spark plugs

[Archers]

ay fella i have a vx v6 and have spitfire spark plugs that i have had in my car for the last two yrs. is there any point in taking them out to clean them? and what would i use? thanxs scott

[VT-565]

2 years? Clean them??

CHANGE THEM!! they're cheap mate.

[Archers]

2 years? Clean them??

CHANGE THEM!! they're cheap mate.

they are 130 for a set how is that cheap?

[Ozzie]

they are 130 for a set how is that cheap?

you got your $130 worth outa 2 years didnt ya?

get some new ones

[VT-565]

they are 130 for a set how is that cheap?

How is that dear? lol

It's 20 cents a day. You could feed a Ugandan family for that.

[Archers]

How is that dear? lol

It's 20 cents a day. You could feed a Ugandan family for that.

well thats why i got them thought they where good for 5yrs lol.

[Ozzie]

you could use 180 grade wetndry to clean them but id say after 2 years there would be a fair bit of wear on them.

If you have a feeler gauge you could sand them back flat and tap them back to 1.5-2.0mm though

[Archers]

you could use 180 grade wetndry to clean them but id say after 2 years there would be a fair bit of wear on them.

If you have a feeler gauge you could sand them back flat and tap them back to 1.5-2.0mm though

when i say they have been in the car for two yrs they have only done just over 8000kms proberbly should have stated that. still replace them? or just clean

[Ozzie]

yep if its only 8000kms youd get away with cleanin em

[Tom_1569]

I thought these plugs were good for 100,000 K's?
If thats the case I wouldnt worry, maybe later on there life give them a light rub with some fine wet n dry so get rid of any crud.

[Archers]

I thought these plugs were good for 100,000 K's?
If thats the case I wouldnt worry, maybe later on there life give them a light rub with some fine wet n dry so get rid of any crud.

thats what i thought as well seems to be wrong, thanxs for the input fellas

[djeyecon]

picked up 6 ngk iridiums for 100 bucks. cant go wrong

[pablo]

Hey, you had better replace them pronto, I will send you my address and you had better send them to me! LOL

Bugger me, I have had my NGK standard plugs in for 46,649 K's, (3years 8 mth's,) haven't even looked at them. When I replaced the previous lot at the recommended 40,000, I felt that I was wasting my dosh, as they looked just about as good as the day I put them in.

Come on postman!

Pablo

[pablo]

Oh, and don't use wet n dry, use only a file to get the ark faces square and FLAT to get the correct gap (1.5mm) Thin files, sometimes called 'magneto files' are available at auto shops, you will get nothing flat with emery paper.

Pablo

[Ozzie]

Oh, and don't use wet n dry, use only a file to get the ark faces square and FLAT to get the correct gap (1.5mm) Thin files, sometimes called 'magneto files' are available at auto shops, you will get nothing flat with emery paper.

Pablo

how u gunna get the correct gap by using a file?
he only wants to clean them not grind them lol
and in any case hed need a feeler gauge to get the correct gap

[Archers]

Hey, you had better replace them pronto, I will send you my address and you had better send them to me! LOL

Bugger me, I have had my NGK standard plugs in for 46,649 K's, (3years 8 mth's,) haven't even looked at them. When I replaced the previous lot at the recommended 40,000, I felt that I was wasting my dosh, as they looked just about as good as the day I put them in.

Come on postman!

Pablo

lol great one m8 ,yeah thats why i asked the question, i have alot of time on my hands since i throw in my job and was thinking of doing this! cant hurt. so can i clean them with petrol? or carby cleaner?

[accentstencil]

Whether you use a file or emery paper you will probably still need to adjust the gap. I would also use the magneto file as pablo suggests but I am guilty of using emery paper in the past.

[greenacc]

carby cleaner or petrol won't work cos the crud is baked on and needs to be filed or sanded off. IMO after 8000k's they prob wont need much work at all unless your burnin oil

[ImAHoon!]

do not regap used plugs.

chances are this will result in the ends breaking off inside your engine!

if the plugs need regapping, buy some new plugs.

$4 each for standard plugs, and you honestly won't notice the slightest difference, especially on a commodore.

[RVN 355]

do not regap used plugs.

chances are this will result in the ends breaking off inside your engine!

if the plugs need regapping, buy some new plugs.

$4 each for standard plugs, and you honestly won't notice the slightest difference, especially on a commodore.

i agree with you 100 %,i agree stock plugs are the no dramas.

[RVN 355]

i agree with you 100 %,i agree stock plugs are the no dramas.

Hey scott its the 300ZX bloke... your long life plugs are doing fine if you cant see any reason to take them out then DONT.. they are better off stayin where they are... after 8,000kms they should still be like new..

Unless your car becomes bad on fuel, hesitates or misfires.. just let them go!

[VT-565]

It's more than just kilometres with plugs. Heat cycles determines life, insulators crack, electrodes fatigue, it's not really worth umming and aahing about them. Just put stock replacements in and gap them to the MANUFACTURERS specs, not what your uncle's cat's former owners daughters dads cousin-in-law says.

Oh and by the way, its' a 'points file', not a magneto file lol

[pablo]

Plugs these days are 'self cleaning', provided the correct heat range is used. The modern fuel injected engine, using lead free fuel, leaves virtually no deposits in the combustion chamber or on the spark plug porcelain insulator. The modern oils are also 'low ash', and unless the engine is a very high miler, the plugs will have no appreciable deposits on them that require cleaning.
The center electrode and the earth anode will eventually spark erode away a little, requiring filing to clean them up flat, then re-set the gap to 1.5mm by bending the earth anode till the feeler guage just slips in.
But since this is now a 'throw away' society, and the plugs are less than $4 each, at the factory recomended interval, (40K), above isn't necessary. Just ditch them and fit new.

Pablo

[minux]

do not regap used plugs.

chances are this will result in the ends breaking off inside your engine!

if the plugs need regapping, buy some new plugs.

$4 each for standard plugs, and you honestly won't notice the slightest difference, especially on a commodore.

well said, so sick of people saying "I bought these super awesome happy time plugs and leads and now my car makes 490killawasps". Until you start running pretty quick times, plugs will not make any difference to your car, nor will the leads. Use stock ones, save your money sheesh, some people are so gullible.

[VT-565]

well said, so sick of people saying "I bought these super awesome happy time plugs and leads and now my car makes 490killawasps". Until you start running pretty quick times, plugs will not make any difference to your car, nor will the leads. Use stock ones, save your money sheesh, some people are so gullible.

"But it's got 6 earth straps instead of 1!! it will burn 6 times faster, hotter and more powerful! Why put a supercharger on when you can get these plugs!!....."

You think we're bad, you should see the Yanks and the crap they've got on the market....If I was a piston, I'd go 4 point lock up at BDC cause I'd be too scared to go near some of these new plugs lol