BP6-ES too hot for 2.4S engine?

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

I used to use the BP6 plugs in 2.4L MFI engines but am beginning to wonder if they might be too hot. Any ideas? Seems like most people are running the 7 range plugs.....

Bruce Herrmann

Rot 911 · 04-24-2002, 09:42 AM

I ran the BP6ES plugs in my 72E with MFI with no problem. I checked with Warren first. While they are a hot plug they are not overly hot unless you happen to live in the desert. I only went to the "6" plug because I had continuous fouling problems. Once I got those sorted out I suppose I could have run the "7" plugs, but the "6" worked just fine.

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

Thanks Kurt, I just found a small stash of the 6's I had around the garage and thought I'd try them. I've been running a double electrode Bosch, can't remember the number, and I'm not sure it's as good as the
NGK's for my engine.
I've installed an optical points replacement device, pertronix, and I'm wondering if I can gap the plugs a bit wider than standard..anybody had any experience with this?

Rot 911 · 04-24-2002, 11:36 AM

You can try gapping them wide and just see if you start to foul. There are some claims that you can open them up to .060, but I can't believe you would end up with a very strong spark. Stock gap is .028, so why not try .032? While not a super wide gap, it is more spark, and it will still be nice and blue.

jkeyzer · jkeyzer's Garage

Forgive the newbie question, but how do you tell if a plug fouls? Ugly idle, pull the plug wire and RPMs don't change?

Rot 911 · 04-25-2002, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jkeyzer
Forgive the newbie question, but how do you tell if a plug fouls? Ugly idle, pull the plug wire and RPMs don't change?

Both are good indications, also backfiring, stumbling on acceleration.

NYSCAR · 04-25-2002, 05:57 AM

Another spark plug newbie question, if you pull 'fouled' plugs and clean them well, will they function normally again?

Brad

Rot 911 · 04-25-2002, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NYSCAR
Another spark plug newbie question, if you pull 'fouled' plugs and clean them well, will they function normally again?

Brad

Most of the time they will.

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

A few years ago I was having trouble with fouled plugs on a regular basis and bought a spark plug cleaner from some place like Harbor Freight. It uses compressed air to sand blast the plug tips and get them really clean. It uses it's own media and does a pretty good job of getting plugs looking nearly new. Anybody else used these things?

Rot 911 · 04-25-2002, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GIBSON
A few years ago I was having trouble with fouled plugs on a regular basis and bought a spark plug cleaner from some place like Harbor Freight. It uses compressed air to sand blast the plug tips and get them really clean. It uses it's own media and does a pretty good job of getting plugs looking nearly new. Anybody else used these things?

I've got and use the same spark plug cleaner. However, after I clean the plug, I tap plug with a screwdriver to hopefully knock out any media that got trapped in the nose of the plug, then give it a blast of compressed air before I reuse the plug.

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

Good point, you don't want that stuff in the engine.

I was also wondering if this new generation of plug wires (Magnecore etc.) would allow a slightly increased plug gap as well...

Kevin G. · 04-25-2002, 09:08 AM

As long as we're on the subject...

I just installed an MSD 6A unit, directions say to increase the spark plug gap by a large factor.

I am using the Bosch platinum plugs as recommended for my 2.2S motor - can't remember the # offhand, they're the $11 ones. The electrode comes in from the side, and I can't figure out how to adjust.

So, do I just shave the tip to widen, or is there some method of adjustment that doesn't want to appear in my feeble brain?

I guess I could switch to a different plug with more conventional construction.

TIA