spark plugs

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

I believe that guy who said that the "BOXTER" once used 12 spark plugs was talking about the original inventor, from wich the BOXTER engine was named and designed after. NOT the Porsche BOXSTER! So he is probably right. :dance:

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

[porsche986spyder]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

Hi,

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! 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.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

Thanks for the trivia! 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.

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

[John V]

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

[porsche986spyder]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

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

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?

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

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