Spark Plugs - counterfeit or not
Discussion
Firstly, sorry chaps, been offline a long time, this retirement lark seems to lead to busier lives than expected...…
So, some time ago (years even) I gave the Green Meanie a really good service including replacing the plugs, distributor cap, rotor, leads etc. I have always had the suspicion after this service that the beast was not running as well as it should be, especially at high revs.
Over the winter, it has definitely not been running on all 8 cylinders but I was only rolling it in and out of the garage, however recently it just wouldn't start with only the odd one or two firings so I decided to run through the system. Established there was a spark and replaced all the spark plugs and she roared into life, took her out and she has never been better.
So now my suspicions are that the spark plugs I fitted may have been duffers, they've all failed and in my experience I've never known this to happen so consistently across 8 plugs. Lots of threads on counterfeit NGKs but nothing concrete. Any ideas or do I just put it down to experience and not using the Meanie enough.....?
Pete
So, some time ago (years even) I gave the Green Meanie a really good service including replacing the plugs, distributor cap, rotor, leads etc. I have always had the suspicion after this service that the beast was not running as well as it should be, especially at high revs.
Over the winter, it has definitely not been running on all 8 cylinders but I was only rolling it in and out of the garage, however recently it just wouldn't start with only the odd one or two firings so I decided to run through the system. Established there was a spark and replaced all the spark plugs and she roared into life, took her out and she has never been better.
So now my suspicions are that the spark plugs I fitted may have been duffers, they've all failed and in my experience I've never known this to happen so consistently across 8 plugs. Lots of threads on counterfeit NGKs but nothing concrete. Any ideas or do I just put it down to experience and not using the Meanie enough.....?
Pete
In my experience ALL cars suffer if they are not used regularly, it's not just a TVR thing.
Where did you buy the previous set of duff plugs?
Ebay is famous as the major worldwide retailer of Chinese tat.
I have learnt that lesson and now buy all car parts from UK suppliers. Ideally from my local car spares place or, in some cases, from a good local specialist vehicle breakers yard. Always buy from someone who has a reason to sort you out if anything goes tits up. Chinese suppliers seem to have a sodoff approach to warranty issues in my experience.
Final comment - I, and number of others, have found the NGK 6 plugs a lot more suitable for the RV8 engine than the 7s the factory used.
They stay cleaner longer and so you have fewer problems with bad running and poor starting. After finding that my old Lexus LS 400 used iridium plugs for longevity and spark quality (it was still smooth as silk at 183,000 miles when I sold it), I use the iridium tipped NGK BPR6EIX, but any 6 rated plug should suffice.
Where did you buy the previous set of duff plugs?
Ebay is famous as the major worldwide retailer of Chinese tat.
I have learnt that lesson and now buy all car parts from UK suppliers. Ideally from my local car spares place or, in some cases, from a good local specialist vehicle breakers yard. Always buy from someone who has a reason to sort you out if anything goes tits up. Chinese suppliers seem to have a sodoff approach to warranty issues in my experience.
Final comment - I, and number of others, have found the NGK 6 plugs a lot more suitable for the RV8 engine than the 7s the factory used.
They stay cleaner longer and so you have fewer problems with bad running and poor starting. After finding that my old Lexus LS 400 used iridium plugs for longevity and spark quality (it was still smooth as silk at 183,000 miles when I sold it), I use the iridium tipped NGK BPR6EIX, but any 6 rated plug should suffice.
Yes, all fair points and it could be that I'm just not using the Griff enough.
The plugs are NGK B7ECS bought from Fleabay as where the previous plugs so it is done now. I'll see how the new plugs perform and if I get cylinders going down and/or high speed misfires I will have a better idea where to home in on and next time I may try B6's as per your advice.
Pete
The plugs are NGK B7ECS bought from Fleabay as where the previous plugs so it is done now. I'll see how the new plugs perform and if I get cylinders going down and/or high speed misfires I will have a better idea where to home in on and next time I may try B6's as per your advice.
Pete
blaze_away said:
I had similar suspicions last year. Spoke to NGK in hertfordshire iirc.
They said if I sent them in they would check and let me know outcome. I didnt send them in as my issue was a bad gasket in the end.
I might do it, just out of curiosity. I suspect most of the problem is rolling in and out of garage but the plugs I have taken out don't look too bad. I've just been up to RaceTech and bought a new distributor cap and rotor arm just to be ready for when the sun shines...….They said if I sent them in they would check and let me know outcome. I didnt send them in as my issue was a bad gasket in the end.
Pete
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