when to change spark plugs

[xplode]

how often should i have the dealer change the spark plugs, because i got no idea how to get them out theyre in so deep inside the engine. so i guess il have a pro do it.

[Lithium92]

You can do that yourself; all you need is a special socket attachement for plugs and a 4 inch extension for your ratchet.

[xplode]

i dont know how to gap them, what type of thing should i buy to change them, theyre so deep in there i cannot start with my hand because hand dont fit if i go to honda dealer they should be gapped? im not like experienced enough to do it i dont think, il have em do it maybe when i get my oil changed next.

[ACCLUDE91]

go out and buy a spark plug socket ($2) and a spark plug gapping tool ($0.99) at any local automotive store. The spark plug socket has a kinda rubber piece inside the socket at the bottom that "grabs" the spark plug so that you can pull it right out after you've unscrewed it. The gap tool is pretty self explanatory once you see it. Once you own those two tools, you're good to go on the spark plug changes for the rest of the time you own your car. a 5 minute job easily.

[accordztech]

this doesnt take an expert...hehe u never know what honda does to ur car man.

u can buy plugs that are already gapped too..if u buy it from an auto store..u can ask them how to take out the sparks....gap them...and put em back in....

since u started getting interested in maintanence on ur car, i say get a helms or some manual that is a tear down and rebuld thing on ur car. that saved me soo many times.

[Kabuki]

All Honda plugs should be gapped to 1.1mm. The recommended plugs for the 4-5G engines are (NGK) ZFR5F-11 (coppers), ZFR5FIX-11 (iridiums), or PZFR5F-11 (Platinums). I would recommend either NGK or Denso plugs. Stay away from Autolite, AC Delco, Champion... Etc.


Kabuki...

[accordztech]

in ur opinion, what u think of bosch....

i know ngk is a standard. i ran bosch all my life.

[ACCLUDE91]

Bosch is great, even tho they're mainly associated with V6ers or V8's they still do an good job on our little 4 bangers!

I'm so used to gapping them in inches, that I don't know what the metric gap would be. I gues around 1.1mm should be equal to the recommended .036-.044 inches. The gap also depends on your setup too. The recommended is for a stock motor or maybe a motor that only has bolt-ons. The more air/fuel you cram in, the more spark you need to help burn it evenly so you may want to gap according to your setup. It won't make a major difference (unless they are totally gapped wrong) but when it comes to race motors, every little bit helps!

[Kabuki]

Well, the Bosch plugs work great... In German cars. You are better off with Copper ZFR5F-11 plugs for power and consistency. The Bosch plugs, while not low quality, are not designed for the japanese applications.

[ACCLUDE91]

I'm not knockin your opinion, I'm just curious...... Do you really think that Bosch is not the "ideal" plug for our cars? I think they do fine. Afterall, a spark plug is designed to spark and that's it. The dist. is gonna control the duration and timing of the spark so as long as the sparkplug sparks, it's doing it job. Granted they may not hold up as long as some other plugs depending on what they're made of and the running conditions inside your motor, but afterall, a spark plug is a spark plug is a spark plug. They just have subtle differences and are made of different materials.

[HondaFan81]

When installing new spark plugs, I've found that a 5-6 inch long rubber hose (small, like for fuel line 3/8" I.D.).... can be used. Simply push one end onto top of spark plug, then start threading it , if it cross threads it will slip off...if it doesn't ur all good. But always do it by hand, don't cross thread.

[ACCLUDE91]

Originally posted by HondaFan81
But always do it by hand, don't cross thread.

HAHAH!! you're so right! I had a Fiesta come in the shop the other day and it seemed to lag in power. I looked at the motor while it was running, and the spark plug for cyl. 3 was wiggling freely!!!! I went to see if it just wasn't screwed in all the way and I found out that the threads on the head had been stripped! You guys know what that means right?!?!? An expensive ass repair welding metal over the old stripped threads and then tapping the welded metal to put new threads in it. If the spark plug had been put in right in the first place, then it would have save soooo much time and money! It's amazing that something as simple as a spark plug being installed wrong can cause your motor to run like crap and end up being an expensive repair! Take your time and do it right. Hondafans idea with the hose is a damn good one!

[HondaFan81]

Man, I just looked at your autoshop link Acclude91 and this is me >

I need to move....If I didn't have to worry bout income I'd quit college right now, get my master mechanic certification, specialized in imports and live in Mod Heaven....do side jobs at my own house in which I'd have a big ass garage with a shit load of tools & 4 post car lift

Man...but I have to wait to graduate & land a job for all this!! dang it....time it sucks

[Kabuki]

Originally posted by ACCLUDE91
I'm not knockin your opinion, I'm just curious...... Do you really think that Bosch is not the "ideal" plug for our cars? I think they do fine. Afterall, a spark plug is designed to spark and that's it. The dist. is gonna control the duration and timing of the spark so as long as the sparkplug sparks, it's doing it job. Granted they may not hold up as long as some other plugs depending on what they're made of and the running conditions inside your motor, but afterall, a spark plug is a spark plug is a spark plug. They just have subtle differences and are made of different materials.

We don't see the Bosch plugs mess up that much, but we DO, if occasionally. The ones we really see problems with are Autolite and AC Delco. Hell, we even see problems with NGKs if you put the wrong heat range in. Spark plugs really do make a difference, if you buy the wrong ones.

I don't know why anyone even says otherwise. Why argue with Honda? Don't they know what's best for their own engines? If Bosch plugs really were better, wouldn't they put them in at the factory? I mean, the Bosch plats are less expensive than the NGK or Denso plats, right? There is a reason, and I for one trust the judgement of Honda, Toyota, and Nissan's engineers.

[accordztech]

im too lazy to buy ngk....i have had serious problems with ac delco and stupid car quest....returned it casue car ran like crap.

iono i never really had a problem with bosch...they are platnum but i never had one looks 'not normal'.

everyone has their own opinions...why argue with oem..lolz because i am too lazy to buy theirs.