is regapping plugs a thing of the past??
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A LOT of plugs today come from the factory "pre-gapped" but there are enough times when that gap is not correct, you should at least check it before you install. Of course with multi tip electrodes is it not possible to regap.
If the plugs are costly and look to be in excellent condition with not too much mileage I would regap and reinstall, if the plugs are cheap to replace I would buy new ones, and keep the old as a back up in case there are problems with the new ones.
Everything I have read says that you should never switch their positions (to a different cylinder) and NEVER re-gap them. I am not sure I understand why. I used to "rotate" my spark plugs all the time when I had cars that just did not run the way they should. It did a good job of keeping the dirty ones cleaner and swapping the clean ones to the dirty cylinders once in a while. I have personally re-gapped and reinstalled plugs in many newer cars with no negative effects. I do not see why you can't/shouldn't?
Chevy...where did you read this?
As long as you "properly" regap there should be no problem. There is usually only an issue if the plugs are improperly adjusted by putting pressure on the electrode or tip causing them to fail.
As long as you "properly" regap there should be no problem. There is usually only an issue if the plugs are improperly adjusted by putting pressure on the electrode or tip causing them to fail.
I never regapped plugs; if I'm taking them out, I'm going to replace them.
that being said, I worked for a guy who had a '88 BMW M5. only got serviced at the dealer. we joked that no matter what it was in for, it was always around $400.
so, once I looked at the receipt; oil change, tire rotation, misc small stuff and regap plugs- right around $400 IIRC.
I run plugs to about 40-50K and replace them. of course, I'm mostly w/ 4 cyl now, so it's cheap.
that being said, I worked for a guy who had a '88 BMW M5. only got serviced at the dealer. we joked that no matter what it was in for, it was always around $400.
so, once I looked at the receipt; oil change, tire rotation, misc small stuff and regap plugs- right around $400 IIRC.
I run plugs to about 40-50K and replace them. of course, I'm mostly w/ 4 cyl now, so it's cheap.
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I never regapped plugs; if I'm taking them out, I'm going to replace them.
YES! I anyone knew what I had to go through to change the plugs on this thing, they would understand why I MORE THAN agree with the above statement!!
I never regapped plugs; if I'm taking them out, I'm going to replace them.
YES! I anyone knew what I had to go through to change the plugs on this thing, they would understand why I MORE THAN agree with the above statement!!
Originally Posted By: 71Chevyguy
Everything I have read says that you should never switch their positions (to a different cylinder) and NEVER re-gap them. I am not sure I understand why. I used to "rotate" my spark plugs all the time when I had cars that just did not run the way they should. It did a good job of keeping the dirty ones cleaner and swapping the clean ones to the dirty cylinders once in a while. I have personally re-gapped and reinstalled plugs in many newer cars with no negative effects. I do not see why you can't/shouldn't?
When cars with waste spark ignition come from the factory (or some at least) they had specific plugs for one side of the waste spark coil and another set for the other side. They should not be swapped. Replacements were made so they could go on either side.
So the above explains one situation where the plugs should NOT be reinstalled.
Everything I have read says that you should never switch their positions (to a different cylinder) and NEVER re-gap them. I am not sure I understand why. I used to "rotate" my spark plugs all the time when I had cars that just did not run the way they should. It did a good job of keeping the dirty ones cleaner and swapping the clean ones to the dirty cylinders once in a while. I have personally re-gapped and reinstalled plugs in many newer cars with no negative effects. I do not see why you can't/shouldn't?
When cars with waste spark ignition come from the factory (or some at least) they had specific plugs for one side of the waste spark coil and another set for the other side. They should not be swapped. Replacements were made so they could go on either side.
So the above explains one situation where the plugs should NOT be reinstalled.
Yeah, I know the Fords with waste spark had OE spark plugs with a platinum tip on one side of the engine and the other side only had the platinum on the strap. To save a couple pennies per engine. On the aftermarket side of things, those plugs are not available so you would install double platinum...
Plugs always came pre gapped.
And I always check/adjust them.
On my personal cars, I open up the gap a bit from the max listed.
Many people can break anything. But this should not discourage anyone with an IQ over 85.
And I always check/adjust them.
On my personal cars, I open up the gap a bit from the max listed.
Many people can break anything. But this should not discourage anyone with an IQ over 85.
I don't believe too many remove plugs and re-gap them these days. Some cars are lucky to have washer fluid.
On my Regal, I switch spark plugs with winter and summer. I can usually use the same set for 2-3 seasons. So for me I check the gap on them before install.
I only put 8500 to 9500 miles a year on the Regal. So half that is what each spark plug set have on them.
On my Regal, I switch spark plugs with winter and summer. I can usually use the same set for 2-3 seasons. So for me I check the gap on them before install.
I only put 8500 to 9500 miles a year on the Regal. So half that is what each spark plug set have on them.
If I am removing my cheap copper plugs I'm replacing with cheap NGK copper plugs.
All I do is check the gap when I install. Volvo is pretty good with their packaging as far as keeping a gap. Plus with the work needed to get to the plugs I am only putting in new OEM ones.
I regap mine, works fine.
I hardly ever touch plugs these days, they last forever in modern engines.
Patman
Staff member
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
YES! I anyone knew what I had to go through to change the plugs on this thing, they would understand why I MORE THAN agree with the above statement!!
I remember the first time I tried changing plugs on my 98 Firebird Formula, it took me 2 hours! But with a bit of practice I eventually got that time down to 45 minutes. It helps that I have skinny arms though, it made getting that last plug on the passenger side a lot easier.
Thankfully the LS1 Corvettes are much easier to change the plugs on than the LS1 f-bodies. Without even rushing I can easily do the plugs on my C5 in under 45 minutes.
When I owned my LT1 Firebirds, forget about it! I never attempted that myself!
YES! I anyone knew what I had to go through to change the plugs on this thing, they would understand why I MORE THAN agree with the above statement!!
I remember the first time I tried changing plugs on my 98 Firebird Formula, it took me 2 hours! But with a bit of practice I eventually got that time down to 45 minutes. It helps that I have skinny arms though, it made getting that last plug on the passenger side a lot easier.
Thankfully the LS1 Corvettes are much easier to change the plugs on than the LS1 f-bodies. Without even rushing I can easily do the plugs on my C5 in under 45 minutes.
When I owned my LT1 Firebirds, forget about it! I never attempted that myself!
How do you close/decrease the gap on a plug?
The gappers only check and increase the gap. The parts guy said to bang it on a wood table, so I did that one time with my plugs that were at .045 but supposed to be at .040. ran ok, but next set of plugs I just left them at the already gapped .045 and it ran smoother for awhile.
The gappers only check and increase the gap. The parts guy said to bang it on a wood table, so I did that one time with my plugs that were at .045 but supposed to be at .040. ran ok, but next set of plugs I just left them at the already gapped .045 and it ran smoother for awhile.
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