White soot on spark plugs: causes, possible breakdowns, troubleshooting tips, tips from the masters

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The engine of any car performs a very important function. Its correct and stable operation depends on the coordinated interaction of all mechanisms of the vehicle system. The slightest failure in any of the nodes of this system leads to the malfunction of another component or the failure of a number of parts.

The first indicator of a malfunction is spark plugs. Their main purpose is to ignite a mixture of air and gasoline vapors in the engine cylinders, as well as to take on some of the heat generated after the detonation of the mixture. And in the event of a malfunction, white soot is formed on the spark plugs. However, it can be not only white, but also black, red, have a loose or glossy structure. And these are just some of the signs that indicate a malfunction in the vehicle system. The article describes the diagnostics of a vehicle by the appearance of candles, ways to eliminate such malfunctions, methodsidentifying problems at an early stage. Expert advice provided.

Appearance of serviceable spark plugs

Before you start analyzing the appearance of candles, you should understand for yourself how normal candles look on a properly working engine. They do not have external damage in the form of chips or cracks due to the enormous loads that they have to experience during their entire service life. Typically, manufacturers give a guarantee for a mileage of 50 thousand kilometers. However, many motorists know that this figure is very high and does not correspond to the actual mileage, after which the candles must be changed. Every car enthusiast needs to make a good habit of regularly checking candles. But it makes no sense to do this immediately after starting the engine. For a quality check, a mileage of about 200 kilometers is required. The appearance of candles to an experienced car enthusiast can tell a lot of interesting things about their own car and help prevent serious problems with its operation.

As for seal or housing failures, this may be a manufacturer defect or other causes that need to be understood. With soot, everything is much more complicated. It is formed in any case, in any operating conditions, and its accumulation on the candle head is inevitable. Of greater interest for analysis is its color. Slight (light gray, light brown with yellow formation) color change is not so bad forengine. The situation is different with the causes of white plaque on spark plugs, including black and red. In this case, a simple replacement is not enough, since the reasons lie much deeper and it is necessary to eliminate them until more serious problems appear.

Causes of soot formation

Why can white deposits appear on spark plugs? Perhaps this question was asked by every motorist who encountered this problem. In order to understand why soot of one color or another is formed, you should know the reason for its accumulation on the heads of candles.

The car engine is a whole complex of complex, smoothly interacting nodes. The normal operation of each node depends on the correct operation of other nodes. The slightest failure in one of the links of this long chain leads to the failure of the entire system as a whole. Their normal task is to ensure the ignition of the products of the mixture.

Spark plugs, by generating a spark, are designed to ignite the supplied mixture, which should subsequently ignite normally. Accordingly, along with the engine, they are exposed to quite aggressive types of exposure to temperatures and chemicals. Some of these products settle on the head of the candles. Normal for them is gray, even a coffee shade. Such soot should not bother the owner of the car, as it indicates the stable operation of all systems. However, it happens that white soot is formed on the spark plugs, red, or black. Here it should disturb the owner most of all, since it clearly signals a malfunction or malfunction of the system.

Reasons for the appearance of white soot on the heads of candles

White soot on spark plugs is one of the most common types of soot found in practice. It is most often associated with an excess of air in the mixture, has a glossy or looser structure. Metal elements contained in combustible products give it a gloss.

Glossy look of white soot

The most dangerous type of soot for the entire engine system. It points to the main reason - insufficient cooling, and therefore, the candle overheats too much. However, in addition to candles, valves and pistons function in the combustion chamber, which also overheat excessively, which can lead to cracking and further jamming of the engine itself. And this is already much more expensive than a simple candle replacement.

Accordingly, it is necessary to check the cooling system for the presence of coolers. Their level may be insufficient, or there is a blockage in the coolant supply channels. The cause of the appearance of glossy soot can be not only excessive overheating, but also other factors. Consider them in more detail.

Lack of air in air-fuel mixture

One of the reasons for white soot on spark plugs of injection and carburetor types of engines has already been mentioned above - the wrong ratio of parts of air and fuelin the overall mix. If there is more gasoline than oxygen, then the soot will be black. When there is more air than fuel vapor, it will already be white. And here the versatility of this problem already appears. You need to diagnose the source of the problem. In cases of white soot on spark plugs of injection cars, it is quite difficult to identify and correct this drawback, since specialized equipment is required. Diagnostics and adjustment for this type of machine is carried out at the software level. Without such equipment, it is almost impossible to carry out work. Therefore, the best option would be to send the car to the service. This will save time and help to get rid of a number of related problems that, due to inexperience, can not be foreseen.

With carbureted cars it's much easier. By adjusting the carburetor, you can adjust the correct preparation of the ratio of fuel and air supplied through the channels. The main elements for adjusting the air supply are special bolts. One of them is responsible for setting the position of the damper, which opens up or down, thereby increasing or decreasing the oxygen supply. Adjustment should be carried out according to the manufacturer's recommendations. However, taking into account the mileage, fine tuning is necessary. Therefore, first of all, the bolts are tightened to the zero position and then they are set to the position recommended by the manufacturer. This will be a rough setting. Fine tuning is already done with the engine running by slightly turning the bolts up or down.

Moreone common cause of white soot on spark plugs on VAZs is clogging or failure of the metering jet. It is made of fairly soft metal, so it will not be possible to clean it without damage. Most likely, it will have to be changed.

Candle mismatch

Often the reason for the appearance of white soot on spark plugs in injection VAZs lies in the discrepancy between the glow number of the candle. This problem is solved quite simply - by replacing the candles. It is necessary to choose products in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturers. By the way, many foreign cars are quite capricious in this regard.

Incorrect ignition setting

Another reason for the possible formation of white deposits on spark plugs is early ignition of the mixture due to a malfunction or incorrect ignition setting. This can also be recognized by melted electrodes. With such a malfunction, the head of the candle is not even necessarily covered with plaque. It is formed only in the presence of gaps of sparks.

Dough looking white soot

If a loose coating forms on the plug head, this is the first sign that the quality of the fuel is too low. In this case, it is recommended to check the fuel and, if necessary, replace the gas station network. In addition to its quality, there may be an inappropriate octane number. This is especially true for injected cars.

Conclusion

It should always be remembered that the formation of white plaque on candles is a signal to searchreasons for its occurrence. Often this is not even one, but a whole range of problems that need to be solved. And you should adopt a good habit of checking candles regularly. This will help identify problems at an early stage.