Spark plugs for tuned Volkswagen MQB?

[John9721]

Hey everyone, I currently am running the Integrated Engineering Stage 1 93 tune on my ‘19 Jetta GLI. Currently I have RS7 factory plugs in it (NGK). I’ve been told by IE and other tuners to drop those plugs due to the potential of them breaking apart from the ground strap. I’m wondering what route to go, as I’m changing over to IE’s TrueFlex (E85) tune.

Some suggest OEM. Some suggest a non projected plug, such as Denso 5749. IE has mentioned the NGK R7437-9. That last mention confuses me, as it’s 2 heat ranges colder than stock, which to my understanding isn’t normally suggested on a Stage 1. Not questioning IE, just seemed strange to me based on that. Cost wise I really don’t care, they’re all expensive but I’m a little lost

 

[TiGeo]

Hey everyone, I currently am running the Integrated Engineering Stage 1 93 tune on my ‘19 Jetta GLI. Currently I have RS7 factory plugs in it (NGK). I’ve been told by IE and other tuners to drop those plugs due to the potential of them breaking apart from the ground strap. I’m wondering what route to go, as I’m changing over to IE’s TrueFlex (E85) tune.

Some suggest OEM. Some suggest a non projected plug, such as Denso 5749. IE has mentioned the NGK R7437-9. That last mention confuses me, as it’s 2 heat ranges colder than stock, which to my understanding isn’t normally suggested on a Stage 1. Not questioning IE, just seemed strange to me based on that. Cost wise I really don’t care, they’re all expensive but I’m a little lost.

For a stock heat range plug, NGK Rutheniums are excellent. You can always go with a colder-range plug. Don't get hung up the tuner's recommendations here, many just recommend what they read online or whatever was in the car they calibrated the tune with, it's not as if a stock plug won't work or a specific tune "needs" a specific type of plug or they "tune for a particular plug", it just may not be ideal in some situations (tighter gap for instance for v. high boost tunes). On MQBs it's main a defense against misfires. I've been running a tuned MQB car for 6 years with a larger turbo (IS38) and have run many different plugs without ever having an issue including just leaving the gap stock, I just change them once/year. Currently, I've been on the APR plugs...2 ranges colder and non-projected. Runs just fine and has held up to track use. Get them from FCP Euro so free for life after the first ones. BTW, on the 1.8s, there have been several folks with broken ground straps on the OEM plugs...so it's not just "RS7s"/how does that work? My hypothesis is that it's related to 1) neglect 2) inproper gapping technique and 3) counterfits. Here's my master plug table:

 

[John9721]

For a stock heat range plug, NGK Rutheniums are excellent. You can always go with a colder-range plug. Don't get hung up the tuner's recommendations here, many just recommend what they read online or whatever was in the car they calibrated the tune with, it's not as if a stock plug won't work or a specific tune "needs" a specific type of plug or they "tune for a particular plug", it just may not be ideal in some situations (tighter gap for instance for v. high boost tunes). On MQBs it's main a defense against misfires. I've been running a tuned MQB car for 6 years with a larger turbo (IS38) and have run many different plugs without ever having an issue including just leaving the gap stock, I just change them once/year. Currently, I've been on the APR plugs...2 ranges colder and non-projected. Runs just fine and has held up to track use. Get them from FCP Euro so free for life after the first ones. BTW, on the 1.8s, there have been several folks with broken ground straps on the OEM plugs...so it's not just "RS7s"/how does that work? My hypothesis is that it's related to 1) neglect 2) inproper gapping technique and 3) counterfits. Here's my master plug table:

View attachment 277754

Appreciate it man! You’re a wealth of VW knowledge, lol. I picked up a set of IKH24’s to run for the time being, I can’t see any reason why those won’t do fine.

 

[TiGeo]

Appreciate it man! You’re a wealth of VW knowledge, lol. I picked up a set of IKH24’s to run for the time being, I can’t see any reason why those won’t do fine.

They will be. I ran those at one point.