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Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?

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Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#1
ski.dive Avatar
ski.dive Fred M
FL & VT, FL & VT, USA   USA
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1979 MG MGB MkIII
Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?
-How do you clean them?

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#2
the omega man Avatar
the omega man phil wilkins
staffordshire, Stafford, UK   GBR
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1973 MG MGB GT
If your mixture is ok. You never have to clean them.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#3
rrikola Avatar
rrikola Platinum Member Robert Ikola
Santa Maria, CA, USA   USA
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1966 MG MGB
Yes. A set of spark plugs can last a very long time. The only effective way to clean them is with an inexpensive spark plug sand blaster from HF. Just like the old days works perfect. Like new. One caution. After blasting the plugs look VERY carefully down the insulator in the light and make sure no grains of sand are stuck between the metal body and the insulator inside the plug. In most cases you will see one or two grains. I use a small straight dental pick and can easily pick out any stuck grains that are stuck but you have to look really carefully. I usually clean my plugs every 500 miles or so. For tuning purposes it is easier to get a good plug reading if you start with a clean plug and drive the car a couple of hundred miles to establish good coloration. As a kid I use to clean them with a wire brush but this is only marginally effective.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#4
Bakataka Avatar
Bakataka John Poulsen
Langford, BC, Canada   CAN
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1970 MG MGB MkII "James"
I still clean mine. Since my plug’s surfaces don’t get “fouled” or built up with carbon.

I start by spraying some brake cleaner only to remove any wet residue.

Then use something like a points file to file the cylindrical electrode flat on top(just to shine) making sure not to round the edges.

Then do the same for the “finger” electrode filing the underside flat and try and keep the side edges flat and without rounding any of the edges.

Then gap.


There’s no such thing as coincidences; just unrealized connections.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-10-14 10:10 AM by Bakataka.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#5
Bakataka Avatar
Bakataka John Poulsen
Langford, BC, Canada   CAN
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1970 MG MGB MkII "James"
Deleted.....I must have had a brain fart hot smiley


There’s no such thing as coincidences; just unrealized connections.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-10-14 10:09 AM by Bakataka.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#6
33EJB Avatar
33EJB Tim C
LS, Eastern Ontario, Canada   CAN
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1969 MG MGB
I have a really old (probably could be considered an antique at this point) compressed air powered spark plug cleaner. Very simple to use, does a great job.

That said, I haven't used it in many years - I can't remember the last time.

Spark plugs in my MGB just don't get fouled up with crud like they used to years ago. Better cleaner fuel these days? Better more precise tuning by the resident MG mechanic (that would be me)? Maybe - - I don't know.

I just replace the plugs after a few years and many miles. The old removed ones always look pretty good, still usable for sure.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#7
Wal Avatar
Wal Silver Member Wal Parnel
Austin, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB "Covida"
Best to! Soft wire brush what I use. Rag with some cleaner to wipe. Even on my Honda ( plugs suppose to last 100,000 mi), I clean them yearly. Believe just makes every thing run cleaner smoother. You can see over time, changes in cylinders working, only takes about 30 min.and gaps due to wear will change slightly over time as they wear. So making gaps all even is nice. Been doing this forever all cars ever owned



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022-10-14 10:51 AM by Wal.

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  mainelymgb thanked Wal for this post
Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#8
ingoldsb Avatar
ingoldsb Silver Member Terry Ingoldsby
Calgary, AB, Canada   CAN
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1971 MG MGB
At about the 50,000 mile mark I replaced my platinum plugs. They looked like new - I should probably have just kept using them. I figure the iridium plugs I replaced them with will go even further. I doubt you could clean them though - the center electrode is too fine.


Terry Ingoldsby
terry.ingoldsby@DCExperts.com

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#9
Gerald O G O
..., NC, USA   USA
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1971 MG MGB GT
1972 MG MGB GT
1978 MG MGB
Never clean sparkplugs with a wire brush. It will cause the plug to electrically short circuit.
The ceramic insulator is a harder material than the metal wire brush which causes metal from the brush to transfer onto the surface of the insulator. This metal film will permit the high voltage spark to conduct on the surface of the insulator.

Only use non-metallic tools or abrasives for cleaning the plugs.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#10
Nicecar Avatar
Nicecar Gary (ex "Harv") G
Victoria, BC, Canada   CAN
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1980 MG MGB "Red On Red On Red"
I've always used sandpaper folded in 2 (for 23 years).

Not saying this is correct, (and reading here seems it isn't), I've never had a problem.

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#11
ozieagle Avatar
ozieagle Gold Member Herb Adler
Highton, Victoria, Australia   AUS
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1958 Wolseley 1500 "Wooly"
1966 MG MGB "Bl**dy B"
1995 Toyota Highlander "Hi Ace Van"
2022 MG ZS
I only clean them whilw going through the carb setup, as it starts rich and can foul the plugs. I inherited an old style plug cleaner, which is, basically, a small sand blaster. Every so often I take the cleaner apart, to replace the sand, as it gets rather fouled. A very effective tool. After the sand blasting I clean the sand out of the plugs, with a blast of high pressure air.

Herb


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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#12
74deadhead Avatar
74deadhead Tom Davis
Lenior, NC, USA   USA
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1974 MG MGB "Deadhead"
In reply to # 4572844 by ingoldsb At about the 50,000 mile mark I replaced my platinum plugs. They looked like new - I should probably have just kept using them. I figure the iridium plugs I replaced them with will go even further. I doubt you could clean them though - the center electrode is too fine.
I was told by a Toyota dealership mechanic that regardless of the plug gap with iridium plugs that, the modern car computer will adjust the spark no matter what. Said he has witnessed 400,000 mile original spark plugs that still work!
You can get spark plugs for a mgb engine very cheap. Change often with the $1.75 ones maybe even get them for less.


1974 MGB CB Roadster

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#13
MG Baker Avatar
MG Baker Sonny Baker
PHOENIXVILLE, PA, USA   USA
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1968 Mercedes-Benz S-Class "SOLD In 1998"
1979 MG MGB
I use brake cleaner, a nylon brush, point file, and dental pick.


Motoring with the top down, laughing in the face of the wind!

Safety Fast (Just be sure your brakes are good!)

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#14
Wal Avatar
Wal Silver Member Wal Parnel
Austin, USA   USA
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1972 MG MGB "Covida"
Yepper thst works too, but definitely have to check your gap w sandpaper but that works too

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Re: Does anyone still clean their spark plugs, instead of buying new ones?-How do you clean them?
#15
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Speedracer Platinum AdvertiserAdvertiser Hap Waldrop
Taylors, SC, USA   USA
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1961 MG MGB "LL" Lady Lynn"
1967 MG MGB Racecar "The Biscuit"
I have had one like this for close to 30 years.


https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-spark-plug-cleaner-32860.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=17890472041&campaignid=17890472041&utm_content=140972203673&adsetid=140972203673&product=32860&store=&gclid=CjwKCAjwtKmaBhBMEiwAyINuwDQYrds2dRUdM2aRTKknVq1jWN7Owsdhan3lMQettVOrc_1WMwMKgxoCMncQAvD_BwE


Hap Waldrop
Acme Speed Shop
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hapwaldrop@acmespeedshop.com


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