I havent changed the plugs on my wifes 09 forester with a NA engine. It's PZEV with SOHC and Variable lift cam and Ive read they are double platinum from the factory. Subaru has a maintence requirement to change plugs at 30K miles. This seems silly if they are double platinum. Anybody change their plugs on a late model forester and are they double platinums and how did they look?
SUBARU Stock Sparkers Double Platinum?
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30 to 50K sounds good.
I would go with NGK IR Plugs.
Ken
I would go with NGK IR Plugs.
Ken
You've been misinformed. At our dealership, only the traditional copper plugs get changed at 30K. We do the platinum and iridium plugs at 60K- and even that's early. They can go to 70K and still be fine. As for double tips, I'd have to look into that. I can't remember seeing any on the shelf, but I could be wrong. Our Subaru brand plugs are NGK.
Originally Posted By: ethangsmith
We do the platinum and iridium plugs at 60K- and even that's early. They can go to 70K and still be fine.
Good to know on platinums. My wife has a 2005 Legacy GT (2.5L turbo) and the dealer surprisingly recommended using 90k as interval. It ended up being 94k for us but we did not get a single CEL or running issue thus far.
We do the platinum and iridium plugs at 60K- and even that's early. They can go to 70K and still be fine.
Good to know on platinums. My wife has a 2005 Legacy GT (2.5L turbo) and the dealer surprisingly recommended using 90k as interval. It ended up being 94k for us but we did not get a single CEL or running issue thus far.
I don't know what is in my 2007 Outback but the factory ones are still in the engine with 50k on it. I'm not going to replace them till they need it.
So far MPG, operation is still like new.
I think the 30k service is more for adding the stop leak to make sure no issues with head gaskets are going to happen while in warranty.
Bill
So far MPG, operation is still like new.
I think the 30k service is more for adding the stop leak to make sure no issues with head gaskets are going to happen while in warranty.
Bill
gathermewool
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According to my '08 STI OM, the plugs are due at 60kmi.
I've been wondering about the Subaru additive, honestly. The head gaskets haven't been a problem since the early 2000s, so why is it still required to be added? My Super Blue coolant isn't required to be changed until 100kmi, but I wonder if what you say is true, and the additive still needs to be added. That doesn't make much sense, really...
I've been wondering about the Subaru additive, honestly. The head gaskets haven't been a problem since the early 2000s, so why is it still required to be added? My Super Blue coolant isn't required to be changed until 100kmi, but I wonder if what you say is true, and the additive still needs to be added. That doesn't make much sense, really...
If I dont have the plugs done - is it bye-bye to the factory 60K engine warranty if ANYTHING happens? I cant see replacing double platinums at 30K. The car currently has 43k mile on it.
I'm not sure about warranty issues. I think if you over run them too far they may void it. It's tough to say. Contact your local Subaru dealer and ask them.
As for head gaskets, they are still an issue on the 2.5L engines. We do several sets of head gaskets each week. We also HIGHLY don't recommend using the "stop leak & conditioner" as it will clog your coolant passages and radiator- which makes the engine run hotter and pop the head gaskets anyway. The best insurance against head gasket failure is to use only Subaru coolant. You cannot use any coolant that contains silicates or borates in Subarus- the OEM coolant doesn't have any of these and will work best in the cooling system.
As for head gaskets, they are still an issue on the 2.5L engines. We do several sets of head gaskets each week. We also HIGHLY don't recommend using the "stop leak & conditioner" as it will clog your coolant passages and radiator- which makes the engine run hotter and pop the head gaskets anyway. The best insurance against head gasket failure is to use only Subaru coolant. You cannot use any coolant that contains silicates or borates in Subarus- the OEM coolant doesn't have any of these and will work best in the cooling system.
Well my Forester is using regular green coolant and no coditioner. It will get changed every 30kish so I don't know why I would ever have HG issues.
If I was using platinums in a non-turbo motor I'd change when they become a problem, not before. Now I know the Iridiums in mine take some abuse and are a bit past their 60k change date so when I get to it I will swap them. I just want to see what the factory plugs look like anywho.
If I was using platinums in a non-turbo motor I'd change when they become a problem, not before. Now I know the Iridiums in mine take some abuse and are a bit past their 60k change date so when I get to it I will swap them. I just want to see what the factory plugs look like anywho.
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Originally Posted By: ethangsmith
I'm not sure about warranty issues. I think if you over run them too far they may void it. It's tough to say. Contact your local Subaru dealer and ask them.
...
SO I can tell if I have (plug related) engine misfire if I get a misfire MIL lamp? Is this ECU sophioisticated enough to resolve individual cylinder misfire? I would think the dealer couldnt void warranty unless any issue was proved as plug-failure related. If this engine eats dual-platinum NGK plugs in 30k it is a poorly design piece of junk.
I'm not sure about warranty issues. I think if you over run them too far they may void it. It's tough to say. Contact your local Subaru dealer and ask them.
...
SO I can tell if I have (plug related) engine misfire if I get a misfire MIL lamp? Is this ECU sophioisticated enough to resolve individual cylinder misfire? I would think the dealer couldnt void warranty unless any issue was proved as plug-failure related. If this engine eats dual-platinum NGK plugs in 30k it is a poorly design piece of junk.
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Well my Forester is using regular green coolant and no coditioner. It will get changed every 30kish so I don't know why I would ever have HG issues.
You have the XT aka turbo 2.5L, none of the turbo Subaru's have head gasket problems.
Well my Forester is using regular green coolant and no coditioner. It will get changed every 30kish so I don't know why I would ever have HG issues.
You have the XT aka turbo 2.5L, none of the turbo Subaru's have head gasket problems.
My 2.2L subaru tore through plugs. I always used bosch platinums. and at 30,000 miles they were usually eroded to .044" inch, when IIRC spec was .030 or something like that. I ran that car pretty hard tho--- and it was a wasted spark ign back then.
I changed the plugs (first change ever) in our '06 (3.0L) Subaru Tribeca at 115,000 miles and they looked essentially new and were still well within spec. Next change won't be before at least 250,000. Also have a 3.0L Outback with 90K with no plug change ever and it runs perfectly. Won't even think about plugs till 150K.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Well my Forester is using regular green coolant and no coditioner. It will get changed every 30kish so I don't know why I would ever have HG issues.
You have the XT aka turbo 2.5L, none of the turbo Subaru's have head gasket problems.
I know but some people don't believe that and think they all do. I guess was a just reaffirming for the sake of reaffirming
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Well my Forester is using regular green coolant and no coditioner. It will get changed every 30kish so I don't know why I would ever have HG issues.
You have the XT aka turbo 2.5L, none of the turbo Subaru's have head gasket problems.
I know but some people don't believe that and think they all do. I guess was a just reaffirming for the sake of reaffirming
This fall I did the 30K on my 2008 Legacy 2.5i. It also recommended 30K plug change. I got new plugs from the dealer, they were NOT double-tipped and they were exactly what I pulled out of my car. The plugs I pulled out looked brand-new but I changed them anyway since they were already out and I didn't want warranty to come into question later. If I didn't care about warranty, no way would I have replaced them.
I don't know if they were platinum or iridium. They weren't copper though, that's for sure. They had a triangular electrode on them.
Andy
I don't know if they were platinum or iridium. They weren't copper though, that's for sure. They had a triangular electrode on them.
Andy
How bout brand and part number? Was engine DOHC? The OM and the NGK site shows them as double platinum. STD gap would be 1.1mm which id 43-44mils. I would NOT use IR in the NA motor since the ignition is daul resonant with neagative firing - the IR has too small a center for neg firingh IMO. They are more for reduced misfire with coil-on-plug systems than use relatively "weak" coils. My subarus has dual fire coils like a Ford 302 or Buick 3800.
The 1992 SVX used a platinum plug and the replacement interval was 60K, just like the timing belt replacement.
There is a job that the Stealerships were charging about $30 per plug in labor and $9-10 per plug WAY BACK WHEN!
1st remove the battery, battery box, and air intake & filter assembly: then you better have a complete set of 3/8 & 1/4" extensions and make sure you don't break the coils or coil wires off when you remove those.
No lift? Better have long skinny arms and thick skin on your knuckles!
Actually, a breeze the 2nd or 3rd time you do it: MUCH easier than replacing the valve cover gaskets (better unbolt those front engine mounts and jack up the motor an inch if you don't want to trash the gaskets or the covers themselves...).
Seriously, every 60K ought to do it UNLESS THE FACTORY WARRANTY MANUAL LISTS SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AS A REQUIRED 30K SERVICE!
There is a job that the Stealerships were charging about $30 per plug in labor and $9-10 per plug WAY BACK WHEN!
1st remove the battery, battery box, and air intake & filter assembly: then you better have a complete set of 3/8 & 1/4" extensions and make sure you don't break the coils or coil wires off when you remove those.
No lift? Better have long skinny arms and thick skin on your knuckles!
Actually, a breeze the 2nd or 3rd time you do it: MUCH easier than replacing the valve cover gaskets (better unbolt those front engine mounts and jack up the motor an inch if you don't want to trash the gaskets or the covers themselves...).
Seriously, every 60K ought to do it UNLESS THE FACTORY WARRANTY MANUAL LISTS SPARK PLUG REPLACEMENT AS A REQUIRED 30K SERVICE!
It does require 30K changeout and I wont. Makes no sense. NO std output non-turbo CAR I am aware of requires plug changes with premium NGK dual platinum plugs at 30K intervals! Stealership Moneymaker pure and simple. If the thing starts misfiring - the MIL lamp will light. With a subaru it will most likely be a coil gone south (had six or seven of these Fuji's over the years ...)
That really seems like a lot of maintenance for a modern car. Especially an asian car.
We must be getting too used to 100k miles before any service is done besides wear items.
We must be getting too used to 100k miles before any service is done besides wear items.
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