What spark plugs & reading your plugs...

['88740GL]

I have heard that not many cars like NGK spark plugs.... including volvo's?, well the 740. I took my car in for a service, because the old plugs were seized into the head to a point where i didn't want to risk snapping them off..same with the oil drain plug...sigh! damn mechanics with air wrench's.. ' lets torque it down with 300 ft.lbs'...

Any way, the new plugs he put in are NGK 'R's, blue writing, didnt see a plug number, but i'm guessing its a hot running plug, as the ceramic insulator on the electrode is long and to my amazment, its still as clean as it was the 1000 miles or so it was put in...no grey brown deposits at all, no soot, nothing.. even the ground electrode is whiteish....... are these plugs suitable for this engine? its a B200E...

Any bosch recommendations?

thanks!

[doingitsideways]

I use Bosch super 4's in my B6254, whole different generation of engine though I suppose.

The standard Volvo jobbies I took out had a 3 way electrode anyway.

Anyway, these tend to generate a good spark as thers's 4 electrodes to choose from!

Although I must admit, years ago I condemmed an engine in my Escort after a super 4 failed. Only clocked when I swapped them over to the engine I got from a scrappers: "I might aswell put them in, they've only done about a thousand miles, if that!!" Low and behold, new engine running on 3 aswell... DOH!!

HTH

Steve

[stegreg]

Dont forget there are very few manufacturers of spark plugs still going these days and they produce for all the other companies, simply by printing their companies branding on the ceramic insulators so going by a name alone can often be misleading, same goes for filters [ oil, air & fuel].

I have used ngk's for over 25 years and they have never let me down or anyone in the garages I have works at in the past, choosing the correct plug type is more important than just brand name alone, so either search online for a spark plug manufacturer and check their catalogue online or easier still get your local parts stockist to do the legwork and make your choice from their availability and price range.

PS, dont just try halfrauds either, try a proper car spares store/shop.

['88740GL]

Originally Posted by doingitsideways

I use Bosch super 4's in my B6254, whole different generation of engine though I suppose.

The standard Volvo jobbies I took out had a 3 way electrode anyway.

Anyway, these tend to generate a good spark as thers's 4 electrodes to choose from!

Although I must admit, years ago I condemmed an engine in my Escort after a super 4 failed. Only clocked when I swapped them over to the engine I got from a scrappers: "I might aswell put them in, they've only done about a thousand miles, if that!!" Low and behold, new engine running on 3 aswell... DOH!!

HTH

Steve

Double Doh! That must of been a kick in the nuts when you realised that! especially if you took the old engine out and refitted the new one yourself!

The plugs i have in my volvo are single electrode, and the spark is pretty strong, but i'd like the reassurance of 2,3 or 4 electrodes, epecially after fitting 4 bosch super 4+ into my brothers peugeot 206 after an odd missfire every so often and the difference it made! The old ones were NGK R's 6.

[boxman]

Originally Posted by '88740GL

I have heard that not many cars like NGK spark plugs.... including volvo's?, well the 740. I took my car in for a service, because the old plugs were seized into the head to a point where i didn't want to risk snapping them off..same with the oil drain plug...sigh! damn mechanics with air wrench's.. ' lets torque it down with 300 ft.lbs'...

Any way, the new plugs he put in are NGK 'R's, blue writing, didnt see a plug number, but i'm guessing its a hot running plug, as the ceramic insulator on the electrode is long and to my amazment, its still as clean as it was the 1000 miles or so it was put in...no grey brown deposits at all, no soot, nothing.. even the ground electrode is whiteish....... are these plugs suitable for this engine? its a B200E...

Any bosch recommendations?

thanks!

I use only genuine volvo plugs for my b230ft. I was always taught that a white plug is too lean and a light brown / grey deposit was a sign of a car running well. Mine are always white when I take then out and I have always thought that I have a small air intake leak that was causing the problem? Maybe not? I have heard more stories of these engine running rich rather than lean....

John

[stevo48]

Originally Posted by boxman

I use only genuine volvo plugs for my b230ft. I was always taught that a white plug is too lean and a light brown / grey deposit was a sign of a car running well. Mine are always white when I take then out and I have always thought that I have a small air intake leak that was causing the problem? Maybe not? I have heard more stories of these engine running rich rather than lean....

John

Got to agree with the above, i use only genuine volvo spark plugs and have found they do make a difference.

Spark plug diagnosis; http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/t.../diagnosis.htm

[doingitsideways]

Originally Posted by '88740GL

Double Doh! That must of been a kick in the nuts when you realised that! especially if you took the old engine out and refitted the new one yourself!

The plugs i have in my volvo are single electrode, and the spark is pretty strong, but i'd like the reassurance of 2,3 or 4 electrodes, epecially after fitting 4 bosch super 4+ into my brothers peugeot 206 after an odd missfire every so often and the difference it made! The old ones were NGK R's 6.

Something like that mate!

Language that'd make a pikey blush!!

I wouldn't mind so much if I hadn't stripped the old engine to bits, rebuilt the head, new cam belt while it was off etc first.

You never check the simple things do you?!

Steve

['88740GL]

Originally Posted by doingitsideways

Something like that mate!

Language that'd make a pikey blush!!

I wouldn't mind so much if I hadn't stripped the old engine to bits, rebuilt the head, new cam belt while it was off etc first.

You never check the simple things do you?!

Steve

It's always the way, its one of those things in life that you try and avoid by taking the obvious steps, but it still bites you in the ass when you assume it should be ok! lol , well, for working on cars that is..that and women, and work!

['88740GL]

Ok guys, heres a link to a picture of my 4 new NGK plugs that i pulled after 1000 miles, they look too clean and the 4th plug (can't see it on here) had some molten greenish substance burned onto the earthing electrode...i am using castrols valvemaster lead replacement as its an engine that the owners manual, and the haynes manual state that 98 RON 4 star petrol is to be used as its a 10.1 compression petrol engine and not every fuel station gives it octane rating it just says 'premium'..but that means bugger all to me haha


Too lean, or too clean?... - http://i1041.photobucket.com/albums/...L/PICT0061.jpg