11-20-2016, 03:04 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 2,485
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spark plugs - any preferences?
I have Bosch, Beru, and NGK readily available. Any reasons for choosing one over another?
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'99 black 986
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11-20-2016, 03:48 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BC
Posts: 1,349
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NGKs work fine for me...
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2001 Boxster, 5 spd, Seal Grey
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11-20-2016, 04:32 PM
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#3
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Certified Boxster Addict
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 7,669
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I have used them all and never noticed any difference.
Bosch is a German brand (probably made in China). Beru is a German OEM brand owned by BorgWarner (and are probably made in China). And NGK is a Japanese brand (also probably made in China).
I'd choose whichever brand is on top of the parts stack.
(P.S. I was being sarcastic about all of them being made in China. My point is that there isn't any functional difference so they could conceivably all be made in the same factory)
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1999 996 C2 - sold - bought back - sold for more
1997 Spec Boxster BSR #254
1979 911 SC
POC Licensed DE/TT Instructor
Last edited by thstone; 11-20-2016 at 07:22 PM.
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12-20-2016, 09:31 PM
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#4
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I am my own mechanic....
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 3,432
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thstone
I have used them all and never noticed any difference.
Bosch is a German brand (probably made in China). Beru is a German OEM brand owned by BorgWarner (and are probably made in China). And NGK is a Japanese brand (also probably made in China).
I'd choose whichever brand is on top of the parts stack.
(P.S. I was being sarcastic about all of them being made in China. My point is that there isn't any functional difference so they could conceivably all be made in the same factory)
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'04 Boxster S 50 Jahre 550 Spyder Anniversary Special Edition, 851 of 1953, 6-sp, IMS/RMS, GT Metallic silver, cocoa brown leather SOLD to member Broken Linkage.
'08 VW Touareg T-3 wife's car
'13 F150 Super Crew long bed 4x4 w/ Ego Boost
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12-22-2016, 06:37 PM
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#5
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So Blessed!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 389
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I got my Beru Plugs today. They were ordered from Amazon, however shipped by EOC Parts in Doral Florida. I plan of contacting them to find out what all they sell. Anyway take a look at this picture....Surprised they were not from China as some have said they would be.
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Artic Silver Boxster S - Black Leather - Black Top - Convience Plus Package
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11-20-2016, 07:18 PM
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#6
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Multi-Boxer Driver
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 1,429
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I used Beru when I changed mine last year. I think they were made in France, FWIW, if I remember correctly.
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-Chris
2004 Porsche Boxster 2.7 (gone  )
2004 Porsche 911 C4S Cab
1991 Porsche 911 C2 Targa 3.6
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
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11-20-2016, 09:14 PM
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#7
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Motorist & Coffee Drinker
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,932
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Brand? Country of manufacture? Pointless.
Give us some real information. - How many electrodes is best? Is it all marketing, like razors, where one is actually as good as four or does it matter?
- Plantnum? Iridium? Copper?
- Dimpled? Forked? Plain?
- Check the gap, trust the manufacture, or look up a Porsche spec?
Be sure to torque them to: 30 +/-3 Nm (22 +/-2 ft-lbs)
Edit: originally I posted: And do not use anti-seize. Although this is technically correct, it is bad advice. See posts below for more info.
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I am not an attorney, mechanic, or member of the clergy. Following any advice given in my posts is done at your own peril.
Last edited by 78F350; 12-18-2016 at 08:19 AM.
Reason: Correction
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12-17-2016, 05:24 PM
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#8
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So Blessed!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 389
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I pulled a Spark plug this AM on my Boxster and see that the Beru plugs were installed from the factory. Looks like they will be in the trash soon. New Beru plugs are coming from Amazon. At 30k the tips are burned away somewhat. The original plugs were made in France, and the new Beru plugs now, come from China.
At Amazon they are priced at $42 today, with free shipping, however I used some of my points on my Amazon Charge card, and the plugs were only $30. A good deal!
I tried to upload a picture, but the 986forum program that allows the upload is not working.
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Artic Silver Boxster S - Black Leather - Black Top - Convience Plus Package
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12-19-2016, 07:11 PM
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#9
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So Blessed!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 389
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[QUOTE=Lew;519890]I pulled a Spark plug this AM on my Boxster and see that the Beru plugs were installed from the factory. Looks like they will be in the trash soon. New Beru plugs are coming from Amazon. At 30k the tips are burned away somewhat. The original plugs were made in France, and the new Beru plugs now, come from China.
At Amazon they are priced at $42 today, with free shipping, however I used some of my points on my Amazon Charge card, and the plugs were only $30. A good deal!
Finally got the picture uploaded!
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Artic Silver Boxster S - Black Leather - Black Top - Convience Plus Package
Last edited by Lew; 12-20-2016 at 09:00 PM.
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12-20-2016, 08:57 PM
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#10
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So Blessed!
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SE Georgia
Posts: 389
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No post
Last edited by Lew; 12-20-2016 at 09:06 PM.
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12-17-2016, 06:02 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 78F350
Brand? Country of manufacture? Pointless.
Give us some real information. - How many electrodes is best? Is it all marketing, like razors, where one is actually as good as four or does it matter?
- Plantnum? Iridium? Copper?
- Dimpled? Forked? Plain?
- Check the gap, trust the manufacture, or look up a Porsche spec?
Be sure to torque them to: 30 Nm (22 ft-lbs)
And do not use anti-seize.

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One electrode is all that is needed
Iridium is by far the most durable
None of that really matters
Always at least check the gap
And always use anti seize
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“Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
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12-17-2016, 06:06 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2014
Location: S.California
Posts: 2,029
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[QUOTE=78F350;517263]Brand? Country of manufacture? Pointless.
QUOTE]
Interesting example - just bought a stock Bosch Fuel Injector for the Boxster from a Porsche specialist. In tiny print on on face of the box "Made in China" . At least it was not a fake ?
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12-17-2016, 07:37 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 2,079
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Not trying to start a flame
But why wouldn't you use anti-seize on two dissimilar metals
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12-18-2016, 07:00 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pdwight
But why wouldn't you use anti-seize on two dissimilar metals 
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Porsche has for many years recommended against using anti seize because many types commonly used in the EU are actually dielectric (read an insulator) and reduce the plug's ability to find a ground. The metal paste types used here are fully electrically conductive, which eliminates this issue while protecting the alloy heads.
Having had to repair several cylinder heads with plug holes whose threads came out still attached to the plugs, you would have to be nuts not to use it, but "old wive's tales" persist....
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“Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
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12-17-2016, 09:42 PM
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#15
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There Is No Substitute.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,253
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I used Beru spark plugs, they are an OEM supplier to Porsche.
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1999 Ocean Blue Metallic Boxster - blueboxster.com
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12-17-2016, 11:48 PM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 347
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How often should you change the spark plugs?
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1998 Porsche Boxster 986 Convertible.
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12-18-2016, 11:10 AM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,614
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Both Loren and Pelican got their information from Porsche literature (been discussed in the past as well), which is based on the dielectric properties of many types of anti seize. We have several thousand plugs running around without issues, all of which have metallic paste style anti seize on them; and in all the years we have been doing this, we have never had one gall or pull the threads out of a cylinder head. All you need to do is check your brand of anti seize for its conductivity properties, if it is conductive, as most are, you are golden.
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“Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
Last edited by JFP in PA; 12-18-2016 at 11:13 AM.
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12-18-2016, 12:05 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2014
Location: S.California
Posts: 2,029
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Excellent ,practical advice(as usual)and validated by years of real-world useage.Thanks JFP
For the Chemistry geeks here is link to confirm. Do NOT use the marine grade antisieze !Chase the threads.
https://www.antiseize.com/PDFs/how-to-choose-an-antiseize.pdf
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP in PA
Both Loren and Pelican got their information from Porsche literature (been discussed in the past as well), which is based on the dielectric properties of many types of anti seize. We have several thousand plugs running around without issues, all of which have metallic paste style anti seize on them; and in all the years we have been doing this, we have never had one gall or pull the threads out of a cylinder head. All you need to do is check your brand of anti seize for its conductivity properties, if it is conductive, as most are, you are golden.
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I use Permatex:
https://www.permatex.com/products/lubricants/specialty-lubricants-anti-seize/permatex-anti-seize-lubricant-2/
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12-18-2016, 07:48 PM
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2013
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 2,079
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Which Anti Seize ?
I have a lifetime supply (for me anyway 1 bottle ) of aluminum base that I have used for years
Which is best Aluminum, Copper, or Nickel ??
and does brand make a difference
Not tooting JFP's horn but I like information by doing....and empirical prof means a lot to me.
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12-19-2016, 01:36 AM
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,614
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pdwight
I have a lifetime supply (for me anyway 1 bottle ) of aluminum base that I have used for years
Which is best Aluminum, Copper, or Nickel ??
and does brand make a difference
Not tooting JFP's horn but I like information by doing....and empirical prof means a lot to me.
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Aluminum is a good general purpose anti seize; copper is as well, but does not get along with some alloys such as stainless steel (can cause galvanic reactions) so you need to check before using it. Nickel has the highest temperature and corrosion resistance, but tends to cost slightly more.
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“Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
Last edited by JFP in PA; 12-19-2016 at 02:51 AM.
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