Spark Plugs (NooB alert....)

[aMaff]

How often do the plugs need to be changed? I tried searching the forums, but I didn't find anything. Thanks.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

every 30 - 40 k miles

[JCell]

u can slo check thm from time to time to c how ur engine is doin

[aMaff]

Thanks

[RaiderMP5]

and stick with the OEM NGKs. platinum and irradiums are overrated.

[aMaff]

Cool, thanks. I got it used, so I'm not sure on the maintenance (looks like it's in great shape, but u never know under the hood), and it's close to 40K, so I think that'll be my next-weekend project. Thanks.

[slayer4u]

and stick with the OEM NGKs. platinum and irradiums are overrated.

I use V-Power and they work fine.platnums tend to burn hotter and last longer. and irradiums just last longer. Hotter plugs are not nesseary and are not allways good for the engine.

[aMaff]

And those are usually more expensive. Usually lol. I think I'm gonna be sticking w/ OEM. What's the recomended gap for plugs on the P5? I don't know if that's in the manual, I'd check but I'm at work...

[TurfBurn]

gap at about 35 thousandths and you'll be ok... definitely the NGK BKR series plugs...

[capnsavem]

BKR5 or BKR6? what do you recommend for an engine with just intake and rear section exhaust (not catback)?

[TurfBurn]

NA... BKR5E's are fine... turbo I'd go with BKR6E's

Also, stay away from extended reach (should anyone recommend them)... while they work and feel great etc.... they in some ways are comparable to advancing your timing by about 5 degrees due to the flame front position change and the additional heat buildup that tends to occur... (those are Z series plugs by NGK)... which is bad in both cases because it tends to lead to detonation.

[capnsavem]

detonation = bad things, man.

good lookin out turfburn.

p.s.

gonna order brake stuff from u soon. gotta check under the couch cushions really quick :)

[TurfBurn]

Hahaha :) No problem.. we aren't going anywhere so I'll always be able to pull them in... do you know what stuff you are likely after? If I don't have it in stock I'll see about pulling it in so it's quicker for you.

Also, I too second that platinum and Iridiums are a waste.. they also foul quicker if you have any problems or are a tuned car... and they can be a serious headache!

Later.

[mogi]

the manual says .40 to .44

spend the extra 50 cents and get a gapper, I never trust the pregapping on plugs, 3/4 of the time they are wrong

[capnsavem]

Hahaha :) No problem.. we aren't going anywhere so I'll always be able to pull them in... do you know what stuff you are likely after? If I don't have it in stock I'll see about pulling it in so it's quicker for you.

Also, I too second that platinum and Iridiums are a waste.. they also foul quicker if you have any problems or are a tuned car... and they can be a serious headache!

Later.

im gonna be looking for rear rotors and pads for the p5

nothing major, just stock rotors (or xdrilled if the price is right)
and some quality quiet pads

sorry for the (jacked)

back to the thread :)

[RaiderMP5]

I got 35K, and just installed the NGK V-Power plugs. I tried the Bosche platinums a while back before I knew any better, and 10K later, I put a fresh set of NGK's on, and all is well. $6 is not bad, and they are so easy to swap.

[aMaff]

Where can I get a good set of spark plug wires (online, preferably) and what kind?

[mogi]

just hit up your local auto china (autozone, checker, advance, etc), they should have replacement wires...

nology wires and all that is mostly hype, you won't notice any performance difference, they might last a bit longer over rough conditions in time...

[goldstar]

NA... BKR5E's are fine... turbo I'd go with BKR6E's

Also, stay away from extended reach (should anyone recommend them)... while they work and feel great etc.... they in some ways are comparable to advancing your timing by about 5 degrees due to the flame front position change and the additional heat buildup that tends to occur... (those are Z series plugs by NGK)... which is bad in both cases because it tends to lead to detonation.

Based on TheMAN's write-up and recommendation, I've been running the NGK Extended Reach plugs, ZFR5F-11, for 11,000 miles. It's true that this probably results in some additional spark advance because ignition takes place closer to the center of the fuel charge (I don't think it's as much as 5 degs advance, however) but to offset any potential detonation problems due to the plug nose reaching farther into the combustion chamber, I also switched to 89 octane fuel along with the plug change. I have never experienced any detectable detonation even under severe engine loading. I pulled no.1 plug after ~ 5,000 miles and noted that the nose and electrodes had the proper choclate brown color so I'm assuming no adverse effects from the plug change. After 15,000 miles, I'll pull all the plugs and change them. If everything still looks good I'll go with the extended reach types again.

The principal benefits I've found are first, the engine seems to rev more freely and reach high RPM's more quickly and second, a smoother and quicker launch from a standstill as compared with the OEM plugs. These differences aren't profound but they are readily noticeable. The only disadvantage, of course, is the extra cost of 89 octane particularly in today's market.

[capnsavem]

Where can I get a good set of spark plug wires (online, preferably) and what kind?

oem man. the others are basiclly for aesthetic purposes imo ;)

[TurfBurn]

the extended are most dangerous on FI cars... NA you should be "ok" with... but again... risk for not a lot of gain.. but yes they did indeed run and idle smoother and the like... I agree... I ran them for a while myself...

I'll have to find the spark advance statements again... I found that figure somewhere specifically.

[TurfBurn]

A quick search yielded the following quote "if you change from a regular gap or retracted gap plug to a projecting nose type it may be necessary to retard the [ignition] advance slightly." A.Graham Bell, Four Stroke Performance Tuning

[aMaff]

Um...I found some NGK V-Powers at Advance (http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=NGK&mfrpartnumber=6953&parttype=960&ptset=A) for $1.68....are those the right ones? If so, I'm goin as soon as my sorry ass gets off work...I just saw the price and went (omg)

[TurfBurn]

yeah.. thos are the right ones... the 11 is a factor that means they are gapped to like 44 thousandths from the factory (but recheck it... as it usually isn't that well gapped. )

[mogi]

$1.68? they show up as $1.99 here (it made me enter my zip code)

damn them for price fixing!

[aMaff]

cool, thanks. The price kinda threw me...seemed real, REAL cheap, but, ya, that'll work.