Technical Iridium Spark Plugs

[Adam1984]

Hello.

So I got some Bosch Spark plugs today, but they say on packaging made in China

I did want iridium but says on listing pages for them fuel type: LPG or CPC. I have a petrol 1.2 so does that mean not compatible with my panda.

Otherwise looking at Denso TT plugs, any thoughts on Denso?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Adam - two simple questions:
(1) why do you think you need to change your spark plugs
(2) why do you think you need iridium?
(And as an aside, what’s wrong with China? My iPhone is an example of the great quality that can come from there)

To answer them:
In the really rather simple Panda 1.2 engine, the plugs don’t get taken to extremes, and are good for 20,000 miles and more. Is there any sign of wear (burned tips, cracked insulator cores etc?) or of oil- or soot contamination? No? In that case they’re fine (you’ve told us they’ve done 3000 miles)

And iridium? In many more modern engines, the spark plugs are inaccessible without removing quite a lot of external parts (such as manifolds and injection systems). For that reason, longer life plugs are specified to mean they can be changed even less often. And in high performance engines under greater strain (mostly heat), they are more durable.

You’ve just had your car fixed. Now, you can leave the engine alone for at least a year. And in 12 months time the oil can be changed

There’s a lovely maxim: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix.

 

[Adam1984]

Well after my can belt was out by a tooth for about 6 months, the garage told me that the stress it causes on the plugs might be worth getting new ones.

I just got some anyway as only was £19. Am my mechanic friend in the garage will do them for free.

I ended up going for some Denso TT plugs.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Don't know about the 1.2, but the 0.9 needs Iridium NGK plugs ( according to handbook) and they need to changed every 30.000km (=18000-19000mls)
And since some time, those NGK's are made in Thailand...!!

 

[The Panda Nut]

1.2 standard FPT plugs are not iridium. Iridium will be fine though and many on here use them. 1.2 plugs getting fouled is not unknown. The stronger spark from an iridium plug may be of benefit. £19 for 4 oem grade plugs would be a first for me. Its strong value.

 

[Adam1984]

1.2 standard FPT plugs are not iridium. Iridium will be fine though and many on here use them. 1.2 plugs getting fouled is not unknown. The stronger spark from an iridium plug may be of benefit. £19 for 4 oem grade plugs would be a first for me. Its strong value.

I have ordered some Denso TT spark plug they are a upgrade but still nickel. The iridium ones only say LPG or CPC fuel type. I have petrol.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

…. £19 for 4 oem grade plugs would be a first for me. Its strong value.

It does seem that spark plugs have become less expensive now.

GSF car parts list the Denso plugs at around a fiver each:
https://www.gsfcarparts.com/products/spark-plug-xu22tt-denxu22tt

Even the genuine Fiat-labelled originals are only a tad more:

Alfa Romeo | Fiat - 1.2/1.4 8v Spark Plug 55190788

www.shop4parts.co.uk

 

[Adam1984]

It does seem that spark plugs have become less expensive now.

GSF car parts list the Denso plugs at around a fiver each:
https://www.gsfcarparts.com/products/spark-plug-xu22tt-denxu22tt

Even the genuine Fiat-labelled originals are only a tad more:

Alfa Romeo | Fiat - 1.2/1.4 8v Spark Plug 55190788

www.shop4parts.co.uk

Do you know if my 1.2 engine has HT leads or a coil Pack, and at what interval would these need changing? If am redoing spark plugs. I am on nearly 63,000 miles. Would this need considering?

Thanks.

 

[Greasytrucker]

It’s not one or the other, it has both. Coil packs are normally left alone unless they give you trouble. HT leads again can last many years although some people do choose to change them at a certain interval ls or mileage. As @Herts Hillhopper says, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Do you know if my 1.2 engine has HT leads or a coil Pack, and at what interval would these need changing? If am redoing spark plugs. I am on nearly 63,000 miles. Would this need considering?

Thanks.

No

They don’t ’wear out’. They work, or the don’t. If they’re working, then no need to change.

 

[Adam1984]

No

They don’t ’wear out’. They work, or the don’t. If they’re working, then no need to change.

Is there an easy way to tell if they are working or not?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Is there an easy way to tell if they are working or not?

Yes. If they work, the engine runs.

 

[Panda IIs]

Is there an easy way to tell if they are working or not?

Well since you have reported that the lumpy running and gutless performance has been fixed with a cambelt adjustment (corrected fitment) then I think you can assume all is well in the spark department. I think I read that you now have the MES diagnostic tool; that would report any misfire data which can be indicative but don't get confused by anything historic (since you have had the timing fixed). MES will not specifically identify failed or failing components in all situations.

 

[Greasytrucker]

Is there an easy way to tell if they are working or not?

If you open your bonnet, take off one of your HT leads and then start your engine you’ll see how you know if they’re not working. Basics of a petrol internal combustion engine

 

[Adam1984]

But the wierd thing is I don't have any EML lights. Would the EML light come on if I have faulty leads and bad spark plugs too sometimes not?

 

[Greasytrucker]

But the wierd thing is I don't have any EML lights. Would the EML light come on if I have faulty leads and bad spark plugs too sometimes not?

Stop trying to look for problems where there aren’t any

 

[Panda IIs]

But the wierd thing is I don't have any EML lights. Would the EML light come on if I have faulty leads and bad spark plugs too sometimes not?

Be happy it's working. I didn't buy into the advice you were given that the plugs were worn due to the engine being mistimed. Especially for the apparently limited time it was misadjusted.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Stop trying to look for problems where there aren’t any

I’ve said before - more than twice - the best thing for your car, any car, is frequent use with journeys long enough to cause good, not harm. Just drive it and for the short journeys, walk …

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

But the wierd thing is I don't have any EML lights. Would the EML light come on if I have faulty leads and bad spark plugs too sometimes not?

No.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

No.

I'll give a slightly longer answer. The system that monitors the engine and its computers is called On Board Diagnostics, Version 2, or OBD2 for short.

It has one simple purpose; to ensure that emission control systems in the car are working properly. The key things it's looking at are what goes into the exhaust from the engine, and what comes out after the catalytic convertor. It will also check on things related to the engine running 'clean', such as how much fuel goes in, how much air comes in through the air filter and if its the same after the turbo (when fitted), and, on a diesel engine, if the exhaust gas recirculation system and diesel particulate filter are working properly - (again, two things to reduce emissions).

Now, if you spark plugs were faulty, or the supply to them from the coils and leads wasn't right, then the fuel might not be ignited properly and so the sensors might detect something 'wrong' with the exhaust gases. And if that were happening then you might, if it were to happen frequently enough, show an error. But no car is perfect, so the system checks during every drive, but only reports an issue if it happens three times in a row - to be sure it's not a 'false alarm'.

You are seeing no codes or lights. That means the system thinks your car is fine. That means you don't need to do anything to it. Until next year when the oil might need changing.