Hi all, what are the best spark plugs to get for a Fabia mk2 VRS?

There are newer spark plugs on the market these days but my engine has always ran sweet with the Denso SKJ20CR-A8’s so I stick with them every year.

1 minute ago, LGM said:

There are newer spark plugs on the market these days but my engine has always ran sweet with the Denso SKJ20CR-A8’s so I stick with them every year.

Thanks. I will have a look at them. Where do you buy them from?

Just now, GUESTY said:

Thanks. I will have a look at them. Where do you buy them from?

NGK bkr7ei 

1 minute ago, GUESTY said:

Thanks. I will have a look at them. Where do you buy them from?

https://www.gsparkplug.com/1x-ngk-iridium-ix-spark-plug-bkr7eix-2667.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiM3tqY7H7gIVKe_tCh1lgQ2LEAQYASABEgKhifD_BwE

Is there much difference between Denso and NGK?

Just now, GUESTY said:

Is there much difference between Denso and NGK?

I’ve ran both , both are really good plugs but the denso ones don’t run well in winter (for me) as was getting emissions light when boosting when the air coming in was freezing cold for some reason  also all the people running remaps run the ngk plugs with the R8 coil packs 

10 minutes ago, GUESTY said:

Is there much difference between Denso and NGK?

 

They're two entirely different companies.

8 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

They're two entirely different companies.

Yeah I know that. I meant between the two spark plugs is there much difference in how they perform.

15 minutes ago, GUESTY said:

Yeah I know that. I meant between the two spark plugs is there much difference in how they perform.

 

It was humour, spark plugs are incredibly simple devices that have changed little in the last hundred years, Iridium plugs are what you want for the VRS since they don't wear out as quickly as others, it doesn't really matter about brand, get whichever offers the best value at the time you're buying.

Buy from a trusted seller. 

If running a tuned 1.4 tsi / tfsi twincharger then best say as the recommendation for spark plugs can be different.

 

Only one member here has reported issues with the DENSO in the past 10 years and no idea if they were actual genuine ones.

 

Avoid the NGK's.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/246959-ngk-brk7eix-2667

 

 

 

 

 

PS

Sorry, now 2 people have reported issues with the DENSO.

@thomasaspin

Was your winter driving issue with the DENSO plugs before or after you had a new engine fitted under warranty, and was that with the engine standard or modified, 

& what gap had you the plugs at.

Also was it the SKJ 20 or the VK20 plugs you had?

 

Everyone needs to ask advice sometimes at the start of their learning journey.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/337700-oem-spark=plugs-vrs

 

 

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

42 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

PS

Sorry, now 2 people have reported issues with the DENSO.

@thomasaspin

Was your winter driving issue with the DENSO plugs before or after you had a new engine fitted under warranty, and was that with the engine standard or modified, 

& what gap had you the plugs at.

Also was it the SKJ 20 or the VK20 plugs you had?

 

Everyone needs to ask advice sometimes at the start of their learning journey.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/337700-oem-spark=plugs-vrs

 

 

Hi, Roottoot, so what would you recommend? And any link to buy from?

Ask you local Motor Factor to get them.

or 

Maybe use a BRISKODA Sponsor.  So a trusted seller.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/forum/350-opie-oils

 

 

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

A very good guide to changing the plugs in a 1.4 TSI / TFSI Twincharger.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/462285-spark-plug-guide

 

3 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

Maybe use a BRISKODA Sponsor.  So a trusted seller.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/forum/350-opie-oils

 

 

I’ve always bought all my servicing parts from opieoils, I can’t fault them.

Had a **** up last year when I purchased all my stuff, filters, oil, plugs the lot but it came in a rather small box, small enough as in the size of a 1L oil bottle size so I thought hmmm, definitely no 5L in there. Dropped them a quick email and they sent the oil out next day, warehouse error apparently. I can’t fault their service so I keep going back. They aren’t the cheapest but they’re consistent in being reliable and always have them in stock so I keep returning. 
 

@GUESTY for the love of god please don’t go somewhere and say “i need some Spark plugs for a vRS” because they will no doubt give you the wrong ones and that’s when it all starts.

 Go in knowing the exact spark plug you want  

 it’s all down to personal preference, as stated earlier my car has always ran bang on so why change something that works? Thats even with the r8 coils that have been in for the past 2 years. Others prefer NGK over Denso and vice versa.

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by LGM

Look, brand really doesn't matter, no large company has perfect quality control, you'll always find someone who's had bad luck with this brand or that brand, the important thing is getting the correct specification for your engine.

 

Brands are for amateurs.

People really need to be aware you are highly unlikely to see a Twinchargers plugs with more than 1 plug having an issue.

The plug that gets fouled with oil and carbon and has the tip burned off.

Crap design of the inlet manifold is an issue.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/421161-vrs-spark-plug-tip-missing

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/461905-fabia-vrs-mkii-spark-plug-fail-new-engine-help-advice

 

Stuff like posted there by @sepulchravehas been an issue since 2009.

Technicians / mechanics have said the exact same thing.

That is why the CAVE was discontinued, but before that the OEM plug type and gap was changed, then with the CTHE plenty again used plugs other than the OEM. 

With tuning they changed the gap with the plugs used.

 

Some learn by others mistakes & experience. 

That can be the Manufacturers, the mechanical engineers / technicians or those that just learn stuff on forums etc.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/371770-spark-plugs-for-mk2-fabia-vrs

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/327074-miss-fire-now-its-eaten-the-spark-plugs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

There's no need to be rude, it just sounds petulant and stupid. I understand you want to be the big cheese of the twincharger club and wear the big hat but if you look at my advice it is very reasonable.

I advocate the use of Iridium plugs only and endorse the various specifications given in the list of suitable plugs pinned up.

However my professional experience means that I don't endorse any particular brand, there are only a handful of factories worldwide which supply Iridium sparkplugs and frankly they're all top quality.

Personally I've used NGK since the 1970's and hardly ever had a faulty product from them, they were the first mass market manufacturer to really nail their quality control.

@sepulchrave The issue is people like Techs, Mechanics and Forum Members and those that give advice wrongly can cost people their engines.

 

Duff gen that comes from the lack of experience of the engines being discussed and the fundamental design and issues with consumables, OEM or others.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/268627-which-spark-plugs-is-used-as-standard-in-vrs

 

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

20 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

@sepulchrave The issue is people like Techs, Mechanics and Forum Members and those that give advice wrongly can cost people their engines.

 

Duff gen that comes from the lack of experience of the engines being discussed and the fundamental design and issues with consumables, OEM or others.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/268627-which-spark-plugs-is-used-as-standard-in-vrs

 

 

You have to accept that this is a community with many contributors and you must allow it to function in that way, yours is not the only voice which needs to be heard.

You do not have primacy, most of your experience is as an end-user and most of your evidence is anecdotal.

You may groan but you name-checked me and directly contradicted my reasonable advice for no obvious reason and it's not the first time either, you're a repeat offender which is why I'm calling you out here.

Please allow the rest of us to continue to contribute without intervention when intervention is not required.

@sepulchrave

Look a the dozens of Mk2 Fabia vRS just on here that have had the tip burn or break off of a Spark Plug. 

All but 1 pictured or discussed by those that have had this will be NGK plugs of the 4 different specs used with these engines,

 

So it might be called anecdotal, but that is anecdotal from working on the cars, removing plugs, inspecting plugs and talking with the techs working on the cars and what they have learned to reduce the risk of the issue. 

 

This is the single example of a DENSO that i have seen over 10 years of the CAVE / CTHE plugs failing.

Maybe because those using them are already aware of how short lived the 1 of the 4 NGK / VW plugs can last so when using the DENSO they are checking them more regularly & not making the mistake of going by Dealership or the Manufacturers advice on plugs or service replacement schedules.

 

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

No, the reason is that there are vastly more NGK plugs installed, it's simple statistics.

This is what I mean by anecdotal.

1,800 CAVE engine Skoda Twinchargers in the UK.

Failures from the start with excessive oil use. and failing spark plugs. 2011 the OEM plugs were changed, as was the gap.

Some cars had breather mods and software updates.

2012 these engines were discontinued.

 

2012 the CTHE were introduced using the OEM plugs last used in the CAVE engines.  Under 1,100 CTHE Twincharger registered in the UK

There were still excessive oil users. 

There were some cars had the breather mod done??? & a Software Update.    There were engines replaced, there were spark plugs burning tips off.

Then there was the Oil Spray Jet upgrade done.

 

The 2,900 odd cars left the factory with the VW / NGK plugs. 

That was an issue, but that was how it was 2010-2014.

 

The SEAT & VW & Audi 1.4 TSI / TFSI Twinchargers had the similar percentage of failures of engines 2009-2012, the 2012 on.

The Spark Plug getting the tip burnt off being a common issue.

 

Audi Techs learned early on to start using DENSO plugs in the Audi A1 1.4TFSI 185ps Twincharger, that was because they were told to by the factory.

There were a very limited number of the Audi A1 twin Chargers in the UK, around 500 first registered.

 

When there are years of anecdotal evidence and there are statistics known by the Manufacturers it can be simply clever to look at the issues and act and not replace in the region of 25% of the engines expire prematurely. Even replacement engines expire.

Maybe that was what Audi did when telling Dealership Techs to use a different Spark Plug from the OEM ones.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/461905-fabia-vrs-mkii-spark-plug-fail-new-engine-help-advice

 

Edited 1 February, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

Exactly, like I suggested vastly more NGK plugs installed.

I strongly suspect issues with heat range, even Iridium can't save a plug from melting if it's overheating badly enough and it's generally only the electrode itself that's made of rare metal.