Spark plug "guide"

[UrbanPanzer]

Changed my plugs today after reading for a few weeks on here regarding issues, not sure "if" there was a guide on here or not, I could not find one and I find a lot of topics with images hosted on 3rd party sites (like photo crap it) and the images dissappear...

 

I do these guides to aid others,  spark plug change to those used to doing it is an easy task, but to others they may need assistance either written or verbal. I try to aim my guides at someone who has never done the job before....

 

I have a website for my other vehicle with loads of guides and it's well documented.......and I may be looking at doing similar with the skoda, but for now I have uploaded the guide onto that one....

 

May tweak it here and there but for now location below....

 

http://www.discovery2.co.uk/Fabia VRS MkII Spark Plug Replacement.html

 

Thoughts welcome, be gentle !!

[Ootohere]

I put the new spark plugs in after checking all 4 gaps with the spark plug on a length or rubber pipe and start them off on the threads so taking away the risk of cross threading.

[UrbanPanzer]

Yeah thats an old trick.......I have always felt it sort of contradicts the cross threading theory.... as the pipe flexes the plug is not square to the hole.

 

With a good plug socket and extension, you can use the extension as a guide to how square you are in the hole as it's dead straight all the way down, and then doing by hand you should never be able to cross thread them as there is not much

grip on an extension bar.

[Ootohere]

Yes correct extensions holding the plug firmly is the way to do it.

Sadly not all have that and i see enough that have plugs that were clunked in or the odd cross threaded.

The pipe has worked well enough as there is not much force to get a cross thread.

 

Nice guide you have done.

[UrbanPanzer]

Thanks for the feedback....

 

Whats your thoughts on the plugs that came out ?

[Ootohere]

How they usually are when the plugs get a nice cooking before being stopped and not to much oiling up and carbon build up.

How they should be, but the VW Group Service Guideline of 40,000 miles is ridiculous, and service managers saying they are Long Life and the service interval is 60,000 to 70,000 miles are too common.

 

As to the DENSO plugs, i have seen all 4 being good in Twinchargers for over 25,000 miles where NGK were gubbed at just over 10,000 miles, or 1 was.

There is a member here that had a set of DENSO that were in a bad way in not that many miles, but anyone needs to be careful where the plugs are sourced, 

there are snide ones around, but it is almost impossible to tell fakes.  If someone in a Factor or a seller swaps good supplies for dodgy.

 

VW / Skoda changed the recommended gap when the changed the plugs fitted,,  so the OEM / NGK's in 2011 to 0.7mm.

BlueSpark recommended with their Tuning Box 0.6mm gap and so have some Remappers.  I stick with the 0.8mm with DENSO.

Edited 2 February, 2019 by Skoffski

[john999boy]

3 hours ago, UrbanPanzer said:

May tweak it here and there but for now location below....

http://www.discovery2.co.uk/Fabia VRS MkII Spark Plug Replacement.html

Thoughts welcome, be gentle !!

Excellent job!

Isn't it possible to upload to the Briskoda servers though?

I've moved this to the Guides Section too.

Edited 2 February, 2019 by john999boy
Typo.

[rum4mo]

For spark plugs that are located deep into cylinder heads, I've bought a Laser Tools spark plug tool which is a very long tubular socket with magnets at the plug end, a top knurled section and a 3/8" sqr drive at the top, as it has a bigger diameter than an sqr drive extension it tends to stay "on axis" or closer to axis so less chance of cross threading the plug hole.

 

I seem to have an identical tube of silicon grease for that sort of use in the garage.

 

Someone on a Polo forum, seems to have left changing the spark plugs for too long and needed to use the base prongs of a puller fitted with a threaded bar and nuts with a threaded steel bar on legs to extract one of their coils - scary stuff, the coil came out leaving the inner rubber sleeve and top seal assembly and metal shroud in the plug hole!

[larsberg]

Thanks a bunch for this guide, might dare giving it a go myself now.

[Hermes_7]

Anybody know how to undo the spark plugs on my 1.2tsi 105BHP Skoda Rapid 2013....do they just pull off or are they clipped on someway..?

 

[xman]

Don't try to simply pull the leads as you will damage them.

You need a plug lead tool to pull the metal boot from the plugs, this tool is ideal

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spark-Plug-Lead-Tool-VAG-Sealey-VS5293/264012920476

 

Then a 16mm T bar plug spanner, this is ideal

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-16mm-T-Bar-Spark-Plug-Removal-Tool-T-Handle-Spanner-Socket-140mm-Universal/123004375563

 

Edited 20 March, 2019 by xman

[Hermes_7]

1 hour ago, xman said:

Don't try to simply pull the leads as you will damage them.

You need a plug lead tool to pull the metal boot from the plugs, this tool is ideal

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spark-Plug-Lead-Tool-VAG-Sealey-VS5293/264012920476

 

Then a 16mm T bar plug spanner, this is ideal

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-16mm-T-Bar-Spark-Plug-Removal-Tool-T-Handle-Spanner-Socket-140mm-Universal/123004375563

 

 

Many thanks for that mate will give it a go with that tool....cheers for the links...

[edbostan]

Is no3 plug easy to withdraw? space looks tight: the metal cowling is kept in place. I have the same layout.

Edited 26 August, 2019 by edbostan