Spark plug recommendatiions Options

[retrofit]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) What spark plugs are recommended for a stock '74 2.0?
There are more choices than the typical Bosche.
Allen

[DarrenG]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) What spark plugs are recommended for a stock '74 2.0?
There are more choices than the typical Bosche.
Allen

NGK sells one that you can pick up at any auto parts store. O'Reilly doesn't carry the Bosch, but they did tell me Bosch works better on Porsche.

Not an expert, but I use the Bosch & they work fine.

[TheCabinetmaker]

NGK BP6ES!

[SGB]

Bosch copper (I think its is WR-7)

[Cap'n Krusty]

That would be "B6ES" Extended tip plugs are not recommended for the T4 engine. Bosch equivalent is "W7CC", or "WR7CC". "W8CC" works well for California winter fuel. No Champions, no Autolites, no ACs, no platinum plugs, and NO SPLITFIRES or any other snake oil dipped plugs. The Cap'n

[narino]

Small hijack, with pretty naive question. Cap would you recommend the same on a big bore engine (2.6) ?

[JoeSharp]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with the Captin. B6ES by NGK. look for the heat range you want to run with a cheep plug, and then go to the HIGH DOLLAR pulgs if you feel inaduquit with the NGK's. After you have fouled several of the high dollar pulgs you will come back the the NGK's.

[Joe Ricard]

Yep I run NGK B6ES in the 2098cc 10.3:1 motor.
Ran NGK B7ES in lower compression motor

New 2316 will get a Motorcycle plug supplied by Jake as part of the kit.

Bottom line not any one plug will work in all motors. Got to find what works for ya.

[TheCabinetmaker]

That would be "B6ES" Extended tip plugs are not recommended for the T4 engine. Bosch equivalent is "W7CC", or "WR7CC". "W8CC" works well for California winter fuel. No Champions, no Autolites, no ACs, no platinum plugs, and NO SPLITFIRES or any other snake oil dipped plugs. The Cap'n

I have been corrected by the best, and he is right. No P.

[Rick_Eberle]

Extended tip plugs are not recommended for the T4 engine.

Why not? Piston clearance issues???

[Cap'n Krusty]

I'm makin' this up, but it would seem to me the location of the spark might be why you use the standard reach plugs. Older 911s use 'em, too, except for the MFI cars, which used an exotic Platinum plug. Mostly we replaced those with BP7ES or BP8ES 'cause nobody wanted to spend 25 bucks a plug .............. The Cap'n

[ericread]

I posted this response the other day on another thread, but I thought this might be pertinent to this thread. Yes, you'll notice I cut some corners in this response in an effort to not post a lengthy article.

A spark plugs’ heat range is an index of its capacity to dissipate thermal energy. The different characteristics of automotive engines regarding operating load, compression, engine speed, cooling, and fuel make it impossible to run all engines with a standard spark plug.

The so called “heat range”, which is assigned to each spark plug, is used to characterize these heat dissipation capacities. A plug with a low heat range number (e.g., 2-4) indicates a cold plug that quickly dissipates heat to the engine block and cooling system, while a high code (e.g., 7-10) indicates a hot plug that retains heat. By properly selecting the heat range of the plug, it ensures that the plug will operate between the plug’s designed operating range of 500-900 degrees Celsius. In this range, the spark plug will be self-cleaning, yet will not be hot enough to pre-ignite the air/fuel mixture.

In some situations, a slightly hotter or colder plug may be installed than the one normally recommended. But a hotter plug should not be used unless an engine is experiencing a fouling problem because of the increased risk of preignition and detonation. Switching to a slightly colder plug can reduce the risk of preignition and detonation in performance applications (especially turbocharged and supercharged engines.

Copper and Platinum spark plugs come in many heat ranges. So what's the difference between these plugs? First, let's take a look at the thermal characteristics of commonly used electrode materials:

Zinc == 1.16
Aluminum == 2.37
Copper == 4.01
Steel == 0.70 - 0.82
Platinum == 0.716
Iridium == 1.47

As you can see, copper has the best thermal characteristics, and makes the best material for a spark plug conductor. So why use Platinum. Because while copper is the best conductor, it also burns off faster under higher temperatures. Coating the copper with a fine layer of Platinum allows for a longer life at higher temperatures, but requires a higher voltage spark. Now you can reduce the voltage necessary to get a suitable spark by narrowing the diameter of the electrode. But this lowers the ability of the electrode to dissapate heat. And we are back to the problems of a heat, preignition and detonation.

Whew, it kind of goes in a circle.

Sooooo, although you could use a Platinum plug in the correct temperaure, 1) You might find that the stock ignition system of our 35 year old cars isn't really made to carry the higher voltage these plugs may require; 2) You might find the plugs may contribute to problems of preignition and detonation, and; 3) You will probably find the 914 combination of lower compression and lower heat temperature make it really ideal for using a copper plug

As for actual plug sizes: Yes, there are many lengths of spark plugs. Place a very long plug in a 914 and the plug will contact with the piston head - causing disasterous results.

Eric Read

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