Spark Plugs

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

I changed the spark plugs on the Pug back last year for piece of mind.

 

Now I followed the guide in the shop (Halfords in Hull), and bought some decent looking Bosch ones. They're called 'Bosch Super Plus YTTRIUM' plugs and have '+8' in the corner. The gap picture on the side says 0.9mm, so I went and fitted them.

 

Recently when the engine is nice and warm the car is idling and seems to be misfiring. It's like a ber-ber-ber noise. A mate said it could simply be incorrect spark plug gaps. So I checked the Haynes book and it says if using Champion plugs, the gap is 0.8mm. But the Bosch ones are definitely right for the car as I double checked, but a 0.9mm gap.

 

Whats going on? Do I need to get a specific brand of plug? I was gonna pick up a gap measuring tool, but now I dunno what the blummin' gap is supposed to be

 

Any help or advice is appreciated. Car is a '88 1.9 GTi.

 

Cheers

 

 

Andy

[aCe 0]

0.8 and 0.9 seems very high. I'm sure all the one i work with are pre gapped to 0.7 which is almost generic.

 

I had 0.4 on my RX7 and 0.4 on my 3dr- both of with had iridium plugs, everything else i just gap to 0.7 and never had any problems!

[welshpug 1,657]

I just use NGk's which come pre-gapped to 0.8 and never touch them, not has any issues at all with them. (most modern plugs are not designed to be adjusted)

[rubyna 4 1 Cars]

Same as Welshpug mate i use NGK and have never had to get the ole feeler gauge out, whip um out and get the right gap mate. All the best luke..

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Thanks for your input guys. I assumed they were correctly gapped when buying them, hence why I just screwed them in. Being a decent brand like Bosch, I didn't give it a second thought. I may monitor it and then possibly buy some NGK ones.

 

Does anyone have a link to the correct ones for my car?

[aCe 0]

1.6 =

 

http://www.carsparkplugs.com/view-plugs.aspx?id=1393

 

1.9=

 

http://www.carsparkplugs.com/view-plugs.aspx?id=1394

 

 

Hope that helps

[MerlinGTI 3]

You should always check them with a feeler gauge before fitting. It only takes 2 minutes and eliminates possible factory f-ups.

 

The BCP7ES I recentely bought from hafrauds were all 0.85 which was perfect

[Alteran 1]

I always specify NGK when buying plugs as they're simply the best. You say Bosch being a decent make but that is just a myth! I work for VW which use 80% Bosch products. Which are utterly cr@p. For instance, I've been there 8 years and have replaced a Bosch AFM on average one a fortnight. VW also use Hitachi which, to date, I have never replaced a single one!

 

Sorry to go off topic. I fitted some NGK's to mine gapped to 0.8mm and it was fine. Check you haven't dropped the plug putting it in, closing the gap up. Sounds stupid but it's easily done! Or pulled the HT lead apart when you popped it off.

[pugdamo 111 2 Cars]

Always worth checking them,they cold have been dropped at some point or as already said could be factory muck up. I would say 0.8 - 0.9 would be fine.

[chocolate_o_brian 0]

Ok, think I get it a bit more now. So how come some manufacturers have a 0.8mm gap and some a 0.9mm gap, for the same car? Thats the bit I don't understand when there is a singular measurement in the Haynes manual.

 

Or is it a case of if it says 0.9mm on the packaging for example, checking the gaps to make sure they're 0.9mm. Or if it says 0.8mm, checking to see if they're all 0.8mm?

 

Either way I think I may invest in some NGK plugs, even if its the cheaper ones in the link posted above. People on here seem to be more favourable to NGK, so I think I'll go with that!!!