Pontiac
Last summer I saw an Autolite plug that failed in a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am, 3.3L I saved the pieces when I replaced it for a conversation piece. I had considered this a one in a million failure, I do not know the age or mileage of the plug. The engine did not show any loss of compression, it was simply a spectacular failure of a plug.
Photo links also contain additional information in the photo captions.
Ford
However, this completely changed my mind. The Autolite in this case had 2,000 miles on it and had been installed after this engine was completely overhauled. The vehicle was a 1986 Ford F250, 300 cid 6 cylinder. During the overhaul the head was professionally re-done, the pistons, rings, wrist pins, cam and main bearings were replaced, as well as the block honed, and the usual journals polished to ensure a complete and thorough professional overhaul.
In the pictures you can see that the electrode tip of the #3 cylinder came off and destroyed the piston. Debris sent into the intake traveled to the adjacent cylinders and ruined two other pistons as well. The cylinder walls are scored out of limits, the engine hit zero oil pressure prior to shut down. The engine, with 2,000 miles since overhaul is a total loss.
I do not own either vehicle, I repaired the Pontiac as a favor, and am currently replacing the destroyed 6 cylinder with a V-8 for my employer. I do not use Autolite plugs in my personal vehicles and do not feel anyone else should either. To save a few dollars on plugs, this entire engine was destroyed.
Last summer I saw an Autolite plug that failed in a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am, 3.3L I saved the pieces when I replaced it for a conversation piece. I had considered this a one in a million failure, I do not know the age or mileage of the plug. The engine did not show any loss of compression, it was simply a spectacular failure of a plug.
Photo links also contain additional information in the photo captions.
Ford
However, this completely changed my mind. The Autolite in this case had 2,000 miles on it and had been installed after this engine was completely overhauled. The vehicle was a 1986 Ford F250, 300 cid 6 cylinder. During the overhaul the head was professionally re-done, the pistons, rings, wrist pins, cam and main bearings were replaced, as well as the block honed, and the usual journals polished to ensure a complete and thorough professional overhaul.
In the pictures you can see that the electrode tip of the #3 cylinder came off and destroyed the piston. Debris sent into the intake traveled to the adjacent cylinders and ruined two other pistons as well. The cylinder walls are scored out of limits, the engine hit zero oil pressure prior to shut down. The engine, with 2,000 miles since overhaul is a total loss.
I do not own either vehicle, I repaired the Pontiac as a favor, and am currently replacing the destroyed 6 cylinder with a V-8 for my employer. I do not use Autolite plugs in my personal vehicles and do not feel anyone else should either. To save a few dollars on plugs, this entire engine was destroyed.
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