3.3TT How Do These Pistons Look?

[Metalmania82]

Hoping someone here with knowledge and experience can take a look at these pictures and see if there's anything out of the ordinary.

Backstory: I installed the JB4 and recommended Denso plugs (gapped) @ 600 miles, I'm at 71xx now. JT intakes, 93 octane from Sunoco, rear cat delete, oil changed every year before winter storage. Haven't had any issues until this spring when I started driving again. After a cold start, under mild/normal acceleration, mostly in third and fourth gears in both "manual" and automatic, the car seems to hiccup and cut throttle for a split second. After a couple miles and she's warmed up, drives fine, no issues. Been like this for several months now, no CEL or pending codes. Decided I would pull the plugs and see if there was any kind of corrosion or carbon buildup that might be causing this issue (also going to recheck the gap later today). Plugs seem fine to me, there's no oil on them. I used my bore-scope and took some pictures but I have no real experience with this.

Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

 

[oddball]

Those look practically new.

Does it happen with map 0 too? Mine is a little temperamental for the first two to three minutes - just the way it is. I don't notice if I drive like a mature adult.

 

[ephone]

How do your intake valves look?

 

[Metalmania82]

Those look practically new.

Does it happen with map 0 too? Mine is a little temperamental for the first two to three minutes - just the way it is. I don't notice if I drive like a mature adult.

Yes. I've been driving the past month or two on MAP 0 to see if it was maybe the JB4 and it still does the same thing during the same situation.

 

[Metalmania82]

How do your intake valves look?

I didn't get that deep into checking it out

 

[Metalmania82]

Also, if it matters, after the cold start and then at idle, there is a very slight hiccup, almost like a misfire but not as harsh and barely noticeable. Not enough to register on the tach but enough that I can feel it and hear a difference in the exhaust.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Also, if it matters, after the cold start and then at idle, there is a very slight hiccup, almost like a misfire but not as harsh and barely noticeable. Not enough to register on the tach but enough that I can feel it and hear a difference in the exhaust.

Mine does that cold start hiccup but runs totally normal and I’m all stock other than intakes. It’s done that cold start hiccup for as long as I can remember so I assumed it was normal.

 

[mbolan]

Looks like something rattled around in jpg21. Maybe spark plug electrode?

 

[Metalmania82]

Looks like something rattled around in jpg21. Maybe spark plug electrode?

What makes you say that?

 

[mbolan]

Looks like a lot of little dents or pits near the valve relief and other areas if you look close. They are about the size or a iridium electrode wire. Which are know for breaking off. Especially if bent when setting gaps

 

[Metalmania82]

I'll have to take a closer look at the old ones when I get a chance. Thanks for the insight.

 

[cncBilly]

I'll have to take a closer look at the old ones when I get a chance. Thanks for the insight.

Maybe a couple pic of the old one as well pls.

 

[Metalmania82]

Maybe a couple pic of the old one as well pls.

Plugs looked good, really clean. Gaps were all right around 22. Two of them had the tiniest bit of wiggle from the feeler gauge.

 

[cncBilly]

Plugs looked good, really clean. Gaps were all right around 22. Two of them had the tiniest bit of wiggle from the feeler gauge.View attachment 50350

Agreed those don’t look bad at all.

 

[Vermillion]

Ouroboros issue, annoying yes but time consuming and expensive to fix even with proper CAN-BUS diagnostics equipment. Had a very similar issue with an Alfa, found the fuel distribution correlation values were off so replaced the injectors.

MAF / MAP were also reporting incorrect values, it appeared to disappear when disconnecting the MAP so I replaced it. Anyway long story short it was mix of the injectors and intake manifold (gotten clogged beyond recognition) thanks to some "state of the art" at the time emissions regulation tech..

Ultimately though it could have been quite a few potential issues.

 

[Metalmania82]

Ouroboros issue

What do you mean?

 

[Vermillion]

What do you mean?

I was often chasing my own tail. Like your issue it was seasonal or fine if the car had warmed up and sometimes when I thought it I'd fixed it the next (colder) day said issue would pop right back. Talk about a doughnut dangling down in front of a treadmill..

 

[Metalmania82]

Good to know. We'll see if anything changes with the new plugs.

 

[asciidic]

I get the same thing when accelerating after cold starts. Replacing the plugs fixed it for about 5k miles and then it came back. It doesn't seem to happen in sport mode so I just remember to switch over to sport when I start it up in the mornings.

 

[Metalmania82]

I get the same thing when accelerating after cold starts. Replacing the plugs fixed it for about 5k miles and then it came back. It doesn't seem to happen in sport mode so I just remember to switch over to sport when I start it up in the mornings.

I'll try that as well.