My new spark plugs are leaking

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: My new spark plugs are leaking
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 10:25 pm:

Picked up some new plugs at Chaffins last week.
Ran real well till today. Hard starting at the market. Started this evening, after 2 loud backfires she started. Noticed black streaks at the plug insulators and WD40 showed bubbles at the crimp on all four. Bad plugs going around ???
Geo n L.A.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 10:32 pm:

Same thing happened to the new mexican made Autolites 3095's I put in my TT in august for a parade.I took them back and got my funds back.Checked some new 1's I had not opened that I had stashed,made in US.About 2 years old.Champion is also made in mexico.Checked the package when I was at the store.
quality stinks on this new stuff.Boy,wouldnt I like to find 2 AC 26's.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 11:14 pm:

The black streaks may be a concern but the leakage past the plug threads is normal if they are installed dry. Really a few bubbles would not hurt the operation but it would not be good to leave it exposed to rain/water.

Some use copper coat or tin foil or teflon tape or #2B permatex or pipe dope or never seize to stop the leakage.

Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 - 11:35 pm:

I installed dry, last set I used anti seize, I'll do that with next set.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Bowker on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 02:00 am:

I bought two sets from Snyders and most leaked. They replaced them at no cost, great service.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 04:44 am:

Jim, the problem is leaking between the porcelain and the plug body, not around the threads in the head. I had the same problem with Autolites and Snyder's again replaced them FOC. Must be a quality issue.
Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 06:49 am:

If you are getting backfires it is not because of the plugs leaking. Perhaps you have bad connections in your coil box or ignition switch?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adam Doleshal on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 11:06 am:

Plugs would have to leak REAL BAD to cause any sort of noticeable ignition problem. Leaky Autolite brand plugs have been an issue for almost a decade. I only stock & install the Motorcraft brand plugs and have had no issues. Motorcraft is the OEM FORD brand, so what better plug to use?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Holzschuh - Panama City, FL on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 11:14 am:

I installed some Motocrafts recently, no leaks, run great.

schuh


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Holzschuh - Panama City, FL on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 11:15 am:

P.S.

Cheap too!

schuh


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Michael Mullis on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 12:40 pm:

I run 80 year old (cleaned up) Champion X plugs with zero issues. I began my T journey using modern plugs and, just as you, I had "issues" with them. I listened to the "old guys" belly ache about new plugs vs Champion X plugs. I finally bought an old set of Xs and installed them. I noted an small increase in performance and I haven't had any plug problems since. I don't call them "old guys" any longer, I now call them mentors. Champion Xs are cheaper in the long run.

My rant isn't about originality its about performance.
.....but what do I know? I'm just an ol' dumb southern red neck.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cameron Whitaker on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 04:42 pm:

From my experience, the 3095's just leak at the porcelain, not at the threads. I replaced them with a mixed and matched set of old, but barely used, Champion 25s. No problems since!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ben jermainne on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 08:51 pm:

I bought two sets and both cars leaked. All leaked in one and two in the other. I went back to champions and so far have had no problems


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ben jermainne on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 08:55 pm:

I bought a set for two cars and they leaked out of the porcelains. They all leaked on one car and one leaked on the other so i changed back to champions.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By ben jermainne on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 08:57 pm:

I bought two sets and most of them leaked. I went back to champions and have had no problems.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Knoll on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 09:55 pm:

I have a set of Champion X and a set of Wards #1 Model T plugs made by ? . They both work well, and I think the Wards plugs are early as they are take apart type. I bought the Wards plugs as NOS in the boxes from Tbay for $10 each , a bargain !


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 10:00 pm:

I would think with Chafins reputation,those plugs would be replaced with a phone call probably.
I never had any trouble with the Autolites till this last set and the country of origin was different.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Thursday, October 11, 2012 - 10:45 pm:

I bought a brand new set of Autolites this last spring and they leaked around the porcelain. I'd already tossed the receipt for them from when I bought them. They went in the trash because after calling our local Auto Value (National Bushing) store in St Cloud and getting a run around like it was my problem they leaked and they wouldn't take them back without a receipt I gave up. They did tell me they'd trade them in for another set of Autolites. They acted like they were doing me a favor. Now I go to their machine shop because the guys there are great but I won't do any retail with them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Clipner-Los Angeles on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 01:19 am:

I think that because of the leaks it wouldn't fire well. I have a Surefire and it might of fired off gas in the exhaust. I have new wires from the timer to the box and new plug wires.
Chaffin's replied to my email, so I'll turn 'em in. Thanks for the input guys.
Geo n L.A.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 03:06 am:

Mike, I've kicked myself enough times for pitching sales receipts as soon as I'm out of the store.
DUMB DUMB DUMB! :-(
It's cost me too but I couldn't blame the store because I jumped the gun.
As for Autolite plugs.......I don't have any because I had to junk every one of them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 09:16 am:

What's a Surefire?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adam Doleshal on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 11:02 am:

Royce, When you use a match to check the level of the fuel in the gas tank you will have a surefire...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Friday, October 12, 2012 - 11:35 am:

Backfire is caused when the fuel mixture burns at the wrong time or place. It could be that the valve is open when it fires, or it could be lean mixture, or it could be interrupted spark, caused by a loose connection in the switch or wiring. It even happens when going downhill with the spark retarded causing the fuel to burn after the exhaust valve opens.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 12:19 am:

Craig the store tried to convince me I had caused the porcelain to be loose in the plugs. That was the run-around and I didn't appreciate it. And then them telling me they shouldn't be expected to replace with some other brand of plugs when the plugs they were selling were junk I got a little disillusioned with the way they were treating me. When I asked them if they actually thought they could replace my plugs with good Autolite when 3 out of the four I'd just bought were bad they gave me the BS that they couldn't be held responsible for the bad product Autolite had sold them. I knew that was crap because one of the other club members told me they had the same problem and had taken theirs in and got their money back. They knew there was a quality problem and did nothing about it. And it's not my job to get ahold of their suppliers if they're supplying junk. And I'd be willing to bet, if you went into that store today, they'd only have Autolite plugs. Let the buyer beware is one thing but not accepting responsibility for the product you sell is wrong. And besides "Let the buyer beware" is nothing more than an excuse for why people feel they can cheat one another. I've been told by people in the past that post on this forum that it's human nature for people to cheat and lite to each other and that's why it's "buyer beware". Well I don't like that attitude and feel it's BS. Geez, I can't believe I got all mad and ready to defend myself over such a ridiculous situation. It was less than $20.00 and I just went ahead and cleaned up my old motorcraft plugs and everything is fine. Next time I get like this please throw some cold water on me. Sorry about that Craig.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Craig Anderson, central Wisconsin on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 12:36 am:

AH! The REST of the story paints a whole new picture.
I'd have been mad as hell too........BESIDES........all THEY have to do is return them to their supplier as defective product. It's done every day without question. It's called keeping the cu$tomer happy.
So.......you aren't happy and no longer their customer so........who won that one?....... ;)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 12:59 am:

I hope the rest of the people on this web site. They won the battle but if I can get the Autolite people to fix their plugs, I won the war. And in reality I probably should have found an address on the internet and made sure Autolites customer service people got them back. If enough people would send enough plugs back to them maybe they'd start purchasing them from a different foreign country.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By joe bell on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 07:28 am:

Since the autolites went to Mexico the threads are double cut and the porcelain leak, went through three big boxes to find four good one and a lot of returned plugs. Big question is how long are they going to last before they start leaking? I need to find some one close that stocks different type of plug!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Todd on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 11:37 am:

How can one tell where the Autolite plugs are made?
I have some new ones on the shelf that were bought a few years ago, would be nice to know where they were made. Mexico, US, or someplace else.
BTW, I'm in Canada.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 08:33 pm:

It is plain on the box.If the plugs are a year or 2 old,chances are they are US.
I was deeply aggrovated when I found my new autolites were leaking,when I took them out,put them back their boxes,they were still warm from the engine running.I am only about 5 miles from the store,Jim,the part time sales man allmost dropped 1 thinking it was hot.

The Champions they had in stock at alot more money are also made in Mexico.

My dad brought up a point that makes sense.The Chinese and mexicans are probably capable of makeing good stuff.But Could you see a China man build or repair something with the tools we get from there? .


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 09:32 pm:

There is someone who accepts the crap quality of the poorly made plugs. The guy who pays for them. You. If you, the consumer, don't pay for crap like that then people will stop bringing it across the border.

If you want good plugs I recommend buying old ones on eBay or at your local swap meet. I've found many sets of Champion X, Mosler, and Bethlehem plugs from pre - WWI and in some cases pre - WWI. Never paid more than $5 apiece.

Here are some of my sub - $5 plugs:





Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Garrison on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 09:40 pm:

But are the new Champion plugs a problem. They might be made in Mexico but by a different organization utilizing different processes and more robust designs. I'm going to go back through this thread but I don't think I read where anyone had leaking Champion plugs. I don't like the fact Mexico or China is building our plugs but if everyone goes after the old Champions that are on the internet it can drive the cost up.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Wolf on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 09:54 pm:

Royce;
Your last picture shows rebuild kits for Champion X plugs. Many yrs. ago, I bought some of those Kits(don't know what it would be called) on ebay real cheap. Still have most of them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Saturday, October 13, 2012 - 10:39 pm:

The new ones work great too, at least the Champion X plugs. I scored a set of 4 at a swap meet for $10 a couple years ago. If they were made in Mexicao there was no mention of it on the box or packaging.


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