Take a look at my spark plugs

M335Xi · 08-14-2014, 11:03 AM

Decided to replace my spark plugs before I install JB4 (ran out of time to actually do JB4!). Anyways, car is pretty much stock up to this point besides DCI.

Electrodes on all of them didnt look too bad. I am concerned with spark plug #5 being a bit darker then others, might be just the anti-seize a previous owner might have applied and there was too much of it?

Also #3 had a bit oil inside the chamber. Thought it might be the valve cover gasket but upon closer inspection I believe small amount of oil spilled when I was changing it last time and it made its way down into it. I will have to inspect again in couple of hundred miles to see if it comes back, then its definitely the valve cover gasket.

What do you guys think?

CHECKERED · 08-14-2014, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M335Xi

Electrodes on all of them didnt look too bad. I am concerned with spark plug #5 being a bit darker then others, might be just the anti-seize a previous owner might have applied and there was too much of it?

#5 will always look like that because the PCV system vents into the intake manifold by the runner that feeds cylinder #5 which is why you see the carbon buildup on the plug,
I would do carbon cleaning first of all, change your oil more often (every 5-6K), and use better oil then factory BMW specs.

M335Xi · 08-14-2014, 11:21 AM

I always use Amsoil 5W40 in mine (every 3-4k) but thats only for the last 15k miles I owned the car. Not sure what previous owner used and/or when the is the last time the spark plugs were changed.

Interesting information about #5, did not know that.

Kind of nervous about attempting carbon cleaning myself. Anybody close to my area thats able to do this service?

CHECKERED · 08-14-2014, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M335Xi

I always use Amsoil 5W40 in mine (every 3-4k) but thats only for the last 15k miles I owned the car. Not sure what previous owner used and/or when the is the last time the spark plugs were changed.

which one? Premium, European car formula?
Every 3-4 is over kill.
Previous owner must have used 10K intervals and used the ‘ok’ BMW spec oil

Quote:

Originally Posted by M335Xi

Kind of nervous about attempting carbon cleaning myself. Anybody close to my area thats able to do this service?

there are DIY guides, its simple but not easy, you can take it to a dealer but cost will be about ~$400-500, I’m sure you have some local shops that do walnut blasting.

M335Xi · 08-14-2014, 11:28 AM

yes European car formula

lukeperformance · 08-14-2014, 03:38 PM

PVC valve should not make your spark plug looks that bad. Also, I had change tons of spark plugs on n54 that has not been change for a while. Cylinder 5 are never that bad. Switch out the plug and see if it come back within a few hundred miles. If it is you may have some leaky injectors. And your cylinder 3 picture looks like it soak with gasoline. If it is you need to check your injectors.

135Pats · 08-14-2014, 03:53 PM

Cyl 5 plug is fouled but difficult to be certain as to the cause. The plug from 5 is almost always the "messiest" as noted above due to the awful ventilation system the motor uses.

Hard to tell but that looks more like fuel or soot than oil burn. Doesn't look, well oily enough to be oil.

Gizm0 · 08-14-2014, 04:20 PM

Here is what mine looked like when I changed them... none looked particularly darker than the others...

M335Xi · 08-14-2014, 05:48 PM

#3 was definitely oil but #5 did have gas smell

smittty634 · 08-15-2014, 06:31 AM

Your injectors are faulty and are leaking fuel on them witch is going to start to misfire soon.if your car is out of warranty pm me I'll explain more. I'm a tech for bmw

bigdaddycane · 08-15-2014, 08:13 AM

as Pats and Smitty said, cylinder #5 looks to have a bad injector. I just changed mine out and my cyl #1 looked very similar. I am replacing the injector next week.

lukeperformance · 08-15-2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M335Xi

#3 was definitely oil but #5 did have gas smell

cylinder 3 has oil on it then you have gasket leak. number 5 smell like gas then you also haveleaky injector.

M335Xi · 08-15-2014, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittty634

Your injectors are faulty and are leaking fuel on them witch is going to start to misfire soon.if your car is out of warranty pm me I'll explain more. I'm a tech for bmw

Its an 08 so yes out of warranty

Looks like i will be ordering an injector and valve cover gasket

sirdaft1 · 08-15-2014, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M335Xi

Its an 08 so yes out of warranty

Looks like i will be ordering an injector and valve cover gasket

Keep in mind that you typically need to replace injectors as a set of three (three on each bank).

M335Xi · 08-15-2014, 11:20 PM

I would probably do all 6 at this time since they are original and almost have 100k on them

08-14-2014, 11:03 AM	#1
M335Xi Private First Class 20 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Vestal, NY iTrader: (0)	Take a look at my spark plugs Decided to replace my spark plugs before I install JB4 (ran out of time to actually do JB4!). Anyways, car is pretty much stock up to this point besides DCI. Electrodes on all of them didnt look too bad. I am concerned with spark plug #5 being a bit darker then others, might be just the anti-seize a previous owner might have applied and there was too much of it? Also #3 had a bit oil inside the chamber. Thought it might be the valve cover gasket but upon closer inspection I believe small amount of oil spilled when I was changing it last time and it made its way down into it. I will have to inspect again in couple of hundred miles to see if it comes back, then its definitely the valve cover gasket. What do you guys think? Attached Images
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08-14-2014, 03:38 PM	#6
lukeperformance Private 7 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: alabama iTrader: (2)	PVC valve should not make your spark plug looks that bad. Also, I had change tons of spark plugs on n54 that has not been change for a while. Cylinder 5 are never that bad. Switch out the plug and see if it come back within a few hundred miles. If it is you may have some leaky injectors. And your cylinder 3 picture looks like it soak with gasoline. If it is you need to check your injectors. Last edited by lukeperformance; 08-14-2014 at 04:02 PM..
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08-14-2014, 03:53 PM	#7
135Pats Major General 461 Rep 6,478 Posts Drives: A few BMWs Join Date: May 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (3)	Cyl 5 plug is fouled but difficult to be certain as to the cause. The plug from 5 is almost always the "messiest" as noted above due to the awful ventilation system the motor uses. Hard to tell but that looks more like fuel or soot than oil burn. Doesn't look, well oily enough to be oil. __________________ E88 N54 Alpinweiss/Coral Red/Motiv HTA 3586r Tial .82AR/Other stuff...652WHP F30 N55 XDrive EBII
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08-14-2014, 04:20 PM	#8
Gizm0 Colonel 439 Rep 2,136 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	Here is what mine looked like when I changed them... none looked particularly darker than the others... __________________ JB4 G5 w/ Backend flash - Walbro 450lpfp - VRSF DPs - VRSF 5" stepped IC - DCI - ER CP w/ Tial BOV - 335is clutch
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08-14-2014, 05:48 PM	#9
M335Xi Private First Class 20 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Vestal, NY iTrader: (0)	#3 was definitely oil but #5 did have gas smell
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08-14-2014, 11:21 AM	#3
M335Xi Private First Class 20 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Vestal, NY iTrader: (0)	I always use Amsoil 5W40 in mine (every 3-4k) but thats only for the last 15k miles I owned the car. Not sure what previous owner used and/or when the is the last time the spark plugs were changed. Interesting information about #5, did not know that. Kind of nervous about attempting carbon cleaning myself. Anybody close to my area thats able to do this service?
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08-14-2014, 11:28 AM	#5
M335Xi Private First Class 20 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Vestal, NY iTrader: (0)	yes European car formula
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08-15-2014, 06:31 AM	#10
smittty634 New Member 4 Rep 18 Posts Drives: black e90 335i n54 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: bergen county iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 bmw 335i [0.00]	Your injectors are faulty and are leaking fuel on them witch is going to start to misfire soon.if your car is out of warranty pm me I'll explain more. I'm a tech for bmw
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08-15-2014, 08:13 AM	#11
bigdaddycane I even mod my cereal 268 Rep 3,480 Posts Drives: 11 ZCP DCT M3 14 328d 21 GT4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Va iTrader: (53) Garage List 2021 Porsche GT4 [0.00] 2014 BMW 328d Xdriv ... [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	as Pats and Smitty said, cylinder #5 looks to have a bad injector. I just changed mine out and my cyl #1 looked very similar. I am replacing the injector next week. __________________ 2011 Mineral White M3 ZCP - Opticoat, Ventureshield, some CF, B&B exhaust, AFE Intake Vorsteiner VFF 101s Ohlins 2014 Mineral White 328d Xdrive Wagon - Opticoat, Ventureshield, B8s, H&R, Apex SM-10s Hawk Pads 2021 718 Cayman GT4 - Fire extinguiser, Neodyme GT3 Wheel Color
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08-15-2014, 11:20 PM	#15
M335Xi Private First Class 20 Rep 128 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Vestal, NY iTrader: (0)	I would probably do all 6 at this time since they are original and almost have 100k on them
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