Just replaced the plugs yesterday and cleaned the TB's while at it (Thanks Q8y!). Overall, it's a pretty simple process, took me about 2 hours for everything.

The plugs don't look bad at all, especially considering how hard i drive this at times (HPDE's/Track). The tips were still pretty much there. OTOH, all the new plugs (DENSO/OEM) were all gapped at between .040 to 0.042 so i re-gapped to 0.044

Oil is changed between 7-8k miles at a time with M1 EP, fluids are always topped up and/or changed, flushed or bled no more than at a 30k interval. About 1k miles ago, i also dropped in some Chevron Techron cleaner in the tank.



And the tool i ended up using/buying. I didn't have a long socket to retrofit (DIY plug tool) so figured i'd just spend the extra couple of bucks for the real deal.

 

Wow! Nice work. How is everything running now

 

Not that much different, actually. Still nice and smooth

 

i bet considering how good those plug tips look even at 90k... also is that motor oil on the threads of the last two plugs from when you removed them? if so it seems as if there might be a small leak in gasket

btw happy new year!

 

Thanks Mike, that adds a lot of credibility to the factory's recommended 105K service interval. I know you must know this, so I don't want to insult here, but I just gotta ask to make sure . . . When you re-gapped the plugs, you didn't pry on the two tips AT ALL to open the gap, did you? There is a very specific way to gap iridium plugs and those who don't follow it can have painful consequences down the road. Just checking One thing I was curious about was whether or not you checked the gap on the old plugs? I'd be curious to know what they measured, if you've still got them.

I agree with kool about that oil, probably a slight leak from the VC gasket around the plug wells.

Oh, and (also like kool mentioned) Happy New Year to you guys too!

 

Those sure held up well, nice to know I'm not even half way there yet. Is that the best plug socket, I know those socket wells are a pretty tight fit, and definitely not the place you want to have any mishaps. I'm sure the cost is worth the piece of mind.

VQ, thanks for the clarity for gapping those plugs, I've never gapped iridium plugs, I'll have to do a bit of research.
And yep, Happy New Year everybody!

 

Happy new year to you guys as well! I wish you the best this year has to offer.

I'm still unsure if it's oil. The picture looks darker than it really is. If it is oil, i'm not surprised either. At the least i'm happy it's nowhere near as bad as any DE engines i've changed plugs on the past several years.

I gnawed at them at first, my doctor said i needed more metal in my diet.

Seriously though, i used a gapping tool like this. It bends the J-hook or whatever that part of the plug is called.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...fier=1930_0_0_

Btw, the old plugs were all at 0.40 except for one that was at 0.039. FWIW, i was averaging just a little over 22mpg over the life of the car (fun days not included in calc.) We'll see if it improves with the re-gapped and new plugs.

I say the best is one that's free. However, i don't have a thin-wall 14mm socket to begin with, so rather than buy one i just went ahead and got the actual spark plug tool which really is just a thin-wall 14mm with a rubber gasket to hold the plug while you insert/remove.

If you already have a standard spark plug socket as well as an extended 14mm, you can remove the rubber from the socket and insert it into the 14mm... voila, DIY spark plug socket.

 

Bingo, there you go!

I am surprised that the gaps actually tightened up with age; well apparently at least, because we don't know what they were when originally installed. Typically, it's the other way around though.

 

Mine were changed around 100K and looked really good! Car continues to run great, smooth as silk!

 

damm good write up im about to do mine soon at 110k /.. hoping my plugs held up long with no problems when i take them out