Tune-up time

gduke · 03-12-2006, 07:25 PM

I just bought new plugs, wires and dist. caps for my car. Its a 1995 3.6 that I put in my 1985. The engine has 50,000 mi and I've noticed that it runs rough after a wash. This was always an indication that my other cars needed a tune up. And even though they seemed to run well before the tune-up, they ran much better afterwords... could tell until changing plugs, wires, and especially the dist. cap.

I took it for a drive this mornig, first time I started the car since Thanksgiving, and it started up and ran great. So, is 50,000mi a good time to change these items or should I have not bought all the tune-up parts? Everything is Bosch, and the wires have a lifetime warranty. Would I be able to notice better performance?

Gary

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

The interval for plugs/wires/et all is like 30K or 60K IIRC. But it's really all about age and condition. The running rough after a wash is a sign the wires are in bad shape - which you should be able to see visually.

I'm certainly far from an expert on this -- but if you have rough running problems, new disty caps and wires should make a difference.

kang · 03-13-2006, 08:20 AM

If you have not changed the dist. cap and rotor in 50,000 miles, it is definitely time, no question about it. Get the Bosch replacement parts, as they are a lot cheaper than the Porsche branded parts. As for the plug wires, that might depend a bit on your climate. Heat will cause them to decay more rapidly. Try the trick of spraying a mist of water over the wires in the dark to see if you can see any arcing. Or just look at the condition. If the insulation is dry and cracked, or you see arcing, replace them.

Plugs have a 30,000 mile interval. If these are still the original plugs, swap ‘em out ASAP!

gduke · 03-13-2006, 03:58 PM

Yes, A couple wires near the headers lok like they have cracked insulation. I changed the dist. caps About 6,000mi ago, and they are also, getting replaced.

kang · 03-14-2006, 08:41 AM

Anything that was replaced 6,000 miles ago doesn't need to be replaced again.

gduke · 03-14-2006, 05:35 PM

I know but not sure if they are Bosch caps...haven't looked at my receipts but I rember they were inexpensive.