Duffman Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 removed my old iridiums as the car was running lean and they were black when removed...they had only covered 5k miles Is there anyway I can clean them to reuse if I need to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miko_supra Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 You can get a special spark plug cleaner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 When I was a kid my dad and I always used to usually clean the spark plugs rather than replace them. Used a small wire brush to give them a good scrub, a bit of fine folded sand paper to clean between the contacts and then had a feeler gauge (same tool used to set tappet clearance) to set the gap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffman Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 When I was a kid my dad and I always used to usually clean the spark plugs rather than replace them. Used a small wire brush to give them a good scrub, a bit of fine folded sand paper to clean between the contacts and then had a feeler gauge (same tool used to set tappet clearance) to set the gap. that ok to do with iridiums? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurgen-Jm-Imports Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 that ok to do with iridiums? i would not its had 5k done , are all the tips ok no craks or wear ??.. plugs are cheap enough now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffman Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 no they all looked fine they were just coated in black and were soaking wet can i soak them in anything to clean them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_have Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 removed my old iridiums as the car was running lean and they were black when removed...they had only covered 5k miles Is there anyway I can clean them to reuse if I need to? Not running lean then. Lean would cause a white/grey colour on the ceramic/tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Not running lean then. Lean would cause a white/grey colour on the ceramic/tip. Quite the opposite as you say Colin, that is rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick001 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 no they all looked fine they were just coated in black and were soaking wet can i soak them in anything to clean them? I think lemon juice is quite common (so i read) nice smelling too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Black and wet sounds like you are running a tad rich, what made you think its lean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffman Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Black and wet sounds like you are running a tad rich, what made you think its lean? My mistake I meant rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 i would not its had 5k done , are all the tips ok no craks or wear ??.. plugs are cheap enough now.. yep, if you have gone through the head ache of getting them out best idea would be to stick new ones in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffman Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 yep, if you have gone through the head ache of getting them out best idea would be to stick new ones in. got new ones fitted at the moment but was just wanting to clean the old ones up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 vinegar + lemon juice makes a really strong cleaner but is acidic so not sure.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Is the wetness petrol or oil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duffman Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Is the wetness petrol or oil? petrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 You can clean them up with a brass wire brush, just be careful, you're not supposed to regap Iridiums, Supra run rich if you do lots of slow/town driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 You need a proper grit blast plug cleaner. If you want you can post them to me and I can blast them and return them, won't cost very much, say a tenner, and return insured P&P would be 5.80. DO NOT use a wire brush, the metal from the bristles fets on the ceramic and makes it conductive and you get misfiring. Was OK with old systems, but not high KV modern ones, nor fine electrode plugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Use a wire brush on my plugs all the time with no problems Chris, but there not iridiums;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagle Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 my side job is working on the engine on fireforce rocket car drag racing . lots of drag cars change there plugs every run in racing BUT when they practice they drop them in injection fuel cleaner to save on money . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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