Question about GM spark plugs.....

[beny87]

I recently brought some GM spark plugs for my VX SS , and was wondering would i need to buy the tool to measure the gap or would they come ready to go straight in to my motor??


This site has helped me lots and im thankyou for the people who has given me good advise as im not got much experince on my V8 , im used to smaller cars. But ive learnt a lot in the small time ive had it and eager to learn as much as!

Thanks again..

Ben

[matqld]

They should be ok, you could always check, feeler gauges are only cheap, from memory i think the standard gap is 1 millimetre.
In there original packaging they have that plastic protector i would imagine that would prevent the end of them being bumped and possibly changing the end gap.

[machone]

you should always check you gaps on any normal spark plug on any car... buy a set of wire plug gauges....now repeat after me *always use wire plug gauges to check your spark plugs*...be careful not to overtightened the spark plug or undertighten the spark plug they should be put in by hand first to avoid cross threading then tighten up to torque....a good mechanic will torque the spark plugs up...Torque directly affects the spark plugs' ability to transfer heat out of the combustion chamber.....over torquing can cause stress factors on the plug.....A spark plug that is under-torqued will not be fully seated on the cylinder head, hence heat transfer will be slowed....if you do not have a torque wrench then id be just putting in the plug by hand until it seats then just nipping the plug up with a socket 1/4 of a turn....and you should also use anti seize on the threads.


spark plug gap im pretty sure is 1.524mm or 0.06 in......GM plugs but check

[accentstencil]

1.5mm gap is correct.

[VYMAD]

I use NGK, and never check the gap. It is 1.5mm, so my BPR6EFS15 SHOULD BE SET TO 1.5mm.
Done many plug changes and I've never checked the gap.

[edals]

I Use The GM Plugs. Never checked the Gap, I Asked the guys at holden and said they have never seen any with the wrong gap. So i dont bother lol. Found they also burn the best, and the cheapest at $4 each lol

[tooslow]

well when i had my gen3 i just bought ngk platium so that you have to buy new ones every 6months or 10,000 which ever come first and there worth it for around $25 each

[machone]

btw another tip for spark plugs although some will disagree is what is called indexing your spark plug the object is to get the gap of the plug facing the intake valve with shims and facing of the plug gap, basically its a ongoing debate but its said if a spark plug's ground strap is facing the intake valve or the cylinder, it kind of blocks the flame travel, which impairs the burn path by indexing your spark plug it can increase your horse power.....there are indexing spark plug kits you can buy to do this....a quick method before fitting your spark plug get a felt tip marker and on the plug mark where your gap is so when you put the plug in you can see which way the gap is facing sometimes it can be a bit tricky to get it facing up but you will get it or near to it but i usually just mark the plug and try to get the gap to face up....guys trying to gain more power out of there engines usually in drag racing usually know this and they index there plugs with perfection so that all gaps are facing there intake valves ive heard and read it can gain about 6hp-8hp in some cases....theres a lot of talk whether its worth the effort of indexing but it cant hurt i say theres more on it if you want to check it out....put in google.... indexing your spark plugs even NGK debates if its worth it .....http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinf...on.asp....they say For a 500hp engine, you'd be lucky to get 5hp....i dont know about you but id be happy with getting 5hp out of my engine more than normal.

[Drewie]

I am coming up for my first set of plugs in my VX SS, the first change is at 80,000km, I have enquired at Holden about the genuine plugs, and the genuine VX plugs are the Platinum plugs and are around $12 each, where as the plugs in the VY are Iridium plugs and are $20-$25 a plug. Both being precious metal plugs I am pretty sure you don't bother altering the gap, my LS1 workshop seems to want to use conventional plugs which are about $4 to $5 a plug but need changing a lot more frequently, I am yet to decide whether to go for the genuines that are in there at the moment and have been fine for close to 80,000km or go the cheaper ones.

[tooslow]

I am coming up for my first set of plugs in my VX SS, the first change is at 80,000km, I have enquired at Holden about the genuine plugs, and the genuine VX plugs are the Platinum plugs and are around $12 each, where as the plugs in the VY are Iridium plugs and are $20-$25 a plug. Both being precious metal plugs I am pretty sure you don't bother altering the gap, my LS1 workshop seems to want to use conventional plugs which are about $4 to $5 a plug but need changing a lot more frequently, I am yet to decide whether to go for the genuines that are in there at the moment and have been fine for close to 80,000km or go the cheaper ones.

why would go cheap the real good ones would last longer

[tezza]

Genuine GM plugs go for about $70 a set on Ebay.
Just picked up some for my SS and a set of leads.

[machone]

now repeat after me *always use wire plug gauges to check your spark plugs* lol...ill keep saying it you never know the gap could get bumped usually there right out of the box but for peace of mind i always check.

[wraith]

Cheaper spark plugs are better. The rare metal spark plugs are good if you don't care about spark over voltage and are lazy.

[tooslow]

in the long run you'll be paying more for the cheap plugs for every service
example

[wraith]

I don't know about every one else but I would rather stick with standard copper plugs that put out a good spark then rare metal ones.

[VYMAD]

I don't know about every one else but I would rather stick with standard copper plugs that put out a good spark then rare metal ones.

Me too ,the NGK I use have served me well over the years......

[beny87]

Thanks for all your input, i think im going to buy a wire gauge to check the gaps . It would be a investment really, i think it would be handy to know just what you are putting in your motor.
Ive allready got some anti seze and a lengh of hose pipe to get them in without crossthreading , so just going to get the gauge and away i go.

I am going to do some research about indexing them it is very interesting , never heard of it before .

I got my GM plugs off ebay , 8 for $60 it was cheaper then going to holden.

I have just fitted front braided lines as well , all i got to do is bleed the brakes with fresh oil as it was BLACK. Also done the clutch fluid at the same time.

It was not looked after by its last owner, but im changing that.

The owner before that installed cams, OTR , extracters, straight through system with no rear muffler etc...

[matqld]

1.5 mm well there ya go, forgive me for not refering to a chart or some kind of refference lol to get it exact, this is why i say "i think" or "from memory" or "dont quote me" or "check to be sure"lol, its hard to remeber every size, grade, type of everything when you play with so many toys lol, i have many times checked the gm plug gaps iv got from holden, but not for a while now lol, been lazy, like the staff at holden say "they allways good to go", "hence the plastic protector" ... but i use to sometimes give em a quick check to be sure.

Also "MACHONE" ma main man, next time you got a set plugs goin in jus try index em mate LOL, let me know how you go with em, maybe on some brands the threads are all placed perfect to ea other and inline with the electrode/tip, but i can tell ya now man, gm/holden ones are NOT you would have to go through least 30 of em to find 8 that line up right once torqued in LOL, the best i ever got was 5 in 1 set that lined up right the rest all out of whack (same torque on all and heads never over tightened) the benafit of indexing the plugs is great though you are right there, but if can you find me a set of ls1 plugs you can do it with, and ill then go buy em...