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It just seemed about time and finally got to it to replace the plugs at 73,000 miles. I'm positing because the plugs came out looking pretty good, good color and no real metal deterioration. Looks are not everything and operation can vary under temperature conditions. But it ran good before I did the plugs, and still runs good. All plug gaps were under 52 thousands, close to the original setting of 50.
Plugs are a 41-906.
Additional fluff.
It did take hours to do as you know. I had the time (and other cars) and did it over a 3 day span not to burn myself out. About 2 hours for the driver's side (4 plugs). Less than 2 hours for the 2 front rights. And 3+ hours for the 2 rear right side. Only broke 1 small wire holder and was able to get it from the dealer. Was also able to get my torque wrench on all 8 plugs…believe it or not.
(New pictures, deleted photobucket)
Now you are going to embarrass me but I'll give you the truth. I use the best price on 87 that I can find. Usually use the same stations for conveyance (Marathon, BP, Racetrack and now we have Wawa). Those were the left side plugs but right side the same. My fuel trim numbers (L & S) are right at 128 give or take a couple of points.
I used 93 in the early days but really don’t drive the car that hard. I switched to 87 and have no problems at all. If the car was manual I might drive it harder and need the extra octane. Never really need to put my foot to the floor, car has plenty of get up and go.
It just seemed about time and finally got to it to replace the plugs at 73,000 miles. I'm positing because the plugs came out looking pretty good, good color and no real metal deterioration. Looks are not everything and operation can vary under temperature conditions. But it ran good before I did the plugs, and still runs good. All plug gaps were under 52 thousands, close to the original setting of 50.
Plugs are a 41-906.
Additional fluff.
It did take hours to do as you know. I had the time (and other cars) and did it over a 3 day span not to burn myself out. About 2 hours for the driver's side (4 plugs). Less than 2 hours for the 2 front rights. And 3+ hours for the 2 rear right side. Only broke 1 small wire holder and was able to get it from the dealer. Was also able to get my torque wrench on all 8 plugs…believe it or not.
I believe the factory plugs are 100K mile rated. Mine have 44K more miles to go before I change them. :-)
I believe the factory plugs are 100K mile rated. Mine have 44K more miles to go before I change them. :-)
Agreed on the 100K rating. It would be about another 4 years till I hit 100K at my current rate of mileage.
But I look at it in years also if it gets city miles cause since I'm retired it does not see expressways quits as much. I was getting nervous at that mileage and have seen the ground electrodes get thin on other plugs and breakage can occur in the cylinder.
Obviously that’s not the case here. But it takes hours to do the plugs and if you going to go thru the effort to remove them for a check, you mind as well replace them. I got a decent deal on eBay of $36 for all eight so why not put new ones in. I will keep the others for a spare.
ARE YOU ALL KIDDING.....SERIOUSLY...LOOK at the first spark plug and how the pawl is bent over to the side showing the electrode tip.
What I look at on these type of platinum spark plugs is the AIR GAP....which we KNOW should be .050"...and i can look at the plugs and see the small platinum pellets being GONE and THUS the gap is a lot wider. This effects the fuel economy and some response issues...and if the gap gets wide enough it pouts strain on the coil.
Swivels and extensions and removing the center wheel housing panel on the right side. I have down many and YES...this is a pain....but the WORST ones for me are cylinders #6 and 8. Left side just over an hour and a bit more for the the right side.
DUB
EDIT: I could swear that the first plug looked bad...but at a second look...it seems fine....weird.
I did not mean for this to be such a detailed croquette but only a show and tell. In regard to the little ****, dots, pucks or whatever you want to call it that is attached to the ground terminal (that faces the center electrode) and center electrode is still there on all plugs, some more than others.
The camera may not show true but all center electrodes are straight. I, and just for the sake of conversation measured the gap on all 4 of the displayed plugs again. All were about a loose or tight .052 as read with my gauge.
The camera does not lie but distortion may enter into the observation. Agreed if the gap gets to wide it put a strain on not only the coil, but the opti cap as well and possibly older wires.
I am glad I replaced them as I don’t have to worry about it for a good while now. My normal target is about 60K but missed it this time.
Spark Plug Replacement - 94
