Which Spark Plugs?

[StevenW007]

I'm experiencing slight hesitation when accelerating and having had the car scanned (no faults) I'm thinking that the spark plugs need changing. Already replaced all 4 coilpacks. Car is an edition 30.

Now having done a bit of research i'm looking at either the Bosch FR5KPP332 or the NGK PFR7S8EG plugs. Both are coming in at a very good price through euro car parts with their 25% discount. Just looking for peoples thoughts experiences etc?

Ste

[Jaywoo-GTI]

Awesome GTI are doing some NGK Iridium X Colder Spark Plug Set for less than £32 with free delivery at the moment.

Can someone please tell why a so called Iridium 'upgrade' plug is cheaper than the OE plugs? Are the not as good?

[56OctyVRS]

I fitted the iridiums as they were cheaper than the OE items.  The iridiums are supposed to put less strain on the coil packs so in theory should be better.  I have had both sparkplugs in and the engine runs a bit smoother on the iridiums.

[StevenW007]

Looks like the NGK ones are the ones to go for then. Thanks for your help chaps, will report back on whether it cures the slight hesitation i'm experiencing

Ste

[brookesb32]

Looks like the NGK ones are the ones to go for then. Thanks for your help chaps, will report back on whether it cures the slight hesitation i'm experiencing

Ste

I had/ may still have hesistation but due to the intake manifold flap. Lots of members here recommended the ngk's over the bosch, the first model you quoted on this thread. I didn't need them on the end as car already ha the ngk's fitted but would defo go for those.

[robdf2]

if your car is mapped its also recomended to increase the gap slightly , cant remeber the figures , but have a search , i think its been covered before.

[Tfsi_Mike]

if your car is mapped its also recomended to increase the gap slightly , cant remeber the figures , but have a search , i think its been covered before.

Not reduce? I have .64 in mind was RON ECHT who suggested it

[RS6BRIT]

if your car is mapped its also recomended to increase the gap slightly , cant remeber the figures , but have a search , i think its been covered before.

Not reduce? I have .64 in mind was RON ECHT who suggested it

Yeah i'd agree with that, more boost increases the chance of the spark being blown out, its common practice to reduce the gap when you increase the boost.

[StevenW007]

Update:

Got the cooler plugs from Awesome GTI (NGK Iridium BKR8EIX) and after fitting them the car feels soooooo much smother now I love it. Engine was still warm after changing the plugs and felt great when I took it for a spin. Absolutely no more hesitation whatsoever. Going to let the engine cool down then take it for a nice spirited spin later or in the morning and see how it is.

One thing that was a major pain though was not having a long enough socket to get the plugs out and a trip to National Tyre proved useless but thankfully an independent garage a bit further down the road whipped the old ones out and new ones in for me. Guys at National tyre just had no time for me whatsoever. Said I would have to come back in the morning and when I told them I want my own plugs fitting they didn't want to know. Wouldn't even lend me the socket for all of 2 minutes to do it myself. I had already done the hard bit of removing the engine cover and its a 2 minute job to whip out the coil packs and plugs. These are the kind of jobs that make you think about returning to a particular garage. Anyway slight rant over.

Ste

[Tfsi_Mike]

I thought the 7's were 1 stage cooler?? 

[RS6BRIT]

so did I, he should have BKR7EIX's, i think he has gone 2 steps colder.

Mind you i'm running Denso IK24's which i think are 2 steps colder and not had an issue, and as yet although i have a raft of bolts on's i'm not mapped yet.  They've been in for over a month and no issues.

[Tfsi_Mike]

Thought so.  Going to treat mine to some new plugs.  In fact I might put the NGK 7's back in that I thought were to blame for my missfire that turned out to be injector 3

[Jaywoo-GTI]

One thing that was a major pain though was not having a long enough socket to get the plugs out

I used one ot these http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_232613_langId_-1_categoryId_255216
Worked perfect on the golf.

[StevenW007]

I didn't have a spark socket in the garage (well that I could lay my hands on anyway). For £8 it's worth making a purchase for the toolbox although I did think that the plugs were 16mm and not 14mm?

On another note I took the car for a spin again this morning and I just hadn't realised how much the plugs were affecting performance. I could feel slight hesitation and stuttering before, particularly when booting it before but now there is nothing but pull pull pull.

Ste

[rich83]

^^ plugs can cause a myriad of performance issues. I'm glad I got mind changed, because I couldn't use full throttle. :-/