Date:         Sat, 12 Jun 2004 17:20:25 -0400
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon single electrode plugs

list:

in a 1.9 l, fouling, not electrode wear, is the limiting factor.
therefore, even a super duper plug that could maintain perfect electrode
geometry for 100 k mi would still fail relatively soon in a wbx. i've had
great success with autolite # 403 - 405 plugs gapped at 0.035" in our '84,
which, like all gas engines, always runs better with a new set of plugs.
the van seems to run the same in the # 403 -405 heat range, so i usually
run the cooler # 403 plugs. the rate of fouling may be a bit less with
super duper plugs due to fewer misfires, at least at first, but fouling is
still the limiting factor. frankly, it is so much fun installing new
plugs, checking the gap, putting a drop of clean motor oil on the threads,
reading the deposits on the old plugs, and doing the usual shade tree
tweeking, that i wouldn't even consider an expensive 100 k plug for a
1.9 l. our number 2 cyl is somewhat more prone to fouling, mostly dry,
powerdery, tan/grey stuff, and so i generally use a # 405 on that cyl and
clean/replace more often, and that is the most fun cyl to read plugs and
do experiments with different heat ranges. autolite plugs are made with a
relatively hard, high melting point alloy, and wear like "iron".

P.S. ANYONE READING THIS THAT CAN HELP. I CANT'T SEEM TO MAKE A NEW POST,
OR MAKE A POST WITH CHANGED SUBJECT. IN OTHER WORDS, I AM LIMITED TO
RESPONDING TO EXISTING POSTS/SUBJECTS. HOW DO I CONTACT THE LIST BOSS?

dan

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 13:19:05 -0700, Bernard <vwbus85@SHAW.CA> wrote:

>> The Bosch, Beru and NGK multi-electrode plugs have a service life of
>> 20,000
>> miles.  I don't know where you get 100,000 miles from, but here in
>> Europe,
>> no-one in their right mind would wait that long to replace their plugs.
>>
>
>I have iridium tip plugs in my daily driver Toyota Echo.
>The first scheduled spark plug change recommended in the manual
>is 196,000 Kilometers(about 120,000 miles).