Engine: 164 2978cc: Volvo 164 correct spark plugs

[sainthonore]

Hello, I keep getting sooty plugs on my 164. Before I start tinkering with the carbs/ignition again could someone please let me know the correct ones to use. The ones in there at the moment are Volvo ones with the number 536 on them.
Thanks a lot,
Simon

[Mike_Brace]

My son Matt always uses Bosch W5DC or the NGK equivalent on his which is running with very good emissions and drives extremely smoothly.

Mike

[sainthonore]

Thanks for that, I'll get some!

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Mike_Brace

My son Matt always uses Bosch W5DC or the NGK equivalent on his which is running with very good emissions and drives extremely smoothly.

Mike

Me too.
Regards
Mike B

[Geomowat]

Originally Posted by Mike_Brace

My son Matt always uses Bosch W5DC or the NGK equivalent on his which is running with very good emissions and drives extremely smoothly.

Mike

Something I was also wondering about: the US sites seem to suggest (both B30A and B30F) the following:

Bosch W7BC or WR7BP

NGK BP6HS (which I have used in the past), BP6HVX or BPR 6HIX

Any comments?

I also wondered if those triple electrode plugs work well (the Americans seem keen on them)?

Best wishes,

George

[capt jack]

Multi-point plugs - hmmm.

A 164E was never meant to run on them, you can't set the gap, they're more pricey than the standard single point ones........

I'd only ever use single point in my 1800ES, and when I tried multi-point plugs in my 97 V70 it developed a misfire quite quickly that was only cured by replacing the plugs with the standard ones.

Jack

[Clan]

The only reason for multi-electrode plugs is longer life , the gaps are too big for a normal coil/points ignition system ..

[Geomowat]

On the subject of multi-point plugs

Originally Posted by capt jack

A 164E was never meant to run on them, you can't set the gap, they're more pricey than the standard single point ones........
Jack

Thanks, and I agree with all of the above, thus I was wondering if anyone had tales of wonderment about them!

Originally Posted by capt jack

I'd only ever use single point in my 1800ES, and when I tried multi-point plugs in my 97 V70 it developed a misfire quite quickly that was only cured by replacing the plugs with the standard ones.
Jack

Like Jack, I have only ever used the suggested plugs on any of my Volvos, the bit about the misfire makes me think that this will continue to be so. I did wonder if anyone had a comments on which ones though (see earlier post in this thread)?

Originally Posted by Clan

, the gaps are too big for a normal coil/points ignition system ..

This was one of my queries having looked at some. I had thought of fitting one of those '123' distributors, but paused for similar reasons. A friend has fitted these to two non-Volvos and although they work perfectly at last, this found just about every other component in his 1970s ignition systems to be wanting.

By the way, being down south I called into a large branch of Halfords today only to discover that they no longer stock any 12.7mm screw-length plugs (Bosch 'A' or 'B' designation or NGK 'H' ones), nor any points or condensers/capacitors at all — special order only).

[john h]

There are several good, cheap spark plug suppliers on ebay.

I recommend NGK above Bosch. Whilst almost everything else Bosch does is pretty good, friends and I have had quite a few problems with Bosch spark plugs.

Never had a problem ever with an NGK, and usually they're cheaper too.

John

[Geomowat]

Originally Posted by john h

There are several good, cheap spark plug suppliers on ebay.

I recommend NGK above Bosch. Whilst almost everything else Bosch does is pretty good, friends and I have had quite a few problems with Bosch spark plugs.

Never had a problem ever with an NGK, and usually they're cheaper too.

Thanks John, and like you, I have never had a single problem with NGK plugs in the past, so a '6' heat-rated one it will be for my standard engine (the NGK equivalent of the suggested Bosch plug at the start of this thread).

I run an older British classic and so-called specialists have always gasped to find NGK plugs in that, but I have always put this down to misguided snobbery.

Thanks again,
George