QA

Question: How To Gap Iridium Plugs

Are you supposed to Gap Iridium spark plugs?

In most cases your Iridium Power plugs do not need to be gapped. Even with small variations in the factory set gap the ultra-efficient firing power design will compensate for those small variations.

Do NGK Iridium plugs come pre-gapped?

Anyway, they come pre-gapped from the factory,so do not worry.

Do you gap Bosch Iridium plugs?

(Bosch OE Fine Wire Iridium, OE Fine Wire Double Platinum, and OE Fine Wire Platinum Spark Plugs come with gaps pre-set at the factory. These gaps are never to be adjusted.) For most plugs, the setting is shown on the plug package. These gaps are correct for the most popular applications of these plugs.

Do NGK plugs need to be gapped?

While most NGK spark plugs are pre-gapped, there are occasions when the gap requires adjustment. Care must be taken to avoid bending or breaking off the fine-wire electrodes. NGK also recommends adjusting the gap no more than +/- 0.008” from the factory preset gap.

What happens if spark plug gap is too large?

One of the key factors that makes a spark plug work well, or not, is the size of the gap between the electrodes. However, if the spark plug gap is too large, the spark is unlikely to consistently “jump” across the long distance between electrodes, thus leading to a rough-running engine or one that doesn’t run at all.

What gap should my spark plugs be?

For most racing applications, you usually want the plug gap to be between 0.020 and 0.040 of an inch. Most engine builders seem to settle around 0.035 of an inch. Factors such as the type of ignition you run, cylinder heads, fuel and even timing can affect how much gap will work best for you.

What happens if spark plug gap is too small?

If the gap is too small, the spark will easily jump across without too much ionisation so no hot flash. This can mean partial ignition and low power or even another misfire. So spark plugs have a gap recommendation that should be closely followed for reliable, powerful engine function, not too much, not too little.

Do you really need a torque wrench for spark plugs?

Spark plugs should be torqued to manufacturers’ specifications. However, it is possible to tighten the plugs satisfactorily without a torque wrench.

Should you use anti seize on spark plugs in aluminum heads?

The nickel coating on most modern spark plugs provides added protection from seizing in aluminum cylinder heads and has made anti-seize less important in spark plug installations. Anti-seize can alter the tightening torque up to 20%, increasing the risk of breakage.

Do Autozone spark plugs come pre-gapped?

You may need to gap your spark plugs before installing them. Some plugs come pre-gapped, and if this is the case it will say so on the box. Otherwise you’ll need a gap tool to gap your new plugs according to the specifications in your owner’s manual.

How long should iridium spark plugs last?

What’s The Lifespan Of An Iridium Spark Plug? The average, modern iridium spark plug should last for 3-4,000 hours of engine uptime, depending on the gas quality.

How often should iridium spark plugs be changed?

Long-life (iridium- or platinum-tipped) spark plugs need to be changed between 60,000 and 150,000 miles, depending on the vehicle. The recommended replacement intervals are posted in the Maintenance Schedule, which can be found in the owner’s manual or in a separate Warranty and Maintenance brochure for your car.

What is so special about iridium spark plugs?

Iridium is an extremely durable metallic element, which makes it a great fit as the material for spark plugs. The main property of the iridium spark plugs is that their electrode material comes with a high melting point. They offer a complete combustion and ensure a better performance.

Can you use iridium spark plugs instead of copper?

Iridium plugs are better, but they also cost much more. Iridium plugs will last a lot longer, as the electrode is much more durable and won’t erode quickly. It takes less cleaning and delivers stronger spark. Regular copper plugs may need replacing every 10–20000km, iridium plugs may last 100,000km or more.

What is the difference between iridium and Laser iridium spark plugs?

These two plugs perform similarly, due to their fine-wire tip design, but the service interval is different; the Laser Series are typically designed to last 80 to 100 thousand miles, where as the Iridium IX® spark plugs are designed to last 40 to 50 thousand miles.

Is a wider spark plug gap better?

The larger the gap, the more voltage is needed to jump the gap. Most experienced tuners know that increasing the gap size increases the spark area exposed to the air-fuel mixture, which maximizes burn efficiency.

Can spark plug gap cause rough idle?

Spark plugs that are gapped incorrectly can cause an engine to miss, or run erratically, especially during idle. The incorrect spark plug gaps can cause uneven firing of individual spark plugs and delay engine combustion; both of which can cause an engine to miss or idle erratically.

Why does my car shake after I changed the spark plugs?

Poor fuel pressure, faulty spark plugs, and misfires are some of the things that can cause shaking or vibration.

What gap do NGK spark plugs come with?

These plugs are pre-gapped at . 044″.

How far off can a spark plug gap be?

Excessive changing of the spark plug gap setting will result in weakening of the spark plug ground electrode and can lead to breakage. Also, the spark plug gap should never exceed . 055″ unless pre-set by the manufacturer. Spark plug gap is where spark plug spark discharge is designed to take place.