3x Plugs Shorting Out

[Greg Jones]

I have heard of this but never had it happen to me, shorting of plugs. After not driving my A for a month or so, I fired it up and heard a snapping noise occaisonally, and the engine would stumble a bit and then pick back up. Then snap, snap, snap. I opened the hood and saw that one of the 3X plugs was shorting and sending the arc down the outside of the plug, a couple inches away from the plug. I know it is not uncommone, but what causes a plug to short like that? Dirty electrode? Cracked insulator?I pulled it and it looked fairly clean, nothing unusual, and could not see a crack or pit. I replaced the plug, but at $28 a copy I want to take good care of these.

[Frank Miller]

Try cleaning the exterior of the plug. You may have a hairline crack in the porcelain but if there is carbon on the outside the spark could be following it down instead of trying to jump the gap.

[Dave H]

Just a bit off topic but.....In looking at the Framk Miller can pictured under your name it dawned on me, I have a pint size can of "Frank Miller nut loosener" with a 12" spout. This guy must have been way before WD 40, Kroil, and anti-sieze compound. Anybody know the vintage of his wares or have a bio on him?

[FL&WVMIKE]

Greg Jones ......................
I think that the odds are, that you have a cracked insulator. Maybe you can't see it. It might just open up, when it warms up.
Using a non spark-plug socket can cause that. The spark-plug sockets have a rubber collar, inside, to keep the socket, straight, on the plug. A true spark-plug socket might be a good investment.
MIKE

[30blutudor]

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I just use the wrench from my tool kit. I didn't even know they made a spark plug socket that size.