My stepdaughter is now driving a 96 Saturn SL2 with the 1.9L DOHC engine. I bought some Bosch double platinum plugs for it. (#8100) But, I am kind of confused about whether these plugs should be gapped for my application? I couldn't find a technical assistance number for Bosch plugs. I ask this because the guy at Autozone showed me his screen and it said these plugs should not be gapped. On another note, some spark plug boxes say that they are pre-gapped but I don't trust that. By the way, I have never been a fan of platinum plugs but for some reason the only plugs listed for this car & engine are platinum. I guess that means I'm forced to use them.
So, what determines whether platinum plugs need gaping or not?
You can gap it with the correct tools. Many spark plug gap tools have a special arm that is used to bend the ground electrode. You should never pry against the center electrode.
You can buy a relatively inexpensive tool to gap the plug. It looks like this when you gap it:
There are more expensive tools to do it:
Even though they are platinum plugs, they should still be gapped for your vehicle. Many plugs come with the correct gap, but it is always good to double check.
[This message has been edited by Doug85GT (edited 07-01-2014).]
My daily driver takes NGK laser iridium plugs. The ground on those will break off if you try to gap them and at $25 a piece, I'm not budgeting to experiment.
I check the gap at the parts counter with a wire gap tool when I get them in to make sure the measure out to spec. So long as they're close, I roll.
My daily driver takes NGK laser iridium plugs. The ground on those will break off if you try to gap them and at $25 a piece, I'm not budgeting to experiment.
I check the gap at the parts counter with a wire gap tool when I get them in to make sure the measure out to spec. So long as they're close, I roll.
I used NGK laser iridium plugs in my Turbo Dodge Stealth for years. I gapped them myself all the time, which is necessary since I am running higher than stock boost. They came gapped at about .035 and I needed them gapped at .028. It was easy to gap them. They are not as brittle as you think. You just have to take your time, and pay attention to what you are doing.
Also, I would find a different place to buy your plugs. You could probably find those same plugs for half or less. I never paid over $9 each for my NGK li plugs.
autozones computers say not to gap them because most people break them trying to do it, they usualy dont know how to do it the right way.its not a big deal if your carefull, i always checked them when i sold them there i know how those boxes are treated.....
Try to gap plugs with that tiny center electrode and you'll probably break the electrode or crack the insulator and ruin the plug.
Never heard of trying to do anything with the center electrode to gap a plug, that is not the right way to gap a plug.
This is the proper way to gap a spark plug !
quote
Originally posted by Doug85GT:
You can gap it with the correct tools. Many spark plug gap tools have a special arm that is used to bend the ground electrode. You should never pry against the center electrode.
You can buy a relatively inexpensive tool to gap the plug. It looks like this when you gap it:
There are more expensive tools to do it:
Even though they are platinum plugs, they should still be gapped for your vehicle. Many plugs come with the correct gap, but it is always good to double check.
Like he said, all it takes is for just one person to drop the box the plugs come in and the gap is wrong, and we all know how well people who unload trucks handle parts.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Originally posted by 84fiero123: Never heard of trying to do anything with the center electrode to gap a plug, that is not the right way to gap a plug
So you're saying you should use the gapping tool the way the engineers designed it to be used?
When checking the gap, your feeler gage has to contact the electrode. Yes, if you're careful and know what you're doing you can do it, but as has been posted they are more prone to breakage and most people aren't careful enough to avoid damaging the plug. I carefully check the gap, but I've never had to adjuste one that came preset. Old style plugs like on the Fiero I routinely have to re-gap before installation.
[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 07-02-2014).]
So you're saying you should use the gapping tool the way the engineers designed it to be used?
When checking the gap, your feeler gage has to contact the electrode. Yes, if you're careful and know what you're doing you can do it, but as has been posted they are more prone to breakage and most people aren't careful enough to avoid damaging the plug. I carefully check the gap, but I've never had to adjuste one that came preset. Old style plugs like on the Fiero I routinely have to re-gap before installation.
Gee it wasn't invented by an enginer just some poor shmuck like me and is the recommended tool for adjusting those type of plugs.
Also, I would find a different place to buy your plugs. You could probably find those same plugs for half or less. I never paid over $9 each for my NGK li plugs.
Same technology =/= same plugs.
2) RE7CL 2) RE9BT
If you find me someplace that will sell them for $9 each, I will clear their whole stock
Just FYI - If my memory serves correctly - your Saturn, like many other GM and Ford vehicles of the era, used a waste-spark ignition system. A waste spark system fires each plug twice per combustion cycle, instead of just once like a normal ignition system. This means the electrode essentially has half the life of a regular plug.
More importantly, a waste spark system reverses the current on each firing event. On a single platinum plug, the platinum is used on the electrode that becomes sacrificial (I forget if its the anode or cathode). If you use a single platinum plug, the side without the platinum will wear prematurely, as it wasn't designed for a waste spark system.
That's why the double platinum is a good idea to use.
[This message has been edited by masospaghetti (edited 07-03-2014).]
Just FYI - If my memory serves correctly - your Saturn, like many other GM and Ford vehicles of the era, used a waste-spark ignition system. A waste spark system fires each plug twice per combustion cycle, instead of just once like a normal ignition system. This means the electrode essentially has half the life of a regular plug.
More importantly, a waste spark system reverses the current on each firing event. On a single platinum plug, the platinum is used on the electrode that becomes sacrificial (I forget if its the anode or cathode). If you use a single platinum plug, the side without the platinum will wear prematurely, as it wasn't designed for a waste spark system.
That's why the double platinum is a good idea to use.
What are you smoking?
Waste spark means it fires twice. Two reverse the direction, the cyl head would have to discharge through the ground strap. Ask anyone whoever ever hooked a battery up backwards how that works out in the end
