Spark Plug Gap

Post by **shane r** » 10 Aug 2008, 09:37

Just about to renew my HT leads and plugs (2.1i).

What plugs are recommended and what's the gap please?

Cheers
Shane

Post by **kimbobill** » 10 Aug 2008, 09:47

mines a 2.1 1986 I use W7DTC and 0.8mm gap that's from GSF but when I've been rich and visted a VW main dealer they have given me 3 electrode ones! don't try and adjust those ones

Post by **shane r** » 10 Aug 2008, 09:49

Cheers.

Post by **conrad** » 10 Aug 2008, 10:21

kimbobill wrote: when I've been rich and visted a VW main dealer they have given me 3 electrode ones!

Did you notice a difference between the 3 electrode ones compared to the single electrode alternatives? We last had our van serviced by a local mechanic about a year ago and he used the 3 electrode ones but when I replaced them with the single electrode ones from GSF a few weeks ago the van felt like it had a different engine!! Has anyone else experienced this?

It's so different my girlfriend even noticed. I should point out the she was able to drive 10 miles to work and 10 miles home again on what was an almost deflated tyre (on our car) and didn't notice that, nor was she able to detect the plumes of smoke and strong smell coming from the clutch when she burnt it out earlier this year (on the van). I even smelt the blasted clutch nearly 100yds away when I drove to where she had broken down nearly 30 mins later.

Post by **kimbobill** » 11 Aug 2008, 18:42

Hi Conrad, no I didn't. Are you sure that you are running on all four. stupid question but?

Post by **Red Westie** » 11 Aug 2008, 21:39

These two plug types are effectively the same plug but the 2, 3 and 4 electrode types were introduced when manufacturers started extending there service intervals in the early to mid 90's.
By designing a plug with multiple electrodes you have a larger area for the spark to erode so the plugs last many times longer (expensive metals are also used like Titanium for the same reasons)
Many manufacturers now have plug changes at 40,000 mile intervals as a result of these multi eletrode plug designs so my qiestion is; if your mechanic only changed them a year ago why are you replacing them so soon? they should be good for at least 30,000 miles in a wasser boxer.
Martin