Plugs are changed from the BOTTOM of the car. I read it in my Bentley manual. Also, a poster out here (forget his name) has a nice FAQ/Maintenance guide on a website with pictures, tool requirements and time estimates..

That sounds worth finding again. If anyone can tell me which tread it was posted in, just let me know.

my car needs plugs pronto! wish my old mechanic was still at my disposal. The guy won't touch a Porsche. Too bad he's the only 100% honest businessman I've ever dealt with when it came to cars.

1)Stay out of trouble and only use stock plugs. This will guarantee true compatability and will come pre-gapped.

2)Double check the gapping of the plugs. Although I have never had one off...by much...I can only imagine its possible.\

3)Jack up side of car, remove rear wheel, remove wheel liner and TADA!!! 3 plugs staring at you. You will need to contort a bit to get the tools in there but it is NOT difficult and you do not do this from the top of the motor access.

--This is a very easy DIY. Give it a try and once you do plug #1 you wil fly through the other 5!

Good luck! :cheers:

WOW, that does sound easy. I've changed plugs before on my old car. I'm still going to buy the Bently Manual first. But it does sound like I can do it myself. Thanks! :cheers:

Boxster 2.7 and 3.2 "S"
 

Question, do the type "S" model 3.2 ltr. and the 2.7 ltr. use the same exact spark plugs? It seems that since the 3.2 has more power that it may run a colder spark plug. Anyone know? And if this is true, would I benifit more by using a colder runnig spark plug on my regular boxster 2.7 that is modified with bolt-on performance parts and a reprogramed ECU/CPU? :confused:

Hi,

Agree. Access is easy, especially from underneath (disclaimer - use proper stands, etc.). I changed mine b4 storage last fall and it took about 15 min. I think it's easier from underneath than from the side through the wheel well. Had no clearance issues at all. Be sure to use the proper torque so you index the plugs properly. Good Luck!...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Hi,

Twin Plug designs are not new or terribly radical. It sprung from early aircraft engines. Ferrari, Masserati, BMW, Aston Martin, and especially Alpha Romeo (in addition to Porsche) have been using Twin Plug designs for years.

Btw, the Boxer engine is not named after the inventor (Karl Benz, 1896). Properly known as a horizontally opposed engine, in which the corresponding pistons reach TDC simultaneously, thus balancing each other with respect to momentum. Original horizontally opposed engines were 4-cylinder and so the engine acquired the nickname Boxer because the reciprocating pistons resemble a Boxer throwing a combination punch. Fyi...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Thanks for the trivia! :cheers: Now can anyone answer my question about the differences in the "s" type plugs and the regular 2.7?? Please look at my earlier post. Also, is there a better spark plug wire I can get? Magnacore? MSD? Anyone? Might as well change those while I'm at it. :cheers:

Hi,

The OEM Sparkplug specs are:

• 2.7L - Bosch FGR 6KQC
  3.2L - Bosch FGR 7KQC
  - Beru 14 FGR 6 KQU
  - Beru 14 FGR 7 KQU

Torque spec is: 30 + 3 Nm (22+2 Ft. Lbs.)

Your car doesn't have spark plug wires in the traditional sense. It uses a Coil-on-Plug and so there's no advantage to using a different wire, such as you mention, nor am I aware of any aftermarket ones even being available. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Just to add a bit here...

The plugs are very easy to change, but as others have mentioned it does require having a good selection of extentions and good dexterity to reach the front plug on each side. I did the entire job in about an hour.

I did go with the Iridium plugs because I've had good experience with them on previous cars where the plugs are hard to get to. I didn't install them as a performance upgrade. I installed them as a "less maintenance" upgrade. Have not had any problems in the 10,000 miles they've been installed.

It is generally best to stick with OEM parts.

John

Thanks for the info, but what about this. It seems that since the 3.2 has more power that it may run a colder spark plug. Anyone know? And if this is true, would I benifit more by using a colder runnig spark plug on my regular boxster 2.7 that is modified with bolt-on performance parts and a reprogramed ECU/CPU?

Hi,

You don't need to run an unmodified car with anything but the OEM Heat Range Specs. Even with a modified car, again stick with the OEM Heat Range. The Heat Range has been thoroughly investigated by Porsche, don't change it on a whim, change it when your plugs tell you to.

A White-tipped or gray electrode indicate the plug is running too hot, meaning that you could be detonating. Too cold a plug, and you'll reduce the plug's lifespan due to fouling. A nice even Tobacco Brown colored tip indicates a proper operating temp.

A spark plug in general will not make more power, and it's one area where more is definitely not better than adequate. Many people don't understand that the difference in Heat Ranges represents the plugs ability to extract heat from the combustion chamber (by generally 70-100°C/increment - though no actual universal standard exists), not the value of the spark it makes. And, because of the lack of a universal standard by Plug manufacturers, one company's #7 plug can yield a completely different Combustion Chamber temp than another. In fact, some companies, like NGK for example, have their indeces reversed - the plugs get hotter as the numbers decline.

Pull your old plugs and see what they're telling you. The Heat range required can be different for all people depending upon your area's avg. temps, the quality of your fuel, your driving habits and driving style. The plugs will tell you what to do. Also, stick with OEM. The Head is tapped with a thread pitch and length to optimize the OEM plug with respect to depth and indexing, another plug may not work as well for these reasons...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Ok i found the spark plug part numbers... Its Bosch Copper Sparkplug 7402. Order them at Napa, They probably wont have them instock but 4-6 bucks a plug is alot better than dealer price of 12 a plug. I have them and the torque curve is much smoother, Idle is better too.

Thanks again! :cheers:

Did a 2003 boxster S come with Bosch or Beru plugs? Also, I don't have nearly 60k miles on my car. It's around a 1/3rd of that but it's been almost 4 yrs. Could the plugs possibly weld themselves into the cylinder heads if I don't change them soon?
I Noticed Pelican is selling the colder plug 14 FGR 6 KQU for both the base and S models?? http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/996M/POR_996M_BAStun_pg1.htm

It looks like they are selling the S guys the wrong plug?
Part Diagram Locations for: 99917020791
Model Main Diagram Description
Boxster 986 (1997-2004) Ignition System Spark plug, 14FGR 6KQU
996 (1999-2005) Ignition System Spark plug, 14FGR 6KQU

The part numbers you listed is Beru for the plug used on the 2.7 and 3.2 986.

The 2.5 1997-1999 uses a different plug. The Beru part number is 14 FR 7 LDU.

So they are selling the 2.5 owners the wrong plug.

Jim posted this below
2.7L - Bosch FGR 6KQC
3.2L - Bosch FGR 7KQC
- Beru 14 FGR 6 KQU
- Beru 14 FGR 7 KQU

It looks like the 2.7L and the 3.2L use different plugs?

No, that is part of the Bently shop manual errors. Page 03-30.

2.7 and 3.2 use the same heat range plug. 6. Bentley has a 7 listed for the 2.7. But for the 3.2 it has listed 6 and 7. The strange thing is for the 3.2 it shows the Beru plug with 2 different heat ranges - figure that one out.

I see that in my Bently. Thanks :) I think I know the answer to this, but is it a good idea to change the plugs every 4 years regardless of mileage?