why re-gap spark pluggs?

[tybardy]

I remember some time back reading that people were gapping their spark pluggs to .040 instead of .060.... i saw it again today on a different thread and though i would ask the question... why?

 

[jmildoc]

Ty I saw this same thing and was wondering if i should go out and check mine. Hope someone gets an answer for both of us.

 

[Grebbler]

I believe it was because GM changed the spec around 06 or so to .040 to limit misfires and such. New GM Iridium's and such are pre-gapped to .040.

 

[BOSS]

So that begs the question, to do - or not to do?


BOSS

 

[tybardy]

i think i shall...

 

[Sepiroth]

If you're going to do the work of regapping the plugs, IMHO just replace them. That is unless your plugs are new.

 

[tybardy]

If you're going to do the work of regapping the plugs, IMHO just replace them. That is unless your plugs are new.

my plugs have less then 6k miles on them... i will probably buy new ones and gap those to .040 though... due to recomendation, i use NGK pluggs in my truck which are only $2, so getting 8 more is no worries

 

[Max]

You'll gain more top end power and a bit of fuel economy. They essentially corrected an error in gapping the plugs too much, I've ran .035 on a bunch of nitrous trucks or forced induction...cooler heat range of course.

 

[withac]

The NGK's I put in mine came pre gapped and warned not to adjust the gap because the center electrode is so small it could be damaged.

 

[jmildoc]

NGK's huh I put Autolite Platinum in mine about 3500 miles ago, should I take a couple out and check them?

 

[tybardy]

The NGK's I put in mine came pre gapped and warned not to adjust the gap because the center electrode is so small it could be damaged.

you could re-gap the plugg without even touching the center electrode, i "checked" each of the NGK's gap before i installed because i didnt trust the pre-gap... many years ago when i had my GMC s-15 i bought some ****** pre-gapped pluggs that turned out to not be pre gapped at all, so not i check.

The act of checking the plug is most likeley what will damage the electrode.. i suppose just use caution

 

[jmildoc]

alrighty I will have to check a couple out to see. hopefully they are right and I can trust the rest for now, so you like the NGK?

 

[tybardy]

well i was going to spend a overkill amount of money on new pluggs because my logic is to always spend a little extra to ensure you are getting a quality product... i posted a thread right before i did it and was told by several people, most of which are here in this forum, that the NGK pluggs are JUST FINE and that there was no need to get anything else....

that said, i have had NO problems and ultimatly recomend them to anyone doing new pluggs in their truck

 

[jmildoc]

i sure wish i would have seen that thread before i spent $7 per plug then wires and full synthetic oil. boy was that a fun trip to the auto parts store

 

[tybardy]

yea $16 for pluggs all around aint half bad.. i bought 9 just in case i dropped one (which i did)

 

[Max]

I spent $12 on my tr55s, the basic ones are just fine don't buy into the hype.

 

[tybardy]

I spent $12 on my tr55s, the basic ones are just fine don't buy into the hype.

 

[danimalmax]

What exactly do you mean by re gap? Do I actually pull out a ruler and measure some gap somewhere on the spark plugs?

 

[tybardy]

What exactly do you mean by re gap? Do I actually pull out a ruler and measure some gap somewhere on the spark plugs?

no you go buy a spark plug gapping tool for a buck or two from your local auto store.... it is a circular tool that will tell you what the gap is and it has a hole at the top of the tool that will allow you to open the gap up. if you need to close the gap up (like in this case) then you can just push it down on any hard flat surface

 

[Max]