Spark plugs

[Crockett59]

Hey all,


I changed the plugs in my G/F's car this past weekend, just wanted to know what the stock plugs are?(what brand) I pulled out some NGK R plugs and put in some Autolite double platnum plugs.

Car runs much better now, 2 plugs were really worn down, and all had a green tint to them. (running lean?) I'm thinking that someone changed the plugs before and installed the wrong plugs, the heat range looked off to me.

[hi-perf]

hmm im not sure, but i pulled out some NGK's when i was inspecting mine.

is it normal to have little white specs on the walls where the boot goes in? i was running very low on oil that day, long story...but i never seen these white specs in there before.

[Crockett59]

Well I don't know about the specs, but it could have been water got in there. Like salt water.

I know Babygirl's were hard to get out. They had some rust forming around the outside of the plug. So water must have gotten in there somehow, I neversiezed the new plugs and put DIEelectric grease on the boots and terminal conections.

[MotegiMazdA]

My mechanic friend at Mazda yelled at me for using anything other then NGK's. (I used bosch or something like that and the nipple from the end of it burnt off within 5k) took it to the dealership to figure out what the problem was, he said I used shitty plugs and NGK is the best.

[pdhaudio83]

white dots would be detonation=NOT GOOD

[goldwing2000]

General rule of thumb:

Either NGK or Denso for rice cars.
Bosch for German or Chrysler
Motorcraft for Ford/Lin/Merc
AC Delco for GM
Champion for Briggs & Stratton :D


Also, one thing to keep in mind: Although your owner's manual may say that you don't need to change your plugs for 60-100K miles, you better pull them out before that and anti-seize the threads. Especially if you have aluminum cylinder heads. Over time, the electricity flowing through the metal will cause galling between the steel plugs and aluminum head and you stand a good chance of destroying your head when you finally take them out.

[Crockett59]

Well what size denso's does a 2002 Protege take? With the 2.0 engine? What is the gap?

[goldwing2000]

Call the dealer or an auto parts store! Or look it up at www.napaonline.com or www.autozone.com

[Crockett59]

Call the dealer or an auto parts store! Or look it up at www.napaonline.com (http://www.napaonline.com/) or www.autozone.com (http://www.autozone.com/)(bowdown) Thanks for being a smart ASS!!!

www.densoiridium.com (http://www.densoiridium.com) IK 20's gapped at .044 just in case anyone else wanted to know.

[hi-perf]

white dots would be detonation=NOT GOOD
hmm how could my car have detonation on it...

bad gas? i never hear any knock or ping

[goldwing2000]

(bowdown) Thanks for being a smart ASS!!!


Who's being a smartass? I don't know the exact information, so I point to where it can be found. People should make at least a little effort before asking questions!

[Crockett59]

Oh sorry, I just thought that everyone here was here to HELP other people with info. I asked if anyone knew what Denso plugs would go in a protege (like someone that has put them in there) and I get told to LOOK IT UP!!!! FYI Napa does not sell denso's nor does Autozone. I know because I have tried to get some before for my truck and they had no clue what I was talking about.

[goldwing2000]

Helping and holding your hand are two different things.

If you had bothered to check the links I posted before resorting to name calling, you would have found the following information on Autozone.com:

DENSO
STANDARD PLUG 3121 $1.69

DENSO
PREMIUM PLUG 3168 $5.99

And the standard plugs are a normal store-stocked item.

Get a clue. (hand)

[Crockett59]

Once again....... Called NAPA, they never heard of Denso plugs. Stopped at Auto zone they don't have them and didn't know where I could get them. But I guess it could be because we are in Delaware. Found some at Western auto from my performance guy. Denso Iridium Ik20's

But everyonce in a while I need someone to hold my hand!!!

[Bijou-MP5]

do you know if we have to gap them whenever we buy new plugs? if so how do I gap them?

[goldwing2000]

Once again....... Called NAPA, they never heard of Denso plugs. Stopped at Auto zone they don't have them and didn't know where I could get them. But I guess it could be because we are in Delaware.

That's just crazy. I think your local parts monkeys need to go back to parts school.

At least you finally found something.

If you don't want to keep buying the iridium, you can pre-order your next set from Autozone online. Napa has NGK.

Bijou- Denso and NGK plugs come pre-gapped with plastic or cardboard protectors on the electrodes. If you want to double-check it, use either a feeler gauge or a spark plug gap gauge. Correct setting for Protege with 2.0L is .044".

[Bijou-MP5]

Bijou- Denso and NGK plugs come pre-gapped with plastic or cardboard protectors on the electrodes. If you want to double-check it, use either a feeler gauge or a spark plug gap gauge. Correct setting for Protege with 2.0L is .044".
thanks ~!!! (band2)

[SciFiMan]

FYI: My 2003 sedan had Denso I found out Saturday. I put in Bosch Platinum 2 from AutoZone (about all they had in stock at the time, but AutoLite was the other brand choice). But it's running just fine. $17 for the set and I didn't want to spend $32 for nology Silver, or $50 for NGK double platinum.

[Babygirl]

Well those spark plugs came in and we should get around to putting them in this weekend... thanks for your guys help

[impulse374]

you should always check to see that they are gapped properly. with a gapping tool all you have to do is bend the piece of metal at the end untill the gap is right. have someone show you in person.

[GNO]

Ditto, I use NGK TR55IX in my other car. I usually find a lot of float between the gaps from plug to plug. With the iridiums, you have to be very careful though. The tip can break off easily. . . then you're out $5-6.

Anyone have the P/Ns for a 2.0L? Not the type/heat range, the actual part numbers. Having the P/N makes it a hell of a lot easier to get. . . half the time, the guys behind the counter have trouble looking it up. If anyone happens to know the P/N for the extended reach. . . that'd be real helpful.

[hi-perf]

yep i prefer gapping myself.

sometimes the pregapped ones are wrong or off as well and you have to correct them

kinda defeats the purpose =/

[GNO]

If anyone happens to know the P/N for the extended reach. . . that'd be real helpful.
Found the P/N, excuse me. . . stock number:

V-Power 2262 ~$2.50
Irridium 2277 ~$6.50
Double Platinum 4363 ~$12

Turns out it's the same plug used in the 1.6L.

[mountjonas]

i pulled out denso's when i replaced mine a few weeks back. i replaced them with ngk iridiums. i had some money burning a hole in my pocket and decided that i'd rather spend that money on maintenance than junk food.

[Lil Freek]

http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4627&highlight=spark

the KFR5F-11 are like US$1.50 each online. if even. i bought them 4 for CDN$12

[Shane5425]

i pulled mine out and they are ngk.. i was workin on a tune up on a 626 with the 2.0l and got factory plugs from mazda .. NGK.. So it is safe to assume that ngk is factory specs...

[Lil Freek]

NGK IS factory spec.
on 3rd gens, anyways