New plugs--Great results

[JohnO356]

I bought this 2000 Corolla back in 2002 with about 35,000 miles on it. I have driven it on many trips (2K+ miles) and over the years have always gotten 31-32 MPG. Well, it has 112,000 on it now and even though it ran and idled smooth I pulled the original Denso iridium plugs and replaced them with NGK iridiums 2 weeks ago. Didn't notice any difference in the way it ran, but took a 6 day trip to Florida last week. I figured out my MPG this afternoon when I got home: 35.3. My point is that it may be worth spending the ~$30.00 and putting in a new set even if your mileage is not that high on your current plugs. My mileage was high, but my MPG had stayed constant from low to high mileage. Then too, maybe my car just likes the NGK's. BTW, the old plugs looked fine when I pulled them. This Corolla will be taking a lot more trips-- getting too expensive to drive the truck.

[tashirosgt]

The only place I have noticed that new plugs make a differenc is in my lawn mower. It certainly makes it easier to start.

Do you gap your plugs? Or do you accept the way they are set a the factory? This is almost a philosophical question for me since I drive an older car. The Service Manual has a spec but that would be for older plugs or perhaps only for the OEM plugs. Some say to set the gap to the spec and others say the manufacturer knows their plug better than Toyota does. So I'm curious whether you had a drastic change in gaps when you changed plugs.

[cuzman]

Mate the plug gap is in relation to the power the coil can produce to make the spark arc in the plug ..when plugs come from the factory they still need to be checked as if they are droped or forced the wrong way the gap will change...ever droped a plug while putting it in?bet it landed on the end and closed up the gap lol just thought i'd add my 2 bits

champion plugs sux (foul easily)
ngk are great value for money
bosh well not bad ....get what ya pay for

any comments? REmember the leads help to!!!!!!!!

[REN69]

NGK or DENSO in japanese cars for the win! Bosch.. leave them for euro cars.

I believe platinum and iridium plugs are pre-gapped for their specific applications, if you regap them you're messing up the coating on the tip.

[AVANT]

Originally Posted by REN69

NGK or DENSO in japanese cars for the win! Bosch.. leave them for euro cars.

I believe platinum and iridium plugs are pre-gapped for their specific applications, if you regap them you're messing up the coating on the tip.

1) My VW GTI loves the NGKs that I have in it. In fact, it CAME with a set of NGKs.

2) Different engines require different gaps, even if they use the same plug. You're suppose to gap them. The NGKs that I recently put into that GTI came with a .036" gap. Factory spec is .030 and because I went 1 range cooler, I brought it down to .028". Ever drive a car with very bad gapping? Car really runs like crap.

I recommend people to always gap your plugs to the spec gap unless you really understand what you're doing by changing it.

[JohnO356]

The iridium plugs are pregapped as said above. However, I did check the gap and they were right on. Don't go along too much with Chilton since there could have been a change during the model year. It's best to use the gap that is called for on the emission control sticker under the hood since that info is specific to your car.

[freakinbox]

yea most of the ngk plugs are pregapped which is why you have to look in the book at canadian tire to find the right one and not just compare it with an old one. My car came with a new set of ngk plugs. compare each plug to each other to see if they all match. Put them in if it works then YAY!