Spark Plugs (for 1.7)

[rigsby]

Hi guys, been lurking on these forum pages for sometime now and have found them incredibly useful and with them have DIY'd a number of jobs with growing confidence and without the normal worry of the unknown.

I have a quick question for which I apologise for it's dumbness in advance. This has been covered before on these pages but I couldn't make total sense of the answers as they were mixed and conflicting, but here goes:

I was wondering what are the correct plugs and gap for a standard 1.7 Puma. In the handbook it says Motorcraft AYFS 22PP (FINIS 1090749 I think), which are platinum's to be gapped at 1.3mm (0.051")? I had my Puma serviced at a garage about 9,000 miles ago (I do it myself now guys, thanks partly to websites like this...!) and they put in NGK PTR5A-10 which are platinum's pre-gapped at 1.0mm (0.040"). I have read on here that some say 1.3, some say 1.1 and some say stick with OEM and others say not - I am just wondering if anyone can pick through the confusion for me.

Having a look on the internet, the Motorcrafts are more difficult to come across and seem more expensive than the NGK equivalents and then there are other makes like Beru (never heard of before), Bosch and Denso. It looks like £15 should buy a set of platinum’s from NGK or Bosch which is about what I would like to spend - don't want to go mad with 'super-dooper made from pure rhodium' plugs :wink:. Does this sound about right?

So to recap, what's the correct gap for a standard 1.7 and which make/type of plugs do people recommend and understand to be the correct type? Thanks guys... :?

 

[jonr]

They should be ready to go from the packet whatever.I`ve just changed mine for NGK`s and its sweet.

 

[quest63]

Same here NGK straight from the box without gapping no probs at all :thumbs:

 

[rigsby]

But the NGK's come with different gaps eg NGK PTR5A-10 are pre-gapped at 1.0mm (0.040") and NGK PTR5A-13 are pre-gapped at 1.3mm (0.051"), etc (ie the last two digits are the gap), which ones are you guys running? :?

 

[quest63]

Its too long ago to remember which I got, but the point is they come ready to fit without gapping. The point about choosing between 1.3 and 1.0 iirc was because it was thought the 1.3 gap was causing early failure of the coil packs.

I think your aim to buy average sensible plugs is a reasonable one just get them from a seller who has the correct ones for your engine size and year and use them as they come. If your car doesnt run as good as it did change the gap.

 

[convict1965]

I brought these plugs (great price) and also fitted new leads, made a big difference when fitted, the old ones must have been on car from day of manufacture, runs like a new car now. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-PLATINUM-SPARK-PLUGS-FORD-ZETEC-MONDEO-ESCORT-PUMA-/120681492688?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c192d70d0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[DOH]

As previosly posted, early coil packs with clip on ht leads gap should be 1.3 mm. The NGK PTR5A-10 is the best plug to use and then open up the gap to 1.3mm. They are usually a lot cheaper than 1.3mm to buy because they fit Zetecs in focuses etc.

The plugs will be good for approx 40-50 k miles. They do occasionally foul due to oil causing them to track out. This is a simple fix , simply remove and clean with carb cleaner.

 

[jonr]

I just went with the flip chart in the store,same as always for all my cars.Oil and air filters too.

 

[rigsby]

Thanks for all the help and advice guys - the NGK PTR5A-10 that I have fitted have only done approx 9000 miles and are not causing any problems, and it seems that others use them and they are the correct type so I will leave them in (as they should be good for some more mileage yet) - the only thing is do I gap them to 1.3mm or leave them at 1.0mm.

If I have understood this correctly, I think they are okay at 1.0mm as it is a 2001 Thunder and not likely to have an early coil pack (and therefore require 1.3mm)? I don't recall clip on HT leads (does this mean the clip around the plug somehow, mine just push over the end of the plugs like convensional HT lead caps or does the 'clip on' bit refer to something else)? I don't want to gap these to 1.3mm unnecessarily and bugger up the coil pack, but don't want to leave them at 1.0mm if that is going to cause other problems - if you see what I mean..? Sorry about my lack of knowledge on this and for being a bit dim, but if I knew I wouldn't be asking... :wink:

 

[jonr]

Dont worry about it.If its running ok as it is then enjoy the Puma before something else goes wrong! :lol: :lol:

 

[quest63]

I have to say since you have a car thats running perfectly well with no problems and since your coil pack will possibly / likely fail at some point regardless of what you do or dont do, I think your over thinking the spark plug issue.

The clip on leads refer to the coilpack end and the coilpack has corresponding lips to hold the clips.Therefore you have to have matching leads and coil pack. ie clip on coilpack and clip on leads or non clip on coil pack and non clip on leads.

Its my understanding that as long as the leads and coil pack match they can go on earlier or later cars and vice versa.

I dont think the issue about coil packs possibly failing early due to spark plug gap is down to whether they are clip on or not.

Heres a piccie

 

[Anonymous]

I've got the early 'clip' type coil pack and leads and I've had my spark plugs gapped at 1.3mm and 1mm and have noticed no difference between the two 'gaps'.

 

[quest63]

Your a trouble causer lol :grin:

 

[Anonymous]

Your a trouble causer lol :grin:

Moi? :roll:

 

[rigsby]

I have to say since you have a car thats running perfectly well with no problems and since your coil pack will possibly / likely fail at some point regardless of what you do or dont do, I think your over thinking the spark plug issue.

Thanks for the help and you are probably right. I do tend to over-think things, often in a vain attempt to try and do things correctly, but yeah as there seems to be nothing in the setup that will hurt, I will leave the plugs alone for another 30,000 miles unless something fails...

Generally though, very happy with the Puma, great car to drive, just wish the build quality was better...! :wink:

 

[quest63]

We have a love em driven mad by them thing going on with our Puma's

 

[souljacker87]

Some argue that bottom end torque is better with the 1.3mm gap - although I'd imagine you'd have to be fairly in-tune with your engine to notice!

 

[Jamesgti14]

I bought a set of 1.0mm gapped NGK's today, platinum tip also. The reason I bought them is this...

When I purchased the car in April this year, I changed the old plugs (NGK) for bosch super 4's (or not so super 4's)... the car started to misfire on first cold start of the day and also run like a bag of shit for only a minute but still it happened! Now with the NGK platinums in it, problem solved ! Mine is 2002 so I didn't gap them just left them alone. Moral is do NOT bother wasting money on bosch shite

 

[CherryVimto]

NGK all the way....

 

[dtfan]

I installed recently Autolite 5364 spark plugs. The engine runs smooth and gives me good fuel economy. I purchased these during one travel to United States. I managed to buy also some other compatible parts, like oil filters (Motorcraft FL-400S) and of course ignition coil (MSD Ignition 8241). The parts in the States cost only a fraction of what we pay here.