Interesting happening today.

Had just done my annual oil and filter change the other day and decided to delve a little deeper into other bits as the 1.4 GP is now 4 years old with the huge mileage of just over 10,000 miles! (We live in Cornwall and both cars get an easy life down here).

The air filter was clean as the day it went in; a testament to the clean air down here in the West I guess.

The spark plugs looked to be perfect. No damage, no burning, no soot; nothing. I was sorely tempted to put them back in, but then thought “Heck, they’ve done 4 years so they don’t owe me anything” so I replaced them with new NGK’s.

The difference was remarkable. Instantly smoother and quieter engine running, car seemed quicker in acceleration too and more importantly the mpg showed a 5 mpg improvement on a 30 mile run this afternoon.

Never would have thought it!

4 years with the same plugsI don't need to worry on my punto because its diesel but I've changed the glow plugs,my Mitsubishi evo gets the plugs changed every 3 months or 4k being high powered

I never thought this would make a difference, I might try this! Thanks

That's Good!, Didn't realise they made a difference, well it hasn't on mine I have a 1.4 GP and have just done a full service on mine including NGK plugs, no difference really :/ Strange

NGK Iridium's?

Sorry you didn’t get the same result Jonathon. Maybe your plugs weren’t as old as mine?

Been thinking on it further and perhaps the insulation was breaking down on mine from old age but without visible evidence? Might change the 2-year old 5000 mile plugs on wife’s Panda and see if that makes any difference.

No Mr Young, not Iridiums. Ordinary boring ZKR7A-10 plugs.

jonathaneuk said:

That's Good!, Didn't realise they made a difference, well it hasn't on mine I have a 1.4 GP and have just done a full service on mine including NGK plugs, no difference really :/ Strange

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If they were fitted in the first place...... Call me cynical its why i started doing my own servicing my mum had her car fully serviced and after 5 years i don't think the air filter or plugs had ever been changed (unless you serviced yourself)? Silicone grease in the plug caps and coil end and a spray of holts damp start on the leads made mine tick over much better

fiat_freak said:

Sorry you didn’t get the same result Jonathon. Maybe your plugs weren’t as old as mine?

Been thinking on it further and perhaps the insulation was breaking down on mine from old age but without visible evidence? Might change the 2-year old 5000 mile plugs on wife’s Panda and see if that makes any difference.

No Mr Young, not Iridiums. Ordinary boring ZKR7A-10 plugs.

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Yeah maybe not, they were in for around 13,000 miles :/ but im gonna get some iridium tip ones I think

I replaced mine after 3 years with the same ones, with NGKs, didn't notice a thing.

i changed mine with bosch super something ones they where the cheapest at the time and averaged about 3mpg extra with them also changed the air filter for a k+n panel