Bad Plugs

[pandamarie]

I was out driving my 70 challenger 440 6 pac today and dropped it into first at 35 and nailed it and after about 3 seconds it started running real bad and sounded like I blew off the exhaust. When I get home a few minute later this is what I found. I had two plugs like this with the center electrode blown out and four more plugs with a gap of .085, the ceramic on those four had tried to blow out but didnt quit make it. Champion plugs only one year old.

[charger Downunder]

Man i feel sorry for you,i use NGK plugs,if i had champion plugs i would pull them out after seing that.I hope nothing is damaged inside the engine.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

 Man, thats the pits. You're lucky you made it home.

I quit using Champions around 15 years ago. Actually had better results with AC plugs then Champion, and for the last 12 to 13 years all I've used are NGK as much as I hate to admit it.

[mikepmcs]

NGK XR5's here for me too.  Stopped using Champions myself some time back sorry to say.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

NGK XR5's here for me too.  Stopped using Champions myself some time back sorry to say.

But I would think something else might be amiss to cause something like that & not the plug's fault...overly rich mixture & detonation when stomping on it?



EDIT---moving this to the engine section...

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Thats a good point.  I've seen less than stellar performance with Champions but I've never had any plug come apart like that.

[Ghoste]

I've always had great luck with Champions but for 6 out of 8 to fail seems bizarre no matter what brand.

[acelondon]

you got me beat on best unexplained failure.

a few years back i had a lawnmower decide that the spark plug whole wasn't threaded anymore.
it almost hit my neighbor 

[62 Max]

I would look a little deeper.I seriously doubt you have a plug issue.They just don't come apart like that no matter what brand they are.

[firefighter3931]

While i'm not a Champion fan i have to agree....the problem most likely lies with a mechanical issue.

Any signs of detonation ?


Ron

[GreenMachine]

I've had Champions do that to me. It was on a high milage abused '83 Cutlass 3.8 V6. I was about 150 miles from home, replaced them with Autolite. Never had the problem again, but I sold the car not too long after that. I'm not sure what the underlying problem was, but I would think a spark plug shouldn't blow in half.

[Ghoste]

One plug or several?

[GreenMachine]

If I remember right, it was 2 and on the same side. A couple of the other ones were on their way. My experience was just like what pandamarie went through except I was on the Interstate at a steady speed, and I think the porcelain broke closer to the metal portion of the plug. This happened to me over 15 years ago, and I've worked with a lot of chemicals since then, so some of the details are a little fuzzy.

[Steve P.]

Not a fan of Champions here either, but I have to agree that it doesn't look like the fault of the plug. I don't see any peppering in the pics, but that isn't always the case. Did you hear any detonation or do you normally?

Those plugs look like they were the release valve from a hydro lock situation.