Spark plug damage

[Benp87]

Hello, im new to the forum.

I purchased my 22 ct5vbw last November and have loved the car so far.

Last weekend it developed a solid misfire. Found it was cylinder 4 and pulled the plug to inspect it. I found it to be missing the electrode and ground strap and looked hot.

I took it to the cadillac dealership, they slapped a plug in it and said it was all good and guessed at bad gas. I dont accept this answer. I had to talk to the tech who said he borescoped the cylinder and found no damage but did no compression test. Said he did an injector balance test and all looked good so I should be fine.

I spent most of my life as a master technician and now run multiple stores. To me this answer is not acceptable, something had to happen to damage that plug.

After picking it up I feel a slight hiccup at lights which they are trying to say is normal and all blackwings do it. Can anyone confirm if they experience this?

I'll be doing a compression and leak down test on it either this week or next week to see.

My rearview camera also stopped working and displaying a blue screen, they said they updated the software and is working fine, it was still blue when I picked it up.

Anyone have issues with plug damage?

 

[Sully]

When you say hiccup, can you be a bit more specific?

Boy that response from the dealership wouldn't give me any confidence, I'd be bore scoping myself looking for cylinder scoring and head damage (potentially from impact). Granted, it could be a faulty plug, but that thing looks cooked and when I've seen that in the past, that was almost a dead-on clue to overheating, e.g. running lean, cooling issues, especially with the white and blistered insulator and melted metal slag on the side..

That debris had to go somewhere, i wish you the best man!

 

[USMC1911]

What did the rest of the plugs look like?

 

[Benp87]

When you say hiccup, can you be a bit more specific?

Boy that response from the dealership wouldn't give me any confidence, I'd be bore scoping myself looking for cylinder scoring and head damage (potentially from impact). Granted, it could be a faulty plug, but that thing looks cooked and when I've seen that in the past, that was almost a dead-on clue to overheating, e.g. running lean, cooling issues, especially with the white and blistered insulator and melted metal slag on the side..

That debris had to go somewhere, i wish you the best man!

Best way to describe is a light random misfire similar to what you get with a leaking valve.

My first thought when it happened was the injector had an issue and didnt spray enough fuel, causing it to go super lean and melt it because thats what it looks like to me and everyone else I show the picture to. Plugs were replaced in October, put about 2500 hard miles on them after the replacement.

He said he bore scoped and looked good but I will be doing my own inspection as well.

His answer was well you have warranty until 70k and 2 years so if it happens in that time frame we will take care of it.

 

[Benp87]

What did the rest of the plugs look like?

Apparently Cadillac declined he do a compression test or pull any of the other plugs.

 

[ngoni]

Wait where is the rest of the plug and what did it do while it was bouncing around your cylinder?? How could there be no damage?

I'd definitely get it to a different dealer for a proper diagnosis.

 

[Benp87]

Wait where is the rest of the plug and what did it do while it was bouncing around your cylinder?? How could there be no damage?

I'd definitely get it to a different dealer for a proper diagnosis.

I'm planning on it, but after this visit I'm going to gather my own information before going in. This also wasn't the regular dealership I go to as it happened a ways away. I live in southern Wisconsin but work in Chicagoland area and use a dealership we use with the shop and have a good rapport with.

 

[vagabond]

I’ve had several (different cyl) CT5-V BW spark plugs replaced under warranty due to misfire. Carbon tracked was referenced. Always runs great after replacement. No compression, leak down, etc. tests performed.

FWIW, I had a GMC Typhoon where I replaced caps/plugs/wires every year. Wondering if here we are are again.

 

[Benp87]

I’ve had several (different cyl) CT5-V BW spark plugs replaced under warranty due to misfire. Carbon tracked was referenced. Always runs great after replacement. No compression, leak down, etc. tests performed.

FWIW, I had a GMC Typhoon where I replaced caps/plugs/wires every year. Wondering if here were are again.

I agree that high perf cars go through plugs and have a shorter interval, especially old stuff. Melting the tip off doesn't fall under that unless it detonates or runs lean enough, which rarely doesn't cause other damage. Back in my younger days we did alot of asian high boost applications that ate up plugs.

 

[Finally-a-V]

guessed at bad gas

Really? That would be my first clue to go elsewhere. Bad gas!!! The odds today of "bad gas" is so slim. Don't get me started.

 

[USMC1911]

Apparently Cadillac declined he do a compression test or pull any of the other plugs.

Last weekend it developed a solid misfire. Found it was cylinder 4 and pulled the plug to inspect it. I found it to be missing the electrode and ground strap and looked hot.

I took it to the cadillac dealership, they slapped a plug in it and said it was all good and guessed at bad gas. I dont accept this answer. I had to talk to the tech who said he borescoped the cylinder and found no damage but did no compression test. Said he did an injector balance test and all looked good so I should be fine.

In your original poster it made it sound like you pulled the plug? Have you done anything or was all work completed by Cadillac?

 

[Benp87]

Really? That would be my first clue to go elsewhere. Bad gas!!! The odds today of "bad gas" is so slim. Don't get me started.

Thats what I told the tech, especially since only cylinder 4 was affected.

 

[Benp87]

In your original poster it made it sound like you pulled the plug? Have you done anything or was all work completed by Cadillac?

All I did was pull the plug and reinstall it, everything else was by the dealer.

 

[seattlecubes]

To answer one of your original questions, the idle on these is kinda lumpy/“cammy” at lights. Not crazy, but definitely not a Lexus..

 

[poor-sha]

My 22 developed a stumble that the dealer diagnoses as a cracked plug. This was after a track event and I haven’t had any issues since.

 

[Benp87]

My 22 developed a stumble that the dealer diagnoses as a cracked plug. This was after a track event and I haven’t had any issues since.

Did you tell them it happened at the track? I track mine but worried about being denied warranty from it.

 

[Slick Blackwings]

Really? That would be my first clue to go elsewhere. Bad gas!!! The odds today of "bad gas" is so slim. Don't get me started.

You really don’t want to know how incompetent fuel delivery drivers are, we own a fuel station can’t tell how many times fuel gets DUMPED IN WRONG TANK! I’m telling you it’s HORRIBLE! So in other words it’s possible to be pumping super and getting something else.

 

[Finally-a-V]

@Slick Blackwings .....I'm a little offended. I hauled fuel for years and never cross dropped. If you are having issues with multiple cross drops, something is wrong. Poor tank markings, wrong markings, maybe bad drivers, new drivers, IDK. I'd be having a conversation with the drivers or whoever is suppling your fuel. There's no real excuse, but it does happen. My "home" store had 10-14 plus trucks a day dropping fuel and we NEVER had a cross drop in all the years I was there. If regular was crossed with super, or vise versa, it wouldn't effect a spark plug. Gas crossed with diesel, or vise versa, different conversation. The engine would most likely stuffer damage. Bottom line, it's not "bad gas". And most of us fuel haulers work VERY hard.....for you.

 

[jbawden]

@Slick Blackwings .....I'm a little offended. I hauled fuel for years and never cross dropped. If you are having issues with multiple cross drops, something is wrong. Poor tank markings, wrong markings, maybe bad drivers, new drivers, IDK. I'd be having a conversation with the drivers or whoever is suppling your fuel. There's no real excuse, but it does happen. My "home" store had 10-14 plus trucks a day dropping fuel and we NEVER had a cross drop in all the years I was there. If regular was crossed with super, or vise versa, it wouldn't effect a spark plug. Gas crossed with diesel, or vise versa, different conversation. The engine would most likely stuffer damage. Bottom line, it's not "bad gas". And most of us fuel haulers work VERY hard.....for you.

I think you can both be proud of your teams record and also acknowledge every industry has its tarnish issues with a small number that lack the aptitude/cares given to be good at their profession. While I have a strong situational awareness, I still hold firm that cops, lawyers, strangers, and truck drivers are hard working, do the right thing, good people.

 

[Finally-a-V]

@jbawden ...Thanks for your kind words. Not to high jack this thread, but trucking isn't what it used to be. I think a lot of "general freight" drivers don't really care anymore. There's a tremendous amount of knowledge that goes into hauling fuel. Only the best of the best haul fuel (or used to). We weren't steering wheel holders. We had a saying, "you only crash it once", part of why we were paid so well.