Vehicle feels slightly more sluggish after new spark plug change
- Thread starter apollo18
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ty however it was the 4 pack denso box that is fully sealed. so i just hoped the denso maker didn't drop it ahahah cuz otherwise it has a plastic tubing to protect the tip and theres no way someone opened it before me
Why at 30k miles? That is like a copper plug's life span not iridium. What is the recommended replacement interval per Hyundai? I bet its not 30k miles.
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- Jun 26, 2023
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Not a Hyundai, but Turbo Mazda3 2.3/2.5 specs every 40k-ish. Iridium. And they're usually trashed at that mileage if the car is driven spiritedly.
eh seems like the more i drive it, it feels 'normal'. i am certain if someone else drove it they would say it drives fine as well. i think mind games after all, just gotta forget about it cuz im too lazy to check the gap and etc. considering it was a sealed 4 pack from denso, i have high hopes the factory gap was set and not dropped
I was wondering about this, if there was a wider gap in the older plugs
If it's bugging you, go grab a $5 gapping tool and pull them out and check them. Doesn't take long.
I always check, even if they come pre-gapped. I have never gotten a set that didn't need some adjusting.
I always buy plugs from RockAuto. Except, I got a set of autolites for my sons KIA Rio on eBay. NOt sure if they're fake or not, considering the price point for them, can't imagine they're worth faking. His car burns a lot of oil, so just throwing a new set in every 30K at this point.
I always check, even if they come pre-gapped. I have never gotten a set that didn't need some adjusting.
I always buy plugs from RockAuto. Except, I got a set of autolites for my sons KIA Rio on eBay. NOt sure if they're fake or not, considering the price point for them, can't imagine they're worth faking. His car burns a lot of oil, so just throwing a new set in every 30K at this point.
Tbh now that I think of it that was probably it
Idk if it’s a thing but after a few days of driving it feels good now
Maybe I got used to the performance now but it runs good
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100 percent need to be gapped, maybe I'm unlucky but except for a set of e3 plugs over the past 35 years I've always had to adjust the gap on at least 2 of the plugs before install. Shipping by mad Johnny at the docks who throws things around will always occur somewhere in the line.
If one of them is dropped or receives that kind of shipping force it is very likely ruined. A dropped S plug is a ruined S plug.
or a broken clock is right 2 times a day...
I think that is a parts place or dealership recommendation in this case here as it says check your owner manual but to your point I have seen a few specific models recommend short intervals for sure. Early Hemis used copper plugs and required a 30k or somewhere around there plug change. I have serviced BMW M series and MB AMG series with 60k mile intervals but never seen a car with long life plugs be recommended at 30k miles but I sure they're out there. Good post thank you.
I’ll propose something different here.
Sometimes roughness and loudness also tells us it’s powerful. The very fact that you noted that it’s smoother suggests that there’s a change. However “smooth” can “feel like” or ‘mask’ the raw sensation of power.
You did all the numbers right. I’d say drive it and enjoy.
Sometimes roughness and loudness also tells us it’s powerful. The very fact that you noted that it’s smoother suggests that there’s a change. However “smooth” can “feel like” or ‘mask’ the raw sensation of power.
You did all the numbers right. I’d say drive it and enjoy.
Back when people were switching from points to capacitive discharge ignition there were instructions to open the plugs up from .028 or so to .055. A bigger gap is better for catching and lighting molecules of gasoline, all else being equal, so it can easily run better or feel like it is.
The gap they give you is a "service replacement" gap and is expected to grow in service, going to and through the perfect gap until it's degraded (wide) enough to require re-gapping. It doesn't grow much on iridium, but, still...
It's harder on your coils to jump a wider gap but they're engineered with a gap growth in mind, and yours appear to have been doing just fine. There are pics all over the internet of neglected cars with .100+ gaps that "ran fine."
The gap they give you is a "service replacement" gap and is expected to grow in service, going to and through the perfect gap until it's degraded (wide) enough to require re-gapping. It doesn't grow much on iridium, but, still...
It's harder on your coils to jump a wider gap but they're engineered with a gap growth in mind, and yours appear to have been doing just fine. There are pics all over the internet of neglected cars with .100+ gaps that "ran fine."
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