I've got a year 2000 Punto sporting Mk2

I've read that the suggested replacement is usually NGK DCPR8E-N Part No 5692

From what I've read the number 8 in the NGK numbering system is how hot or cold the plug is.

is there any benefit using a spark plug that is colder - i.e. a number 9 plug?

From what I've read the lower the number, the hotter the plug and the more it will burn carbon deposits on the spark plug to keep it clean, but if you go for a colder plug then heat will be drawn away from the plug faster so it stays cooler but in turn may mean the plugs get fouled sooner.

I don't mind changing spark plugs more often if it means more MPG or other benefits.

Also is there any huge dangers from running a hotter plug then an 8 - like a 7? Most of my journeys are short local journeys in London, but a few times a year I go camping and drive 100 to 150 miles at a time.

Dont start ****ing around with fitting different plugs for different driving conditions

Fit the plugs thats recommended, from the manufacture, Fiat fitted Champion AND Ngk plugs - just rebranded as fiat

Fit whats right and dont worry about it

A regular service schedule is better then anything really

Ziggy

I typed in my car licence plate into the Eurocart Parts website and it gives several NGK Spark Plugs

The first NGK plug listed is the NGK 4983 DCPR7E-N-10 but on the fitments section it mentions Date From 02/2005 ... my car is a year 2000 model bought in April ... will this work for my car?

The other plug it has listed is the NGK 7642 DCPR8E-N and says from 09/2000 - again this is a date after I bought my car.

Will the NGK 4983 DCPR7E-N-10 work without any problems in my April 2000 1.2 16V Sporting?

I also ask because someone has 4 brand new NGK DCPR7E-N-10 plugs they bought by mistake and has offered them to me for free. But of course I don't want to risk damaging my engine if these aren't correct for my car, in all other ways the DCPR7E-N-10 plugs seem identical to the NGK DCPR8E-N except the DCPR8E-N is a colder spark plug.

just check that they are same length and same thread diameter as your current ones and its goona be ok

Take one of yours out find what brand and number is on it. And get local motor factors to cross reference it

flisko said:

just check that they are same length and same thread diameter as your current ones and its goona be ok

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Thread, length, diameter, gaping, etc all identical only - only difference is how quickly hot / cold the plug is.

Andy Monty said:

Take one of yours out find what brand and number is on it. And get local motor factors to cross reference it

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The chap who is giving away the free plugs has posted them to me, should arrive in next few days, so thought I'd wait for them to arrive and when they do open up the car and see what I have and compare side by side at the same time.

deeinlondon said:

Thread, length, diameter, gaping, etc all identical only - only difference is how quickly hot / cold the plug is.

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dunno about hot cold stuff, never bothered with that, someone else might explain what that does to car

deeinlondon, check here for your plug type 99-03,

http://www.ngkpartfinder.co.uk/partfinder.php

Forget Eurocarparts, they are muppets for muppets.

NGK say you need DCPR8E, with 0.9mm gap. You have a very late Mk1 Punto.

My Brava 1.2 16V 2001 uses DCPR8E-N with 0.8mm gap. Same for Mk2 Puntos. Earlier 16V engines had funnyplugs with 2 electrodes. The engines were changed to give better emissions (slightly less performance) and later got different exhausts and electronics.

God knows about the "7" plugs, probably hotter for use in non-standard conditions.

You could upgrade to equivalent Iridium plugs for performance and long life... there are 20-page discussions in the 500 forum about this.

Plugs for cars from 2005 are probably changed when the engines went to Euro-4.

bluejohn125 said:

Forget Eurocarparts, they are muppets for muppets.

NGK say you need DCPR8E, with 0.9mm gap. You have a very late Mk1 Punto.

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My car is definitely a MK2 Sporting - I've only owned two cars in my life a MK1 Punto and my MK2 Sporting W54 plate

Anyways I managed to find my Fiat Owner Handbook - took a photo

http://share.pho.to/A1sLD/A1sLC/original

It lists two plugs

NGK DCPR8E-N and Champion RA4HCX

Any thoughts on NGK Spark Plugs vs Champion Spark Plugs?

My other question is the original plugs have been in the car for a very long time - almost 16 Years (car is now at 27,000 Miles) without being replaced.

Should I expect the original spark plugs to be very hard to turn and remove after all these years, even though mileage is low.

And if so is it a good idea to get some kind of penetrating oil and put in around the spark plugs before attempting to turn them?

If so which penetrating oil is best (and easy to find) and safe to use in the Spark Plug Well?

My mistake regarding the Mk1 / Mk2 mixup! I thought we were in the MK1 forum...

Anyway stick with the recommended NGKs, Champion don't really figure much these days, Bosch or Denso are more common alternatives.

You'll need a decent 16mm hex plug socket, with the rubber insert to grip the plug as you pull / drop it out of / in to the deep hole in the cylinder head. Make sure it pops onto the plug properly when removing.

I use old fashioned 3-in-1 oil to free things off (oil or spray) buy WD40 should do. You'll need to crack them open carefully holding the socket very straight, worst case you'll fracture the old plug porcelain. They shouldn't be too difficult to shift unless they've been cross-threaded or the alloy head and stainless plug have corroded together (unlikely...)

O.k if your reg has two letters then 54 it is a MK2b which has bigger headlights MK2 models have narrow rectangular lights.

Get NGK spark plugs as they are the same as the Fiat ones.

Well if the plugs have not been changed in 16yrs & not been removed they could be a pig to get out, just take it easy on them, I don't know if spraying them would help but it wouldn't hurt, Plusgas spray is pretty good.

It's just a straight forward MK2 I'm sure - it's not got the revised front nose.

I believe the MK2B has revised shape because it needed a higher front end to get a higher rating in crash tests, i.e. the higher front end caused less harm to people if you ran them over.

Yes I've read lots of reviews and PlusGas seems to get good reviews, I think I'll buy some and when it arrives spray the area where the spark plugs are and let it soak in overnight.

Year 2000 is W reg, not 54...

It's a very early Mk2.

bluejohn125 said:

Year 2000 is W reg, not 54...

It's a very early Mk2.

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Yep