Spark Plug Gapping

[mjweier]

Hey,

So I just got 4 NGK BKR5EKB-11 and heard that you DID NOT have to gap these (considering they are the recommended spark plug for corolla 99's according to the toyota certified mechanic). Is this true?

I just bought some Bosch Platinum +4's and trust me when i say not to get these. Biggest waste of my money ever. They were horrible from the get-go, I went from 36mpg down to 27mpg, and the performance of my 'rolla was severely downgraded.

I just popped these suckers in and i can already feel a huge difference. If someone can let me know if they need gapping though that'd be great. Thanks!

[Milky]

Originally Posted by mjweier

Hey,

So I just got 4 NGK BKR5EKB-11 and heard that you DID NOT have to gap these (considering they are the recommended spark plug for corolla 99's according to the toyota certified mechanic). Is this true?

I just bought some Bosch Platinum +4's and trust me when i say not to get these. Biggest waste of my money ever. They were horrible from the get-go, I went from 36mpg down to 27mpg, and the performance of my 'rolla was severely downgraded.

I just popped these suckers in and i can already feel a huge difference. If someone can let me know if they need gapping though that'd be great. Thanks!

they do not need gapping. the -11 at the end of the plug code stands for 1.1mm or 0.044 in. which is right about where you would gap plugs to for this engine anyways.

[Createdtoburn]

If it came with those plastic coverings on the end of the plugs, that's to protect the head of the plug so the pre-gap doesn't get messed up. So in that case they should be pre gapped.

[Isophorone]

Ah, NOW I find this thread. I did buy plugs from the dealer for my 99 Corolla and then proceeded to gap them myself. So this was a mistake, and I should buy a new set of plugs from the dealer and replace them? My car's performance does seem a bit rougher, and I didn't quite know if it was the plugs or the transmission.

Well, I found this thread before posting a new one at least . . .

Ron

[fastdrvr23]

I bought the NGK iridium plugs for my 01' LE and gapped them to spec since they varied in gap when I checked them before installing. I average 37mpg and get as high as 40mpg on longer trips.

About two weeks before that, right after I got the car, I installed regular NGK v-powers as I didn't realize that it called for Iridiums. It didn't seem to drive any different, gas mileage was still in the higher 30's on my mostly highway commute. I just stumbled across the correct specs and decided to change them.

Gapping the plugs surely won't hurt, if anything it will ensure they are gapped properly in case they weren't from the manufacturer.