Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Spark Plugs changeout Mazda MZR/Duratec engine

I also put it down to high humidity that condenses water in the plug wells and due to the excellent rubber seals it can't boil off.

Lowflyer...might make it up next Sunday.


Thanks

Well done kev, weather permitting its a nice little "do"

A couple of questions please. As a matter of interest, what were the gaps on the old plugs as removed and what gap did you set on the new ones? Did you torque them back in and if so, at what setting?
Thanks.

NGK technical literature advises against adjusting the gap on new NGK plugs. It seems the appropriate gap is set in the factory.

Arwyn

All very well, but for the few moments it takes, I would still want to measure prior to installation in case of damage or deformation during the packing and transportation process. Whatever the gap, it would be reassuring to confirm that all 4 are at least the same?

Whatever the cause really is, when I checked the plugs in Bumble, the front one was badly corroded and the others progressively less so. The rear plug was in good condition.

It does hint at condensation being a contributor.

Wouldn't bother myself but each to their own, must have changed hundreds of spark plugs over the years including various two wheeled and four wheeled motorsport and never needed to change the gapping on a new NGK plug.

Arwyn

I too changed plugs (at 50,000k) - not because they needed it, but thinking it might just have some sort of benefit. No benefit noticed afterwards, but I now have the long reach plug removal tool and know they are not seizing. No evidence of water ingress or corrosion on the 2008 4/4 Duratec.

Changing gap had no effect with me too. When I was initially trying to cure my pinking issue I experimented with different gaps (the manual quotes 1.25/1.35mm). Different gaps had no effect whatsoever as far as I could tell. I even tried a cooler plug at one point (Autolite copper 103’s). Nothing, no change at all. Just one point to watch if anybody does try adjusting the gap. In the good old day you could just lever against the electrode/plug tip to increase the gap. The platinum tipped plugs are too fragile to do this. Grip and bend the tang only to open the gap.