My 97 Toyota Tercel keeps burning out spark plugs

First noticed last year after long drive of 300 miles straight. Burnt
out one spark plug and car bucked like a pony running on 3.
Had one coil replaced and changed the spark plugs. Fixed.
Now 1 year later, I burn out a plug every month or so after a long
drive, or one uphill. I feel like it has something to do with the
amount of fuel the plugs are getting. It is stick shift and when the
timing between the brake and the clutch is difficult, like going up a
steap incline in snow or driving in real racing traffic in NYC then the
spark plug burns out (ends burn then break off) under the coil packs
only.
***This car has on the engine a sticker requesting only double grounded
spark plugs (two arms at end) which I noticed a few months back. The
double plug gives the car a lot more power but is burning out quite
quickly. Car has 96K. Problems started at 70K.
Should I try the new Bosch 4 grounded plug?
If it is a fuel mixture problem, how does one adjust the amount of fuel
going to the plugs?

Thanks

On 16 Jul 2006 20:08:09 -0700, wrote:

>
>First noticed last year after long drive of 300 miles straight. Burnt
>out one spark plug and car bucked like a pony running on 3.
>Had one coil replaced and changed the spark plugs. Fixed.
>Now 1 year later, I burn out a plug every month or so after a long
>drive, or one uphill. I feel like it has something to do with the
>amount of fuel the plugs are getting. It is stick shift and when the
>timing between the brake and the clutch is difficult, like going up a
>steap incline in snow or driving in real racing traffic in NYC then the
>spark plug burns out (ends burn then break off) under the coil packs
>only.
>***This car has on the engine a sticker requesting only double grounded
>spark plugs (two arms at end) which I noticed a few months back. The
>double plug gives the car a lot more power but is burning out quite
>quickly. Car has 96K. Problems started at 70K.
> Should I try the new Bosch 4 grounded plug?

No, no and no! The first thing we hear if we resort to calling a good
automotive hotline such as Identifix for a driveability problem is:
LOSE THE BOSCH PLUGS! For a long time I thought this was urban legend
and prejudice but I have proven it myself.
NGK is good. You might want to go one range colder. You might
consider higher octane fuel. I advise a computer scan to check long
term fuel trim and the knock sensor. Also, make sure the cylinder
head threads are clean and the plugs are properly seated as heat
dissipation is critical to this.

>If it is a fuel mixture problem, how does one adjust the amount of fuel
>going to the plugs?

Its computer controlled -- no screw to turn, sorry!


Don
www.donsautomotive.com

> Thanks

wrote:
> First noticed last year after long drive of 300 miles straight. Burnt
> out one spark plug and car bucked like a pony running on 3.
> Had one coil replaced and changed the spark plugs. Fixed.
> Now 1 year later, I burn out a plug every month or so after a long
> drive, or one uphill. I feel like it has something to do with the
> amount of fuel the plugs are getting. It is stick shift and when the
> timing between the brake and the clutch is difficult, like going up a
> steap incline in snow or driving in real racing traffic in NYC then the
> spark plug burns out (ends burn then break off) under the coil packs
> only.
> ***This car has on the engine a sticker requesting only double grounded
> spark plugs (two arms at end) which I noticed a few months back. The
> double plug gives the car a lot more power but is burning out quite
> quickly. Car has 96K. Problems started at 70K.
> Should I try the new Bosch 4 grounded plug?
> If it is a fuel mixture problem, how does one adjust the amount of fuel
> going to the plugs?
>
> Thanks

Don's reply (as always) is correct -- especially regarding the Bosch
aftermarket crap.

I would suggest the first thing you do before driving this thing 10
more miles is find out why the combustion temps are so high. I would
look at easy things first, such as cam/crank gear alignment and spark
timing (not adjustable but needs to be verified), then scan for codes
and live data values pertaining to fuel delivery. Further than that I
would be inspecting EGR operation and exaust restriction.

I would also suggest that, after finding the root cause, you replace
the plugs with the exact correct part number NGK or ND plugs. NGK are
easier to find at good part stores, while ND can be had at your Toyota
dealer FWIW.

Toyota MDT in MO

Wrote:
> First noticed last year after long drive of 300 miles straight. Burnt
> out one spark plug and car bucked like a pony running on 3.
> Had one coil replaced and changed the spark plugs. Fixed.
> Now 1 year later, I burn out a plug every month or so after a long
> drive, or one uphill. I feel like it has something to do with the
> amount of fuel the plugs are getting. It is stick shift and when the
> timing between the brake and the clutch is difficult, like going up a
> steap incline in snow or driving in real racing traffic in NYC then the
> spark plug burns out (ends burn then break off) under the coil packs
> only.
> ***This car has on the engine a sticker requesting only double grounded
> spark plugs (two arms at end) which I noticed a few months back. The
> double plug gives the car a lot more power but is burning out quite
> quickly. Car has 96K. Problems started at 70K.
> Should I try the new Bosch 4 grounded plug?
> If it is a fuel mixture problem, how does one adjust the amount of fuel
> going to the plugs?
>
> Thanks

Only time I've ever seen electrodes blown off is from SEVERE
detonation...your piston crowns probably look like the face of the moon
by now...better find out why your combustion temps are so high, as was
said, cam/spark timing, excessively lean mixture, etc...


--
jeffcoslacker
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