Modified Leon Cupra's: Are you running cooler plugs?

[warren_cox]

As the heading says really, have you bothered to fit a colder plug post modifications.

It's a bit of a dark art, and there isn't much conclusive information on the interweb.

I've called JKM this morning to enquire about some NGK Iridium BKR7EIX's

http://www.jkm.org.uk/performance/tfsimisc.htm

to replace the standard recommended plug BKR6EIX. I found these run far better than the Bosch ones used as OEM (see pic below, Bosch Platinum on right , NGK Iridium on left - please note the NGK has covered far more miles and under more modified settings).

The plugs are supposed to last according to manufacturers guidance up to 60k in your average car. However in some cases (particularly HPFP etc...) you are pushing so much more fuel in that the air/fuel mix will be wearing your plugs down quite a bit faster. A chap who visits a garage I use had a tip come off a plug recently and it caused massive damage.

So just looking for any thoughts, experience, or whether anyone has any 'hard facts' as to what this may do for general use on our cars.

For more info on NGK Iridium IX plugs look here: Link

 

[DanGB]

Yes im using the cooler NGK's.
When I had the APR stage 3 fitted, they installed BKR7EIX iridiums, but when I came to replace them they said they only recommend the Platinum ones
Anyway I think the Platinum ones are a bit cheaper.
I did try the copper ones and they seemed ok as well, but they dont last as long.

 

[warren_cox]

Yes im using the cooler NGK's.
When I had the APR stage 3 fitted, they installed BKR7EIX iridiums, but when I came to replace them they said they only recommend the Platinum ones
Anyway I think the Platinum ones are a bit cheaper.
I did try the copper ones and they seemed ok as well, but they dont last as long.

Many thanks Dan,

Did you notice any excessive fouling on cooler plugs as someone on ASN said that they did on a Sierra Cossy running 2.5bar (440bhp). I wonder whether with the new technology FSi systems this may be less of an issue?

 

[SteveTDCi]

i'm not but then i'm only stg1

 

[DanGB]

Many thanks Dan,

Did you notice any excessive fouling on cooler plugs as someone on ASN said that they did on a Sierra Cossy running 2.5bar (440bhp). I wonder whether with the new technology FSi systems this may be less of an issue?

Yes I did but that may be becuase my car does run quite rich on wide open throttle (to cool down EGT's)

 

[Poverty]

I need to go a step cooler. Some people have commented that on modified cars, if you dont fit cooler plugs the more power you get the more likely the tfsi is to misfire?

 

[RobH]

im running the NGK iridiums from jkm.

 

[warren_cox]

I just popped down to JKM to pick up the plugs, so I can fit them this weekend.

Like a human can provide a fair judgement to their state of health by inspecting their own feculent (!) spark plugs provide a half decent view into the running of the engine.

Pictured below are 3 plugs.

LEFT: Bosch Platinum OEM plug (fitted from factory - mileage 9k)
CENTRE: NGK Iridium IX (BKR6EIX - mileage 20k)
RIGHT: NGK Iridium IX (BKR7EIX - brand new)

I appreciate the Bosch OEM plug is cheaper, and had to cope with the running in period of the engine, but it only ever ran with stage 1 Revo and the filter/intake. I was forced to remove these plugs at 9k as they were causing stuttering over 5,500rpm. Changing them fixed the issue which has never returned.

The NGK Iridium 6EIX ran for 20k with a mixture of Revo 1 (17k miles), Revo 2 + HPFP (about 3k miles) , and seems far less worn.

As I've now lost the engine cover with the new CAI I will feel more inclined to keep an eye on the new NGK 7's to ensure they work well with the engine.

I'll post back if I find anything unusual happening, or if the car runs better/worse.

Apologies for the poor close up pics, taken in very bad light w/o tripod.

 

[Blade]

Warren, every time i read one of your very informative posts it COSTS ME MONEY

To be honest i have not given my plugs a 2nd thought - until now that is. Suppose for a small outlay peace of mind will be restored.

 

[warren_cox]

Warren, every time i read one of your very informative posts it COSTS ME MONEY

To be honest i have not given my plugs a 2nd thought - until now that is. Suppose for a small outlay peace of mind will be restored.

£32+VAT from JKM is a price worth paying as the OEM plugs do suffer badly in tuned mode! Rather £37 today than £3700 tomorrow

Even better is if you go and pick them up from JKM you get to meet the lovely Claire who directed me half the way around Portsmouth!

 

[Eyeball Paul]

I think when i get my REVO stage 1 done after my trials runs out a spark plug change seems a must also. Never really gave it much thought until now, thanks