if it helps...
with 40k miles and new spark plugs, service & parts. My TA is running just fantastic. Milage is about 50 mpg now and gear changes are much better than it was new.
Technical Twinair spark plugs
- Thread starter Mick F
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Technical Twinair spark plugs
if it helps...
with 40k miles and new spark plugs, service & parts. My TA is running just fantastic. Milage is about 50 mpg now and gear changes are much better than it was new.
OP
OP
Was out for a short drive this evening, and TBH I cannot state categorically that anything has changed.
The engine fired up as normal, and perhaps it FEELS smoother and more eager, but TBH it's not really quantifiable. Maybe a longer run or two/three and a few fill-ups will make the case.
So far, after 4,600 of ownership, we've done an average of 42.5mpg.
She's done a variety of roads. Some commuting and some longer motorway distances. The roads round here are steep up and down, but before anyone says that ups and downs cancel out, you need to live here in Cornwall before you can see what I mean.
However, 42.5mpg is excellent, and I'm very pleased.
Let's give it another 4,000miles with new plugs and a more long-lived engine, and we'll see if anything improves.
Anyway, thanks for the info about the part numbers.
Regards to all,
Mick.
The engine fired up as normal, and perhaps it FEELS smoother and more eager, but TBH it's not really quantifiable. Maybe a longer run or two/three and a few fill-ups will make the case.
So far, after 4,600 of ownership, we've done an average of 42.5mpg.
She's done a variety of roads. Some commuting and some longer motorway distances. The roads round here are steep up and down, but before anyone says that ups and downs cancel out, you need to live here in Cornwall before you can see what I mean.
However, 42.5mpg is excellent, and I'm very pleased.
Let's give it another 4,000miles with new plugs and a more long-lived engine, and we'll see if anything improves.
Anyway, thanks for the info about the part numbers.
Regards to all,
Mick.
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Was out for a short drive this evening, and TBH I cannot state categorically that anything has changed.
The engine fired up as normal, and perhaps it FEELS smoother and more eager, but TBH it's not really quantifiable. Maybe a longer run or two/three and a few fill-ups will make the case.
So far, after 4,600 of ownership, we've done an average of 42.5mpg.
She's done a variety of roads. Some commuting and some longer motorway distances. The roads round here are steep up and down, but before anyone says that ups and downs cancel out, you need to live here in Cornwall before you can see what I mean.
However, 42.5mpg is excellent, and I'm very pleased.
Let's give it another 4,000miles with new plugs and a more long-lived engine, and we'll see if anything improves.
Anyway, thanks for the info about the part numbers.
Regards to all,
Mick.
You will enjoy the engine as it wears in more.
We finally bought a new crossover to replace a 4x4 and were offered a great price on the TA as px. I have decided to keep it as there is nothing out there which can propel you to Italy and back, gives great milage, zero RFL and over 50mpg on long runs And it looks good too.
OP
OP
Out today, maybe 50miles all told, and the way the engine performed was astoundingly different to before.
Honestly, the difference was amazing. One thing I sort of complained about, was the fact that it wouldn't pull along in 5th gear below 50mph and was happier at 60, but today we could pootle along in 5th at 40mph nicely and smoothly.
The engine ran quieter, smoother in all gears and pulling away, and performed beautifully. I guess we'll have even better economy from now on too.
The service info states that the plugs should be changed at 18,000miles, but I reckon it should be more like 10,000miles ............... not that I have any experience yet. Just a sort of educated guess.
We bought her at 13,500miles a month after her 3rd birthday, and now we are almost at her 4th birthday and due an MOT in a couple of weeks.
Cheers guys,
Mick.
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In metric it's 18,000km for TA plugs.
OP
OP
Hi UFI, and good morning.
All I can go on, is the (British) Fiat Passenger Service and Warranty booklet we got with the car when we bought her.
The first page for the 500 servicing schedule is 18,000mile Service Intervals labeled "500 and 500C Maintenance Programme."
Every 18,000miles the charts says, "Replace spark plugs. (Petrol versions only)"
In the chart, there are references to TA versions, Diesel versions and Dualogic versions, so it covers all the 500 models.
If there are any updates to this schedule, it's news to me.
Thanks,
Mick.
PS:
Just looked at the online version of the handbook, and the service intervals are in metric.
It says that the plugs should be changed every 30,000Km.
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OP
OP
That's ok!
I must say I had to check my "facts" when I saw your post!
As I said though, the difference in the engine's performance is astounding. If changing the plugs at 18,000miles makes that much difference, it would be far better if they were done a lot earlier.
I may do them again at 30,000miles rather than wait for 36,000miles.
Thinking about it, as the 500TA has only two plugs, they must be used twice as much as the four cylinder petrol 500. Fiat state 18,000miles for all the petrol versions, both 2cyl and 4cyl.
Regards,
Mick.
AGH1965
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That assumption is only correct if your TA makes twice the rpm of a four cylinder engine, but I assume that isn't the case. (A spark plug sparks once every two revolutions.)
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OP
OP
Yep.
You're quite correct. :worship:
I was out on a bike-ride earlier, and thinking about revs per minute and sparks per minute 4cyl vs 2cyl ............. and even vs single cylinder.
I do a lot of thinking when riding a bike.
One spark per two revs per cylinder in any 4stroke engine of course.
Therefore, a 2cyl engine, a 4cyl engine, and even as much as a 16cyl engine, still spark at once per rev per cylinder.
Thanks,
Mick.
You're quite correct. :worship:
I was out on a bike-ride earlier, and thinking about revs per minute and sparks per minute 4cyl vs 2cyl ............. and even vs single cylinder.
I do a lot of thinking when riding a bike.
One spark per two revs per cylinder in any 4stroke engine of course.
Therefore, a 2cyl engine, a 4cyl engine, and even as much as a 16cyl engine, still spark at once per rev per cylinder.
Thanks,
Mick.
TrevC
Established member
Well, that depends on whether the ignition system fires the plugs on the exhaust stroke. A single cylinder four-stroke only has a power stroke every other revolution. A two cylinder will have one once per rev, a four cylinder has two power strokes per rev, which is why it is smoother. It's also why the TA sounds as if it's lower revving.
Incidentally, I've now got iridium plugs in my TA, which are said to last twice as long. Can't say I've noticed a performance drop between plug changes, though.
Incidentally, I've now got iridium plugs in my TA, which are said to last twice as long. Can't say I've noticed a performance drop between plug changes, though.
just sold our 15 year old Yaris to make way for the TA on thursday. Must say , 50,500 miles, avg 49.4mpg on trip computer, mostly local stuff, and still on the original plugs. Only ever took them out once , quick wire brush, gaps were fine, and back in. @ prob 30k ish. But I know some cars eat plugs more than others.
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OP
OP
Some engines have two plugs per cylinder.
I was chatting to a bloke with a V8 Merc a week or two ago, and he was saying that his engine had SIXTEEN spark plugs!
Mick.
I was chatting to a bloke with a V8 Merc a week or two ago, and he was saying that his engine had SIXTEEN spark plugs!
Mick.
Yep.
You're quite correct. :worship:
I was out on a bike-ride earlier, and thinking about revs per minute and sparks per minute 4cyl vs 2cyl ............. and even vs single cylinder.
I do a lot of thinking when riding a bike.
One spark per two revs per cylinder in any 4stroke engine of course.
Therefore, a 2cyl engine, a 4cyl engine, and even as much as a 16cyl engine, still spark at once per rev per cylinder.
Thanks,
Mick.
off topic... the TA engine reminds me of Yamaha TDM 850 (twin) I used around a track, it scared me... It was one of the reason I got the 500 TA as it sounded a bit like a bike - well just a bit
AGH1965
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Wasn't there a NGK part code on the plugs? If so, the number at the end specifies the gap width in 0.1 mm. So, if the code ends with an "8", then the gap has to be 0.8 mm. What is right before this gap width number? Is it an "I", then it is an iridium plug; is it a "G", then it has a fine wire nickel alloy center electrode, which is cheaper.
OP
OP
How's that for info?
They are exactly the same plugs visually and are NGK. The new ones came in Fiat Original Spares boxes.
Regards,
Mick.
AGH1965
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Mick, are you saying that even the NGK part code was identical? I thought that you meant that the plugs themselves looked identical, but that the part code was different. What was the number at the end? Does this match with the gap you measured? I'm not familiar with the 25thou you mentioned. Or is that 0.025 inch?
