Reading spark plugs on methanol tips

This video is not intended in any way shape or form telling you how to read spark plugs. Strictly showing you how i do it. Dont send me pics of your plugs, im not going to tune your stuff lol

[@bretbradbury5559]

I genuinely appreciate your generosity with your time and sharing information. I hope you don’t mind me adding that if you’re planning on watching the plugs into the threads, it’s important to know how much and how well the plug is shrouded by the metal in the combustion chamber. I’ve seen heads that come from porting where someone got a bit overzealous and they cut too much away from the perimeter area of the plug. Doing this exposes the ends/sides of the of the spark plug instead of the aluminum in the chamber covering that area and sinking heat from it. If you have your heads off before assembling your engine, I consider it good practice to screw the plugs in and see how well the sides of the plugs are covered. It’s not a common problem but when you’re experiencing some weird things when trying to tune your setup, things like this are worth knowing.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Literally pops up right as i sat down on the toilet so perfect

[@theholleyefiguy]

hope everything comes out good

[@bad6as]

Wash your hands.

[@kevin_nagle]

your legs are going numb on this one..

[@bigj7807]

Dude same

[@lawndart63]

Timing is everything ...

[@rj_boostedz2897]

Could you do a reading plug on E85 if you ever get a chance?

[@davidpoffenbarger3686]

Great video and one of the best explanations of the relationship between timing and fuel. Thanks!

[@yarrdayarrdayarrda]

Finally a detailed explanation on the term "turns" in regards to cadmium burn off. I always knew it was a balancing act but it makes sense that just because 1 aspect of the tune is perfect you can't address the other without backing down on the first since it will be more aggressive once the other is brought into tune. Thanks!

[@MIC-LS]

I watched this vid all the way. I learned a lot from what you showed. Thank you, this will help a lot with my turbo build. I consider this a well kept secret about spark plug read that I did not know.

[@theholleyefiguy]

most people dont like to talk about it cause others will cling to some of what they say and not all of it and then blame everyone but themselves. thats the truth of the matter in my opinion

[@willsilversurfinharris6239]

@@theholleyefiguy its is similar on 93 of 110

[@tonyanderson4774]

Great explanation. Particularly the visual aspect. One sense I’ve always used on alky engines is your sense of smell. If it smells sweet, there’s alky present, it it smells burnt, chances are it’s lean. Then I go onto visual references as you’ve highlighted. It’s a method I was taught by an alky fuel master who built methanol 350 Holleys for dirt circuit, back in the days before you could buy that stuff ‘off the shelf’.

[@diygaragetx]

Excellent Video, Devin. Just now getting the car going on methanol, this will help a lot!

[@terryenyart5838]

Great video! Thank you. I have no experience with methanol, but am well versed in reading gasoline plugs. This makes good sense.

[@grahamerosewarne6656]

Best way to read any motor been doing it since carby days. Was all you had then. Devin your advice is also point on. Such a great channel. I enjoy your tech tips.👏👍👋🆒🤜🤛💯🔥☝️

[@theholleyefiguy]

thanks man

[@gumundurorjohannsson469]

Brilliant video , thank you Devin for all of this info

[@BroomysGarage]

Best video I’ve seen on the subject online. Nice one sausage fingers 👍🏻

[@bainsimpkin4062]

I clicked on this video hoping for some world class Devin pointer work.........didn't disappoint. Great video as always Mate.

[@theholleyefiguy]

ill have to bust out the dog paw one again for the next video

[@TurboJohnRacing]

Awesome vid! Love seeing how you look at it.

[@theholleyefiguy]

thanks man. beleive it or not you are 1 of 3 other channels i watch as well. love seeing what you're doing as well

[@nepoleonbonaparte6517]

Very good info in bracket applications we dont woory bout leaving power on the table.i thank you for the timing vs. Fuel adjustments makes good sense to me.i fou d it super helpful. Heat range info would be helpful .thanks for a good informitive video

[@ramonrivera5467]

Thank you for sharing that the smallest things do make a difference for longer-lasting and less heartaches for more fun thanks teacher.

[@scgozarkmountainadventurev7951]

Thanks so much for what you do for the sport

[@reid8301]

I’ve watched 15 videos on this and this is the first one that actually makes sense. Thanks man. Quick question, after installing new plugs how many passes or how much time do you allow on them before checking. Does it take a little time to burn the cadium and make the timing mark or will this show up in one pass.

[@FlatLineRacing4650]

Great information on this subject.

[@zingmasterr]

Great explanation, thank you.

[@tptrsn]

Excellent video, thanks! Does this information apply at all to E85 tuning?

[@radioactivefabrication8875]

Thanks for the info devin

[@Jason_Bacon]

Best fingers on youtube.

[@theholleyefiguy]

lol

[@wreckless4thf]

Thank you for the video!!

[@Jonesmoto]

Man I love listening to you!!! You tell it like it is! LOL

[@redhotrod3852]

We raced NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car. Devin, I hope people listen carefully because you have it right.

[@theholleyefiguy]

thank you sir

[@nsboost]

After the topic on Facebook about lifting heads on meth.. I’m not surprised to see this video 🤪 Appreciate the knowledge drop

[@drivinwithdrew7676]

Would love to see you and hear you talk about reading plugs on other fuels, I feel like I have got a pretty good feel for it on 93 octane na stuff

[@jasonbrinegar6759]

Lazy Sunday trying to learn things so that i can do stuff. How well does this rule correlate when using standard pump E-85?

[@prostreetchickenhawk]

This is a great video thank you very much for making it. I don't use methanol but still very educational thank you again. It would be great if you did one just like this with racing fuel. Like Sunoco 110 or in that family

[@theholleyefiguy]

turbo engines belong on methanol lol. but all kidding aside, i dont really work with many race gas combos

[@jamiecaudill5915]

Great video! If you make another talk about gap too. I run ngk10 on a blown combo. I set gap at .016

[@rockmanf8214]

Thanks for the video finally somebody tells it the way it is and no bull shit !! Want to go fast and save some money ? need to know this kind of stuff!!!! DRAG ON

[@simonoxenham5493]

Thanks. Very interesting

[@turbotoaster1984]

Brilliant Devin, I was the guy who posted up on turbobullet about doing headgaskets on methanol and you said you would do a video so really happy you did it. You explained it in a way I perfectly understood and gave me the pointers I need to at least start at the track tuning mine on methanol with no intercooler. Im guessing when your dealing with a new combo you would aim for say 5-10 degrees lower then where you think it would be(basically where i was on gasoline and intercooler) and really fat to get at least one pull so you have a starting point. Do you normally go to the 60ft or 330ft at the start, as I would expect you need a certain amount of time to 'mark' the plug but not to much to damage the engine.

[@theholleyefiguy]

if you were on race gas and intercooled i wouldnt be thinking you could add 10 degrees to your old tuneup. just wanted to get that out of the way. i would take your race gas tuneup (if it was good ) and take 4 degrees out of it, get the fueling close based off of bsfc from your gasoline tuneup, then make a 330 hit on low boost and see where youre at.

[@turbotoaster1984]

@@theholleyefiguy thank you, I meant 10 degrees off my gas tune up as a starting point, but ok I will start with 5 and try around 3.5 AFR as a first hit and see where it puts me, I've even downloaded this video to take with me to the track so I have something to refer to while I'm there :)

[@cypress560003]

Great video 👍

[@Jvcomet]

Great info thanks.👍👍

[@alexswift]

Few times I’ve ever heard anyone mentioned burning down the threads. Been jetting on methanol for years but only on single cylinder. But hardly ever anyone mention the threads but that’s always what I’m targeting with my main jet. Then use the main and mostly power jet (wide open top jet) for the strap. Tough to see timing mark with single cylinder plus running 20-30 lap dirt track races with variable loads on the motor every corner. But again just nice to hear someone mention the threads. Also just saying, it’s sad how bad the air quality has gotten last couple years Saw my first chocolate brown plug the other week and it had to be 34 degrees out Used to be way more frequent before the increase in humidity and co2 in the air

[@bad6as]

Thanks devin!

[@minitrucker04]

Awesome video, would love to see one on e85

[@kevingib100]

@devin vanderhoof at about 8 min you are showing the burn on the ring and continue to move toward the strap. How many passes would you estimate that this plug was run to get to this point? Are you pulling each run? If you run and pull the same plug back to back for say 10 passes and then change it will one pass give you essentially the same read as the prior plug did after 10 runs as long as the tune doesn’t change when the plug is changed. I have a 6.2L SC Hemi that is about 400hp more than stock and I run 2 ranges colder in NGK with a slim .026 gap on all 16 plugs. It is about $150 per set of 16 but with running Ignite Red 114 (E90) fuel and 21 psi of boost it would greatly benefit me to read the plugs as I continue to tweak the tune. At 6000 lbs for the ride even an extra 30-40 ponies would be a plus but to add the plugs into the mix I need to understand the number of runs on each plug because with 16 this is gonna cost some change.

[@theholleyefiguy]

plugs are read after one pass with it being shut off at the end of the run

[@wannwarriors]

Just a quick question, Would the spark plug read be the same in a non turbo application?

[@bryantucker4559]

Would this be the same for other fuels or just methanol.

[@jamieknight9636]

Thx for the tips Devin, how many passes have each of these plugs done? You don't put fresh plugs in every pass do you?

[@theholleyefiguy]

When you want a good plug read you need to make 1 pass on a new set of plugs and kill it after the pass

[@scottieray952]

is the red one a christmas addition?? with suprises

[@slowfox89]

Cool video. Good food for thought. I just read mine. They say NGK. Hahaha

[@theholleyefiguy]

sounds like youre reading them upside down

[@FadetoBlack1463]

Great video! Do you generally use -10 heat range on boosted methanol?

[@theholleyefiguy]

typically yes

[@FadetoBlack1463]

@@theholleyefiguy 👍

[@Nickduzich1224]

Does most of this cross over to other fuels in my case e85?

[@RiversideRacecraft]

I fucking loved the Scott Clark reference LMFAO

[@theholleyefiguy]

he loves to take stabs at me, so i find a bit of humor in a reference every now and then

[@kyletallman9990]

Can you read plugs like this with ethanol?

[@first1n647]

"bro, you blew up my shit" haha, reply, "you're an idiot" damn it that was funny. Thank you for taking the time to make that video, I learned quite alot from it.

[@promodracer2191]

Are you going to talk about how base goes from green to white?

[@Chickenfam_LSX]

A Devin video without a dig at us LS guys?? It’s a new era lol 😂 About how long are you finding plugs to last in a typical 1500+ application? Few passes? A weekend? Months? Curious to know how many plugs I’d be going through 🤔

[@95GTSpeedDemon]

Got any info for E85?

[@ajnr711]

Badass

[@lilpickleracing]

i was about to comment we all need a video on that facebook post..lol

[@garrycoufal2274]

All of your plug examples are silver. What would be the difference in reading plugs that are iron colored on methanol?

[@Bugj-cx3cv]

How much of this would cross over to a car on E then.

[@darrendubbelman6042]

Oscilloscope reference….lol

[@SloppyMechanics]

i always spit on it and wipe till its glossy

[@theholleyefiguy]

its the key to life

[@slowfox89]

Don't regret making these videos. People are gonna nuke shit and it will never be their fault.

[@theholleyefiguy]

youre not wrong

[@speedbuggy16v]

way past my paygrade, but interesting info nonetheless.

[@derekwoods8199]

In first to tell you you’re wrong!!!! 😂

[@theholleyefiguy]

i agree lol

[@byronrabon5472]

That’s plugs from 2 passes . We know you change them mid pass

[@theholleyefiguy]

its crazy, but i have a really small friend who we strap under the hood and he changes them when we go past the 330

[@derekwoods8199]

Goddamit, so early it’s still in 360p

[@theholleyefiguy]

man it shows up clear for me im gonna be pissed if they killed quality i actually tried to make it good visibility

[@derekwoods8199]

It’s probably still processing. I’ve seen it on other channels when a vid is first uploaded too. You were plenty clear with the explanation and visual regardless 👍

[@MIC-LS]

I watched this vid all the way. I learned a lot from what you showed. Thank you, this will help a lot with my turbo build. I consider this a well kept secret about spark plug read that I did not know.