how long 'til you 1st changed your plugs?

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08-24-2013 | 10:27 PM

#11

deliveryman

Senior Member

Joined: 02-10-2011

Posts: 113

From: Temple, Ga

I just changed mine at 101,000. The car was running great with the old plugs though. If it were easier to change the air filter I might do it more often, but I stick to the 50K change.

09-02-2013 | 09:17 AM

#12

working on it

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: 12-19-2008

Posts: 234

From: dfw texas

made the change

Quote:

Originally Posted by working on it

I bought a new set of A/C iridiums when I bought new tires, at 96k miles. I stretched the life of my Affinities to that point, and chickened out of going farther with them. But, after getting the new tires, and changing the filters and oil on my Panel, my gas mileage went back up to 30mpg from 28.7mpg overall (I have never reset the DIC). So, I thought I'd stretch the life of the plugs as far as I could, just as a test (I test everything). So, now at 108950 miles, the mileage has started dropping again...to a new low of 27.4mpg, and the idle is started getting a little erratic (smooths out fine under accel, or when the A/C is on). If anything, the little 2.2l seems stronger than ever, but I know its time to change the plugs. How long did some of you guys go until you did it? It's still amazing to me: the life of the plugs and engines these days. I used to have to change plugs, points, rotors, etc. every 6k to 10k back in the "good old days".

I had a week of short hops, stop-and-go around the area...not my usual commute (took week off to help wife, w/operation and recuperation). The DIC showed the mileage to have dropped to 26.7mpg...I've had enough!
Changed the plugs yesterday and reset the DIC for the first time (at 109950 miles). We'll see what the new plugs do to improve the gas mileage, if anything. FYI- didn't use any anti-seize when installing. Pulled the plugs on a dead cold engine (if the 105 degree outside air temp doesn't count). They came out hard, but clean, no aluminum. The new plugs seem to have a metal coating that eliminates need for anti-seize.

09-04-2013 | 10:43 PM

#13

sleeper

Platinum Member

Joined: 01-09-2007

Posts: 15,983

From: SE USA

I "Checked" my spark plugs at 25K (as I recall), old school mentality.. They looked brand new, but gaps were not acceptable, couple a bit loose, etc..

Anyhow, I gapped them precisely. & re-installed using a dab of anti-seize on threads. Still runs fine, but in my mind I feel it runs better yet....

Whopper- I used to keep a (chain) master link hooked to my riding boot laces. And a pack of matches for filing points on the road..

09-05-2013 | 12:12 AM

#14

whopper

Platinum Member

Joined: 04-09-2006

Posts: 7,039

From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeper

Whopper- I used to keep a (chain) master link hooked to my riding boot laces. And a pack of matches for filing points on the road..

I never did the master link thing, but yeah on the book of matches - the thickness of the book was just about right for setting the point gap. I sometimes rubbed the points on a clean bit of tire to clean them, then polished them with a pocket knife. :-)