Spark plugs for 1.9, 2.1 WBX, 1.6 & 2.0 Aircooled models

Post by **HarryMann** » 23 Jul 2008, 10:57

For the Wiki..

Could someone who knows their stuff, please reply with a few lines on the original VW specs for plug types and any additional comments on gapping, current thinking, experiences (including any bad ones) etc.

Many thanks, I'll Wiki it then.

Post by **Bowton Lad** » 23 Jul 2008, 11:14

HarryMann wrote:For the Wiki..

Could someone who knows their stuff, please reply with a few lines on the original VW specs for plug types and any additional comments on gapping, current thinking, experiences (including any bad ones) etc.

In the VW Transporter/Caravelle Instruction Manual dated 7/83 Herr Volkswagen recommends the following spark plugs:-

Bosch W 7 CO

Beru 14 L-7 C

Electrode Gap in mm 0.6 - 0.8

I have always used Bosch plugs in VW engines with no problems. I have never seen Beru plugs on sale anywhere but a mate of mine says they are excellent.

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 23 Jul 2008, 20:32

Bosch +1's.
Gapped to .7mm
Or if your running on farts then gap to .6mm

Avoid Champion/Unipart plugs they are worse than sherpas.

NGK, Bosch, Beru are all good plugs.

Post by **R0B** » 23 Jul 2008, 21:01

i think they do a good job.they carry tons of stuff up everest...

they are worse than sherpas

Post by **diviy** » 23 Jul 2008, 22:14

Avoid Champion/Unipart plugs they are worse than sherpas.

NGK, Bosch, Beru are all good plugs.

funny unipart plugs are ngk inside how do i know i worked for them for six mths till they made me redundant for having a bad back wnak company but there plugs are ngk

Post by **HarryMann** » 24 Jul 2008, 00:02

Maybe it's all about quality control..

NGK might make 100 and chuck 20 away after inspection

Champion might buy those 20

Nah, Jo king, but you never know what the real deal is...

Post by **HarryMann** » 24 Jul 2008, 00:05

Anyway, Thanks Wik'd the essence including Rob's classic joke

Anyone else have any 'salient' comments, stories of woe, life expectancy/when to change youir plugs etc... ?

Post by **Bowton Lad** » 24 Jul 2008, 01:41

HarryMann wrote: Anyone else have any 'salient' comments, stories of woe, life expectancy/when to change youir plugs etc... ?

HM, Isn't most/all of this info readily available from Herr Volkswagen & Dr.Haynes?

Post by **lloyd** » 24 Jul 2008, 06:31

I suggest only Bosch.
Reason:
I worked as a machinest rebuilding heads, lots of air cooled heads. Found many stripped plug holes, but never one with a Bosch plug in it. Always another brand like Champion, NGK, etc. Just changed plugs in our van and had NGK in it... very tight coming out, hard to use plug socket all the way. Bosch replacements screwed in most of the way with my fingers. Not good scientific reasons, just real world experience.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 24 Jul 2008, 07:25

lloyd wrote:I suggest only Bosch.
Reason:
I worked as a machinest rebuilding heads, lots of air cooled heads. Found many stripped plug holes, but never one with a Bosch plug in it. Always another brand like Champion, NGK, etc. Just changed plugs in our van and had NGK in it... very tight coming out, hard to use plug socket all the way. Bosch replacements screwed in most of the way with my fingers. Not good scientific reasons, just real world experience.

I usually smear a bit of copper slip on the end few threads particularly in alloy heads. Now some wag is going to say it reacts with the alloy and rots the thread in the head! Then some other wag is going to say that even steal is an alloy! Thats what come from working amongst pedants.

Cheers
Ken

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 24 Jul 2008, 07:52

Ken - There is actual anti-sieze compound for spark plugs
(I had a tin of it that the Queen gave to me when I was in my blue phase),
so a bit of copper grease is a good idea.

Post by **HarryMann** » 24 Jul 2008, 08:36

HM, Isn't most/all of this info readily available from Herr Volkswagen & Dr.Haynes?

Yes of course, or can ask their local Motofax shop, but we have a Wiki title 'Spark Plugs' that was a blank page

This one is mainly for newbies and those without manuals, or who'd rather have a few more specifics than 'Beru plugs' when Beru aren't available round the corner...

I was hoping for some comment on multi-electrode plugs and such forth, having read various comments here good and bad over the years...

Also I was hoping for some specifics on plugs for air-cooleds too, going back to cover the early ones, but now realise I put a limiting subject-line in

Changed it now..

I also used to put a wee bit of Copper-Slip on bottom of thread, and clean the holes out as best I can...

Will keep updating as info comes in, always looking for that wee gem of information that you don't get elsewhere - that's the magic of the Wiki - it isn't printed one day and behind the times the next...

Let's talk about leads - for instance - are these engines more or less critical, who has original leads still working well etc...

e.g. I can list the weak points of a Nissan Micra ignition system, but not a WBX

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 24 Jul 2008, 17:29

HarryMann wrote:Maybe it's all about quality control..

NGK might make 100 and chuck 20 away after inspection

Champion might buy those 20

Nah, Jo king, but you never know what the real deal is...

Heh heh, now and again you read a post that makes you belly laugh - this one was it. Reminds me of what an old bikey friend of mine calls dim lights - "Joe Lucas - The Prince of Darkness" - lol.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 24 Jul 2008, 17:43

In fact, theres a WHOLE page devoted to Lucas the Prince of darkness (very funny):

http://www.mez.co.uk/lucas.html

Post by **gally** » 24 Jul 2008, 18:27

hi i can get listings in work for older air cooled buses tomorrow
the ngk number for multi electrode plugs is bp6et
as for the quality of ngk in the six years i hav worked in motrfactors
never had an ngk plug back.
the part no for plug leads on water cooled engines is
intermotor xc774, any motorfactor would be able to cross ref to whatever brand they use. or just ask for leads for a mk3 golf
gally

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