lining up the plugs with the frame rails.

Thus you can't directly get at the plugs. The worse side was the drivers side.
 
Posts: 3841 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: November 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Gone but Together Again.
Dad & Uncle
Picture of h2oys
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by stoic-one:
They look burned, that is NOT a 1.1mm gap.


Incredibly, the plugs come pre-gapped and the new ones were very similar.
 
Posts: 3841 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: November 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Gone but Together Again.
Dad & Uncle
Picture of h2oys
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
Looks like they have been in too long for the most part, #2 and #4 do look a bit like some oil may be getting into the combustion chamber, likely a valve seal, does it smoke a bit at start up after sitting overnight?



[FLASH_VIDEO]<iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lVCs5gWLUyI?si=foEELcwrMMepB31K" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>[/FLASH_VIDEO]


No smoke...so far.
 
Posts: 3841 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: November 24, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
My other Sig
is a Steyr.
Picture of .38supersig
posted Hide Post
They say that your rings are good and you have been using fuel with detergent based additives.

The gap for platinum plugs looks fine and you'll need some anti-seize.



 
Posts: 9447 | Location: Somewhere looking for ammo that nobody has at a place I haven't been to for a pistol I couldn't live without... | Registered: December 02, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
The Unknown
Stuntman
Picture of bionic218
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by BigSwede:
I's tired boss[/QUOTE

Big Grin

Left to right: Good, Good, Lean, Rich and/or debris.
 
Posts: 10829 | Location: missouri | Registered: October 18, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Firearms Enthusiast
Picture of Mustang-PaPa
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What does the overall oil consumption look like?
 
Posts: 18170 | Location: South West of Fort Worth, Tx. | Registered: December 26, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of SigSentry
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How was she running? NOx? Looks like they did their jobs. Far right #4?
 
Posts: 3632 | Registered: May 30, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Member
Picture of Shaql
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quote:
Incredibly, the plugs come pre-gapped and the new ones were very similar


Always gap your plugs, never trust them out of the box.

Somethings going on with #4 (far right). It looks like something has coated the plug.





Hedley Lamarr: Wait, wait, wait. I'm unarmed.
Bart: Alright, we'll settle this like men, with our fists.
Hedley Lamarr: Sorry, I just remembered . . . I am armed.
 
Posts: 6910 | Location: Atlanta | Registered: April 23, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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