My spark plugs are wet

[kentfa]

my plugs are soked in gasoline all the time. <br />i take it out for a run, look at the spark and its sooked in gasoline and oil(pritty black). What should i do?<br />i have spark on every sparkplug.<br />maybe poore on one. is it possible to have poore ignitione or is it work, or not work?<br /><br />the problem is lack of power on wot!<br />40 hp 4 syl 89

 

[achris]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Bobbo,<br /><br />"fouling" of this type can also be caused by poor quality oil, or a faulty thermostat, if fitted. Or float levels in the carbs set too high.<br /><br />Chris............

 

[kentfa]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

mayby il change my oil, it is the cheapest kind!<br />thermostat, hmmm i must check that.<br />thanks for the tip.<br />im about to change my plugs. can it help?<br /><br />when i take of the spark plug lines, it ignites over from the coil to ground. is this right?

 

[achris]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

If that is then the shortest path to earth, yep!<br /><br />So many people buy the cheapest oil thinking they're saving money. They are not. Cheap oil doesn't protect the engine as well, the engine doesn't perform as well so they use more fuel. Best oil for the Merc/Mariners is their own Quicksilver brand. TC-W3 min.<br /><br />Chris..........

 

[LubeDude]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Originally posted by achris:<br /> So many people buy the cheapest oil thinking they're saving money. They are not. Cheap oil doesn't protect the engine as well, the engine doesn't perform as well so they use more fuel.

When I say that everyone jumps on me! Most say that as long as its TC-W3 certified it is hunky dorey. But I still believe it to be true.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

So many people buy the cheapest oil thinking they're saving money. They are not. Cheap oil doesn't protect the engine as well, the engine doesn't perform as well so they use more fuel. Best oil for the Merc/Mariners is their own Quicksilver brand. TC-W3 min.

When I say that everyone jumps on me! Most say that as long as its TC-W3 certified it is hunky dorey. But I still believe it to be true.

I think what he is saying is use at least a TCW3 oil. Cheap oil that is NOT TCW3 could be causing his problem.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

No, I think he ment what I think he ment as he mentioned some TC-W3 oils that are spendier. How about it Achris, what did you mean? Come on now, be honest!

 

[BillP]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Looks like this topic is turning into another sales pitch...but don't start blaming the oil until you know the motor isn't running cold, rich or out of tune from a faulty component. <br /><br />Have you checked to make sure the correct plugs are installed? Simply changing to a hotter plug may take care of the problem. How long do you idle the motor before checking the plugs? Done a compression test lately?

 

[kentfa]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

i did change the plugs and the oil. still black oil on all the plugs. I tryed to pull off the plug-core one by one, and i have spark on every plug, it went through me and i hate that<br /><br />did not get the time to check the thermostat, i dont even know where it is, need to check the manual.<br />my plugs are buhw2, the one that sat in, but it maybe just Buhw that is the original. not sure if it is hotter.<br /><br />changed the gasfilter, the bulb stays hard at wot. My tank is ventilated.<br /><br />i mesured the coils over the terminals, and it said 0,01 ohms in the manual, but i mesured 0,1 ohm on all, but i think its right, al cant be faulty?<br /><br />maybe next to do is clean the carburetors?

 

[kentfa]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

my idle was for just a minute ore two, when driving to harbor(5 kn)

 

[LubeDude]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Originally posted by BillP:<br /> Looks like this topic is turning into another sales pitch...but don't start blaming the oil until you know the motor isn't running cold, rich or out of tune from a faulty component. <br />

Wasnt me that blamed the oil! I personaly do not think its the oil. I think its a carb issue.

 

[achris]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

As anyone who has torn down enough engines knows, you can start to pick the brand of oil the engine is burning by the junk left behind. This is not a sales pitch. I have seen the difference and experienced it personally. I am saying that they is a difference between TC-W3 oils. I have had customers bring engines in that will not start. I clean out the oil system and connect my 'shop tank' and they fire straight up. Get the customer to change oil brand and they don't have a problem anymore. Had one customer who works for a major oil company come in and buy my oil one day. Asked him why he wasn't using the stuff he sold. His answer - "I wouldn't put that s*** in my engine".<br /><br />I rest my case.<br /><br />Chris............

 

[LubeDude]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Hmmm Imagine that. Ive seen this myself, but it seems some just do not want to believe it.<br /><br />Another poster tested some oils awhile back, seems his engine wouldnt run right with the WallyWorld oil, switched and everything was back to normal.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Change the stat, first off...<br /><br />Get new plugs, second...<br /><br />Start with fresh fuel and oil (whatever you decide on).<br /><br />If that doesn't help, I'd do a carb rebuild....<br />Following your manual's instructions...<br /><br />A decarb wouldn't hurt also... Do a search on "de-carb" and you'll get the picture (throughout the carbs, cylinders, fuel)...<br /><br />Finally, do not check spark by pulling plugs. If you don't have ground for the spark to jump to, you could fry a switchbox or other electrical components....<br />Always use a spark gap tester...<br />Good luck, and let us know....

 

[KCLOST]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Also, if the above doesn't help, (which is cheap stuff), we will go to electrical checks...

 

[UNCC Grad]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

KCLOST and achris, I'm having the same problems with my motor (ironically the same model) and am curious as to why a faulty thermostat would cause poor WOT performance. Can you guys explain to an undeducated outboard shadetree mechanic?

 

[kentfa]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

do you know where the stat is, it is not in my manual(clymer)

 

[achris]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Sorry if I have mis-led anyone. The comment about thermostat causing performance problems was before I knew what year motor we were talking about, and I did say "if fitted". These engines don't have thermostats. Later motors have thermostats to hold the temperature up while the engine speed is low to reduce cold fouling. These thermo-ed engines also have pressure poppet valves to 'bypass' the thermo when the engine is running quicker. <br /><br />Chris............

 

[UNCC Grad]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

Thanks for clearing that up. Could it possibly be a busted diaphram in the fuel pump? It has been suggested that that was the problem in mine, but the boat is located 30 miles away and I won't be able to look at it until this weekend.<br /><br />Bobbo, I'm not trying to highjack your post, but we have the same problem so it makes sense for us both to put our $.02 in.

 

[kentfa]

Re: My spark plugs are wet

your very welcome, both with the same problem and same motor. this is gold, i hope for an happy ending for both of us!<br /> i have not tested the pump pressure, but when i take of the hose after the pump and crank, it comes alot of gasoline out! stupied owner before me has put an gasoline filter AFTER the fuel pump!<br /><br />do you have the excact same problem with lack of power at wot?