Spark plug foul up

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

martingmc86

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2022
Posts
45
Reaction score
4
Location
california
First Name
martin
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
gmc sierra 1500
Engine Size
v8 5.0
I have an 86 GMC Sierra 5.0 with a MSD atomic 1 EFI have had an issue with my spark plugs, getting folded up after a couple hundred miles to get cover in black and truck runs like **** first, I thought it was my carburetor so I decided to swap it out to an MSD atomic one EFI and it runs great but after a couple hundred miles like I’ve said the spark plugs foul and goes back to **** what can it be? I rebuild the distributor and put new pick up coil new capacitor, spark plug module new rotor plugs and new cables and still does the same thing my distributor does not have a vacuum advance it is a ESC ELECTRONIC SPARK CONTROL came out of California, so it had smog regulations
 

Robert Bare

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2020
Posts
65
Reaction score
86
Location
MT
First Name
Robert
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
k20
Engine Size
5.7
First you have to determine if it is too much oil or gas. Plenty of youtube vids can help you.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,304
Reaction score
8,440
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
See if your timing actually advances,no advance will foul plugs. Monitor O2 sensor voltage with a multimeter,postcresults. O2 sensor has to be hot to work so monitor hot.
 

martingmc86

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2022
Posts
45
Reaction score
4
Location
california
First Name
martin
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
gmc sierra 1500
Engine Size
v8 5.0
See if your timing actually advances,no advance will foul plugs. Monitor O2 sensor voltage with a multimeter,postcresults. O2 sensor has to be hot to work so monitor hot.
Ok it’s a single wire o2 sensor so I’m guessing positive to wire and ground to ground and should I be shecking volt or ohms
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,304
Reaction score
8,440
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Ok it’s a single wire o2 sensor so I’m guessing positive to wire and ground to ground and should I be shecking volt or ohms
Positive lead lead of a meter to single wire on O2 sensor ground lead of meter to ground,looking for volts .1 is lean .5 is stoich .9 is rich. you can run a wire into the car so you can monitor daily as you drive. Piggy back your wire at the O2 meaning leave it in the system just monitor it.Didnt you have something going on where you need 2x O2 sensors. 1 for OE computer 1 fir aftermarket EFI ?
 

martingmc86

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2022
Posts
45
Reaction score
4
Location
california
First Name
martin
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
gmc sierra 1500
Engine Size
v8 5.0
Positive lead lead of a meter to single wire on O2 sensor ground lead of meter to ground,looking for volts .1 is lean .5 is stoich .9 is rich. you can run a wire into the car so you can monitor daily as you drive. Piggy back your wire at the O2 meaning leave it in the system just monitor it.Didnt you have something going on where you need 2x O2 sensors. 1 for OE computer 1 fir aftermarket EFI ?
Yes, that is correct. I have two oxygen sensors one is for my EFI and one is for my trucks ESC I added back my original oxygen sensor and didn’t notice a difference thing that sucks right now is that my truck runs like **** but if I clean or put new spark plugs run it will a couple hundred miles really good then my spark plugs foul up and goes back to running bad and my truck runs like **** again lol
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,304
Reaction score
8,440
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Monitor the o2 sensor voltage,post back
 

YakkoWarner

Full Access Member
Joined
May 29, 2024
Posts
142
Reaction score
146
Location
Central Texas
First Name
Wolf
Truck Year
1989
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
454
Positive lead lead of a meter to single wire on O2 sensor ground lead of meter to ground,looking for volts .1 is lean .5 is stoich .9 is rich. you can run a wire into the car so you can monitor daily as you drive. Piggy back your wire at the O2 meaning leave it in the system just monitor it.Didnt you have something going on where you need 2x O2 sensors. 1 for OE computer 1 fir aftermarket EFI ?

Question on this: Does the O2 sensor generate the voltage (using a thermocouple-type device) or does the ECU provide a specific voltage to the wire going to the O2 sensor (voltage changes based on resistance inside the sensor)? Doesn't change the way the voltage is monitored, just wondering what the actual process is.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,304
Reaction score
8,440
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Question on this: Does the O2 sensor generate the voltage (using a thermocouple-type device) or does the ECU provide a specific voltage to the wire going to the O2 sensor (voltage changes based on resistance inside the sensor)? Doesn't change the way the voltage is monitored, just wondering what the actual process is.
O2 sensor produces voltage. That's what the ecu reads it evaluates the voltage and determines add or subtract fuel
 

JBswth

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2022
Posts
213
Reaction score
173
Location
Vallejo, California
First Name
James
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C25
Engine Size
292 cubic inches
I have an 86 GMC Sierra 5.0 with a MSD atomic 1 EFI have had an issue with my spark plugs, getting folded up after a couple hundred miles to get cover in black and truck runs like **** first, I thought it was my carburetor so I decided to swap it out to an MSD atomic one EFI and it runs great but after a couple hundred miles like I’ve said the spark plugs foul and goes back to **** what can it be? I rebuild the distributor and put new pick up coil new capacitor, spark plug module new rotor plugs and new cables and still does the same thing my distributor does not have a vacuum advance it is a ESC ELECTRONIC SPARK CONTROL came out of California, so it had smog regulations
Sounds like either bad rings or bad valve guides with missing seals. Maybe both. You can try one heat range hotter, that might do the trick until you rebuild the engine.

J. B.

J. B.
 

gmbellew

Full Access Member
Joined
May 27, 2018
Posts
1,211
Reaction score
1,272
Location
Kansas city
First Name
glen
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
suburban 1500
Engine Size
350
Ok so I got some readings at idle.41 and at 25mph I got a reading of .73

O2 voltage should be constantly varying back and forth between 0.1v and 0.9v as the computer constantly adjusts fuel. high volts is rich and it pulls fuel (fuel trims will be below 128). low voltage is lean and it adds fuel (fuel trims will be above 128). ideal AFR is around 0.5v, but it will never sit around 0.5v for long.

are you having oil consumption?

might post some pics of the plugs after theys are fouled.
 

martingmc86

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2022
Posts
45
Reaction score
4
Location
california
First Name
martin
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
gmc sierra 1500
Engine Size
v8 5.0
O2 voltage should be constantly varying back and forth between 0.1v and 0.9v as the computer constantly adjusts fuel. high volts is rich and it pulls fuel (fuel trims will be below 128). low voltage is lean and it adds fuel (fuel trims will be above 128). ideal AFR is around 0.5v, but it will never sit around 0.5v for long.

are you having oil consumption?

might post some pics of the plugs after theys are fouled.
My bad the reading was .4 at idle and .6 at 30 mph
 

martingmc86

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2022
Posts
45
Reaction score
4
Location
california
First Name
martin
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
gmc sierra 1500
Engine Size
v8 5.0
O2 voltage should be constantly varying back and forth between 0.1v and 0.9v as the computer constantly adjusts fuel. high volts is rich and it pulls fuel (fuel trims will be below 128). low voltage is lean and it adds fuel (fuel trims will be above 128). ideal AFR is around 0.5v, but it will never sit around 0.5v for long.

are you having oil consumption?

might post some pics of the plugs after theys are fouled.
Yes I’ll post pics in a bit
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
43,931
Posts
945,925
Members
35,974
Latest member
jm608
Top