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Date:         Sun, 6 Dec 2009 23:18:32 -0500
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Spark plugs: Gap ?
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <6bc66ccf0912052148p2b001058kb9d76a00b68acd3@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

How long do you think those spark plugs should last? Center electrode erosion is a normal occurrence for these engines and ignition systems. Most of the erosion occurs from the heated electrode losing some material as the electrons flow from the center electrode to the outer electrode with each spark. The normal plug replacement interval for these engines was 15,000 miles. The proper gap is only part of proper spark plug set up. The center electrode should be sharp and square, the center electrode should not only be gapped but parallel to the face of the center electrode. This all help the spark to jump "easier" under adverse conditions. The VW ignition system is really tolerant of excessive gaps until the coil says enough and fails internally from the high voltages. Lean and high speed miss fires can go unnoticed. When the center electrodes are worn enough that the plugs need to be re-gapped it is time for new plugs.

The Platinum tipped plugs have almost no center electrode erosion and the quad tips fire real easily. They are an upgrade and they easily last to 30K. As there is less "electrode mass" in the combustion chamber to glow they also help to avoid pre-ignition.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Don Hanson Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 12:49 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Spark plugs: Gap ?

Doing my fall maintence this day and I pulled the spark plugs to check how things were burning in my inline 4 jetta powered van. Easy as pie, btw, on that motor. As is usually the case they look to be in perfect tune with the mixture but again "as usual" the gap has grown a lot over about 20k miles of mainly highway driving. I put them in gapped at 30 and they were eroded or whatever out to nearly 40. What causes that? and how critical is the gap? The motor was running fine despite the way over spec gap in every plug. Re-gapped and re-inserted, I could detect no difference in how the motor sounds or runs...Would I have more power show on a dyno with the proper gap? Better starting? Cooler running? Less chance of pre-ignition? Just curious.. Don Hanson


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