Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2004 09:18:28 -0700
Reply-To: Jim Thompson <jim@KARMANNGHIA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Thompson <jim@KARMANNGHIA.COM>
Subject: Re: Spark Plug Options for 2.1 WBX - SUMMARY
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The biggest difference between the W7CC and W7CC0 (that's right - itsa zero)
is the design and characteristics of the insulator shell portion near the
electrode tip. The "0" plug is usually specifically designed for the
vehicle it is intended for, ie: Vanagon Wasserboxer engine (and reaching
back a few years in a slightly different electrode design, the 75-79 Fuel
Injected Beetle under W8A0 or W8AC0). The W7CC is an acceptable replacement
(even as shown in VW's Microfiche & ETKA, along with Bosch references) for
the Wasserboxer. However, because of the "universal" design of the W7CC
being used in a variety of vehicles (Nissan, Toyota, etc.), it may or may
not last as long as the "0" plug. In my case, W7CC0 spark plugs usually
last as long (if not longer,) as the factory specs call for. The W7CC plug
(in my experience, others may differ,) seems to have most times been pretty
wasted by the time the mileage specs call for a spark plug change. It's
purely up to the vehicle operator.
BTW, for proper NGK interchange info:
W7CC = NGK B6ES
W7CC0 = NGK B6EY
The W7DTC Tri-Electrode Spark Plug is used extensively by Audi-VW in their
inline 4 series in the late 80s/early 90s and for strangely just one year on
the Wasserboxer (1985). I have used this plug in the past and my
seat-of-the-pants impression is that the engine runs a bit smoother with
little or no change in mileage. Some owners using this plug have commented
that passing the local emissions test is more difficult, the readings being
abit higher or exceeding the minimums on some cases. I have not had this
happen as I continue to use the W7CC0 in most driving conditions with my
rig. The proper NGK plug interchange for the W7DTC is BP6ET (Resistor
version is BPR6ET).
The Bosch 7598 is W7CC, not W7CC0. No "0" spark plugs have a 4 digit
product code according to Bosch. These plugs continue to be sold under
their designator W7CC0 (formerly W175M2), because they are not pre-packaged
in hanging boxed or blister pack sets of 4. W7CC0 standard packaging is 10
plugs per box.
The difference between the "W" numbers and the 4 digit number is purely for
marketing purposes. "W" number spark plugs come 10 to a box, the 4 digit
"market" number designators are pre-packed in quantities normally used for
what vehicles they are (or were) generally intended for (4, 6 or 8) .
The term "Super" Plug is generally what Bosch calls all of their Copper-Core
spark plugs. When Bosch went head-to-head with NGK (who had copper core
before Bosch) in the early 80s, they touted their Super Plug as being copper
core. Champion, Autolight, AC-Delco soon followed suit. Designations of
the Bosch spark plug changed as follows:
Original Bosch Long Number: W175T1
First New Bosch Number: W7C
Copper Core "Super" Number: W7CC
4 Pak Marketing Number: 7598
(Info Sources: Bosch Spark Plug Catalog #221101, dates 1975 thru 2003)
I do not have an opinion on Platinum series plugs, single or 4 electrode.
If they work for you, continue to do so. If not, continue to use what the
factory called for in the first place.
Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
oldvolkshome@earthlink.net
jim@karmannghia.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************
----- Original Message -----
From: "tabe johnson" <xtabe@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 9:01 PM
Subject: Spark Plug Options for 2.1 WBX - SUMMARY
> I've been going through the archives for the last hour and
> am summarizing my findings here.
>
> Bosch's old numbering system uses a combination of letters
> and numbers which designate the physical characteristics of
> the plug. Their new system is a four digit number.
>
>
> The Bosch OEM plug that came with the engine is called
> the Bosch "Super" plug. Its number is W7CC0 or 7598. Lots
> of people like this plug. It is cross referenced as
> an NGK B6ES.
>
> The cheaper version of the OEM plug is the Bosch W7CC.
> There was a suggestion in the archives that they don't last
> as long as the W7CC0. I was not able to determine the
> difference between the two types. Its NGK cross reference
> number is also B6ES.
>
> A couple of people vociferously recommend the Tri-electrode
> Bosch plug with the part number W7DTC. It was OEM on '85
> WBXs and is used in numerous other automotive applications
> as well. It is cross referenced to NGK BP6ET.
>
> A couple of people also recommend the Platinum plug, which
> is more expensive than the OEM one. Its Bosch number is
> 4233.
>
> There is no four electrode "Platinum +4" plug recommended
> for the 2.1L WBX.
>
> Other manufacturers apart from Bosch and NGK offer similar
> ranges of options.
>
>
> Spark up happily!
>
> --tabe johnson
> xtabe@yahoo.com
> '87 Westy
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
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