JCM76

I am due for a service this month, and was thinking of changing the plugs.

Has anyone got any recommendations, (not sure what plugs are in at the moment). I've been thinking HKS or K+N plugs.

Also has anyone got any tips for actually fitting them (not much room is there). Or do I get the dealer to do it

stv555

Piece of cake...I have used the standard NGK plugs in mine and am running 17psi. One set changed at 30k - there were still in perfect order. PFR6B-11 is the part no. around £5.00 each I think.

I think the dealers do the plugs from below when they remove the lower shield to renew the oil and filter.

I managed to do mine in about 45mins. from the top, you need to remove the air filter upper casing and air duct on the driverside and the washer bottle needs moving out of the way on the passenger side. Using a 3/8" drive ratchet and short extension it is straight forward...remember to grease the threads with copper grease and start the plug off in the head by hand before applying the wrench.

SCOTTY

stv555,

Please tell me where you bought your plugs from!!! As mine were £11 each From main dealer though.

JCM76,

It's a pissing about job which takes time but will save you £60+ at a main dealer. Just be very careful when putting them in so you don't cross thread. Took me 2 hours but I was being extremely careful about everything I touched. Air con pipe was a nuisance and I had to bend it out of the way a little. just follow stv555's instructions.

Scotty

Bob Rawle

Couple of thoughts, don't use copper grease, gaps are 0.7/0.8 mm and you really need to use a floating socket and extension for easiest use. Don't overtighten either, use the manufactuureres recommended torque figures and you will have no problems. Copper grease can contaminate the electrodes and even that will carbon up on plug threads. As the heads are aluminium there is really no need.
Bob

stv555

These are not the easiest to get hold of...I bought a load of these when I put in a largish order to NGK a while back...I have quattro as well and am loathe to pay Audi £16.00 a shot for plugs. If you nedd some e-mail me I'll have to check what I have got stashed.

Bob I don't quite agree about your comments about the copper grease..provided you don't dollop it on the plug and are sensible about not getting it near the electrode.

Apart from working in the trade for 15 years (my father for 30yrs.) this is an accepted procedure which prevents the nasty reaction between the spark plug shell material (does not matter who makes the plug Bosch, NGK or Champion)which has ferrous content and the alloy in the head. BMW, Rover,Peugeot and Nissan are amongst many which suffer these problems. I understand what you are saying re electrode contamination but I would rather end up up with a dead plug than a damaged cylinder head even though thread repair inserts are available.At the end of the day personal preference prevails.

Bob what's your view on the cambelt thread I started bearing in mind the pulley prob. you had ?

Bob Rawle

Copper grease ... I tend to stick to what I know works and this works for me. Subaru don't recommend greasing but thats no criteria to judge I agree. BTW Nickel plated plugs would not react at all.

Pulleys ... simple case of water contamination ... bearings were still intact ... just a bit noisy, four new ones for safety, belt was still good and I was no where near 45k.

Views on cam belt ? Change it at 45k or be prepared for the consequences ... it might go on till 90k or it might go on till 46k ... one things sure the pistons and valves will usually make contact if it goes ... large bill methinks.

Having been involved in the Vauxhall cam belt pulley saga then I would personally recommend that cam pulleys are always changed at the same time as the cam belt ... expensive at the time it may be but its one area that should not be cheapskated IMHO. The pulley bearings have a hard life in there.

Bob




[This message has been edited by Bob Rawle (edited 20 January 2001).]

JCM76

Thanks for the help chaps, any problems, I'll get back to you.

cheers. James

stratman

Bob

I was about to fit spark plugs today and thought I will just check the BBS before I start. Bob, I noticed that you say the gaps should be 0.7/0.8mm but the handbook says 1.0/1.1mm. Which is correct? I checked the old ones and they were set to 0.7/8mm.

Anyway I have set them at 0.7/0.8mm, hope that this OK.

Also I didnt have a torque wrench, so I tightened them finger tight plus half a turn with the socket set. Is this critical?

Bob Rawle

Those gaps are for the normally aspirated engines, o.7/0.8 is the correct gap for the Platinum plugs used in the turbo, Tightening, what you have done is ok, without a torque wrench finger tight plus 1/4 to 1/2 turn is about right.