Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: feeutfo on 30 June 2012, 18:37:37

Title: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: feeutfo on 30 June 2012, 18:37:37

Changed MATTmv6's spark Plugs for him on weds, and I was suprised to see the combustion coating that's normally on omega plugs had a red/terracotta colour to it.

All 6 plugs exactly the same. A quick google reveals a few forum threads suggesting fuel additives to be the cause. Matt uses super uncleared as a rule. But that's all.

Anything to worry about? Car has 3.0litre cams in its 2.5v6 engine, and RR shows 215bhp.

I'll post a pic later when I get a chance. :)

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: TheBoy on 30 June 2012, 18:50:20

Petrol always from same source - some places do put additives in iirc...

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: tgm147 on 01 July 2012, 00:06:13

Mine had done this on the last plug change. Had used a fuel additive to clean everything through so just put it down to that. Fine since.

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: feeutfo on 01 July 2012, 08:58:31

Same is the pic in this link.
http://www.clubgti.com/showthread.php?216906-red-spark-plug-electrode-tip

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 July 2012, 10:26:07

Its signs of them using MMT in the fuel (cant recall the chemical that is MMT but it has Manganese in it), this is an anti knock additive, probably more likely to find this in super unleaded's than normal unleaded.

Nothing to worry about.

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: feeutfo on 01 July 2012, 10:36:01

Thanks Mark. :)

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 July 2012, 10:38:02

Ah yes, its this delightful compound!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylcyclopentadienyl_manganese_tricarbonyl

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: feeutfo on 01 July 2012, 11:15:28

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl

...made up name surely? Wtf ;D

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: feeutfo on 01 July 2012, 20:26:20

Pic. Just for the record. :)

(http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p326/chrisgixer/062f1f07.jpg)

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: henryd on 01 July 2012, 20:36:26

Quote from: Marks DTM Calib on 01 July 2012, 10:26:07

Its signs of them using MMT in the fuel (cant recall the chemical that is MMT but it has Manganese in it), this is an anti knock additive, probably more likely to find this in super unleaded's than normal unleaded.

Nothing to worry about.

No wonder you can't recall it,Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl, wouldn't want to spell it either ???

Title: Re: Red coating on spark plugs
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 01 July 2012, 21:50:38

Its use is banned in a few countries including the US!