DIY spark plug change

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:54 pm

Omg it sounds awful, sometimes it’s better to stick to what you’re good at and leave the tricky stuff to other people. Definitely put me off doing mine.

N4LLY · Post by **N4LLY** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:02 pm

Thanks for the laugh

Mine will be changed at Service and MOT time

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:06 pm

How often are they supposed to be changed?

N4LLY · Post by **N4LLY** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:09 pm

I will have owned mine 5 years at MOT time. Have not changed them in that time, and no history of if
they have been, so thinking just swap them out. Not sure what thew offical stance/life is ?

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:20 pm

Thank god for that, they and the coils were changed by a previous owner about 7000 miles ago so hopefully they are okay

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:39 pm

MikeyH wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:54 pm Omg it sounds awful, sometimes it’s better to stick to what you’re good at and leave the tricky stuff to other people. Definitely put me off doing mine.

None of it is difficult, though. It's just the overly-complicated way manufacturer's do everything (in an attempt to put people like us off IMO).
Then because of the way everything is designed you need specialist tools which most don't have. I have at least 5 full socket sets, 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive with multiple sized 'plug sockets', long sockets, the lot. Yet none fit down the stupidly long and angled hole to get to my plugs. £13 for a specially designed socket. It's madness!

Even the pollen filter is a PITA to change, as it's stuck in the passenger footwell vertically. No room to get in there to see what you are doing.

tiglon · Post by **tiglon** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:58 pm

I have to confess to laughing at you, until you mentioned angled spark plug wells, what the hell is that about? Sounds like it's designed to be awkward.

You should have got a 6 pot

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:14 pm

tiglon wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:58 pm You should have got a 6 pot

I have on the 440. That will be 6 more I can't do!

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:30 pm

tiglon wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:58 pm I have to confess to laughing at you

It's quite funny now, but was less so when I had a 14mm socket jammed in the hole and couldn't budge it.

I've been a mechanical engineer for 37 years too!

Mike6 · Post by **Mike6** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:34 pm

Where do you live, someone should be able to help with such basic tasks . As an old boy myself I dont like crawling under cars now what with my high blood pressure, dodgy kidneys( to much time in Wetherspoons) and poor back (think thats all) i purchased an inexpensive oil suction pump from ebay which works brilliantly but is only any use if your Zed has a dipstick.

N4LLY · Post by **N4LLY** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:07 pm

Mike6 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 5:34 pm high blood pressure, dodgy kidneys( to much time in Wetherspoons) and poor back (think thats all)

Errrr

This is a spark plug change thread, not oil

B21 · Post by **B21** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:38 pm

The spark plug life is driven (pun) by various factors…

General rule of thumb for stock cars is around 25k for N54s and 35k for N52s and 40-50k for N20s

Re-mapped cars divide by 2…

Of course since the DMEs try to correct faults dynamically you won’t be aware there’s an issue till they start misfiring…

MikeyH · Post by **MikeyH** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:53 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:38 pm The spark plug life is driven (pun) by various factors…

General rule of thumb for stock cars is around 25k for N54s and 35k for N52s and 40-50k for N20s

Re-mapped cars divide by 2…

Of course since the DMEs try to correct faults dynamically you won’t be aware there’s an issue till they start misfiring…

What about the times for the plugs on the m54 2.2 engines please and are they as difficult to remove as I would really like to give it a go myself.

Mike6 · Post by **Mike6** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:58 pm

When I skimmed this thread I am sure someone was talking about oil changes as well, if not apologies. Cannot see any difficulty in changing spark plugs. , probably one of the easiest of jobs on a car.

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:32 pm

When pulled my N52 plugs i would say good for 50k miles based on tip wear.

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