Itinerant Air-Cooled

How often do you guys replace your spark plugs?
I usually do about every 2 years. But the quality of Bosch plugs (etc.) has been slipping. Made in India, fine, but apparently lacking QC.
I have heard mixed reports about Bosch stuff causing problems. Is there a better product out there these days? I have tried so hard to be loyal to Bosch but I have seen bad plug wires, bad points, and have heard about bad plug threads. Frustrating.
NGK is probably better quality, if available for type1. It just seems WRONG to use Japanese parts on a German car. At least Brazil has Hitler in a vat of some kind of science-juice.

I run NGKs but I admit, I don't change them very frequently. I thought it was usually based on mileage, not time? What are the symptoms of plugs going south?

Gap gets bigger and dirty, doesn't have as much power. Runs a little rougher.

hambone wrote:doesn't have as much power.

You'll notice that the engine itself doesn't have as much power?

If you're crazy.
It's pretty subtle at first, but it can get noticeable eventually. The electrode rounds off also, in addition to a larger gap. I always figured new plugs were cheap insurance, especially in the cold winters of the Midwest. There I changed them every year.

hambone wrote:If you're crazy.
It's pretty subtle at first, but it can get noticeable eventually. The electrode rounds off also, in addition to a larger gap. I always figured new plugs were cheap insurance, especially in the cold winters of the Midwest. There I changed them every year.

I change them at engine overhaul intervals . . . file and gap them three times in the middle, about every 33.000 miles or so.
Colin

You're supposed to change them?

What's next, you'll tell me I have to grease the chassis?

Hippie wrote:You're supposed to change them?

What's next, you'll tell me I have to grease the chassis?

God! Right?

FYI: German-made Bosch Platinums at Bus Depot for $1.75 ea.

chitwnvw wrote:God! Right?

Only 84,000 miles to go and they will be due on the truck. I'll do the Bus at the same time. And maybe grease the CV joints.

static wrote:FYI: German-made Bosch Platinums at Bus Depot for $1.75 ea.

I've cured more misfire problems by pulling out the god damn Bosch Platinums and replacing them with copper plugs than I care to talk about. I run NGK's in my Bus and when I tune up the Bug I will be using NGK's as well. I also run NGK wires in the Bus, though I don't know if they're available for the Bug. I still run Bosch for the cap, rotor, points, etc.

I've heard that.
Seems like the all long-life platinum or iridium plugs only work well in ignitions where they were the OEM spec. I don't know why.

(I mean, not always, but often they don't fire well in old ignition systems where they originally had conventional plugs.)

NGKs any better?

Hippie wrote:Seems like the all long-life platinum or iridium plugs only work well in ignitions where they were the OEM spec. I don't know why.)

I think the newer high-energy discharge ignition systems are needed to fire those plugs reliably. HEI put out a lot more voltage (40,000 volts) than a conventional coil (18,000 volts).

vwlover77 wrote:

Hippie wrote:Seems like the all long-life platinum or iridium plugs only work well in ignitions where they were the OEM spec. I don't know why.)

I think the newer high-energy discharge ignition systems are needed to fire those plugs reliably. HEI put out a lot more voltage (40,000 volts) than a conventional coil (18,000 volts).

I would not use the platinum plugs with our Kettering Ignition Systems.
Copper core Old School plugs are fine for firing off our old lawn mower engines.
Colin