2nd Gen Spark plug change

[Bluegrassen]

Changed the spark plugs in my beast last weekend at 100k miles. What looked like a fairly easy job turned into a nightmare for me anyways. Tried to do it without removing the intake plenum and I did; but unless you have very small hands or a special tool it is very hard to get the front passenger side coil bolt back in. I couldn't get it to screw back in straight and actually stripped and broke the bold trying to get it tight. So in the end it took me another hour and a half to remove the plenum, remove the broken bolt and luckily i had a spare bolt to put it all back together with. I didn't worry about changing the gasket because it is a special rubber type and seemed to be reusable. I'm not saying it cant be done without removing the plenum but its a lot easier when you do it right the first time. Wish I had taken some pictures to show you guys but you 2nd gen guys will know what I'm talking about.

 

[J Everett]

Yeah, it's way easier to just pull the intake plenum first. It seems like an unnecessary extra step, but I've got these big fat clumsy bear paws for hands, and there was no way I was gonna get it done with the intake in place.

 

[coatimundi01]

I dunno, maybe I got pretty dextrous fingers, but I did the passenger side in a circle K parking lot in the dark with a regular 10mm box wrench. It IS a royal PITA though, not discrediting that...

My setup for that plug was (for others' reference):
spark plug socket
u-joint
2" ext bar
6" wobble ext bar
6" reg ext bar

 

[Bluegrassen]

Hats off to you sir!
I believe if I had started from the front back and done that one first I could have done it because the second coil pack was in the way I couldn't get a box wrench in there. But hell by the time I figured that out I had already broke the bolt. lol, Live and learn.

Oh yeah another thing you folks doing this yourself need to watch out for is to make sure both washers come off with the coil pack bolt. It would be very easy for one to fall off, hang around and fall down in to the cylinder while you have the plug out if you don't watch. I believe they are made to where the washers can't come off but make sure anyway.

 

[J Everett]

Oh yeah another thing you folks doing this yourself need to watch out for is to make sure both washers come off with the coil pack bolt. It would be very easy for one to fall off, hang around and fall down in to the cylinder while you have the plug out if you don't watch. I believe they are made to where the washers can't come off but make sure anyway.

That's a good tip. Thanks!

 

[mudchet]

Hey guys I am planning to put new spark plugs in my rig. Any recommendations on a brand? I would like something at least as good as OEM, maybe a step up as long as the price is not 10x higher. Thanks!

 

[Muadeeb]

Hey guys I am planning to put new spark plugs in my rig. Any recommendations on a brand? I would like something at least as good as OEM, maybe a step up as long as the price is not 10x higher. Thanks!

Go with the OEM, NGK. I don't have the exact part number in front of me right now, but it should be in the owners manual and will definitely be in the FSM.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack

 

[mudchet]

Go with the OEM, NGK. I don't have the exact part number in front of me right now, but it should be in the owners manual and will definitely be in the FSM.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack

Thanks muadeeb

 

[Muadeeb]

Found the part, NGK PLFR5A-11 http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?tab=search&partnum=plfr5a11.

 

[NismoFire]

+1 for NGK.

 

[J Everett]

Definitely NGK. I admit, I am intrigued by the Pulstar plugs, but I'm not willing to guinea pig them.

 

[dhyde79]

I may give those pulsestar ones a try....especially since I don't need new plugs, I can just go back to stock if I don't notice an improvement....it's just the debate between the iridium ones or the platinum ones....theoretically, the iridium ones SHOULD make a noticeable difference, if they really get you 12% more HP, but, given that they say a new vette only gained 10hp, I call BS on their percentages, that vette should have been more like a 40-45hp gain if it's 10%....

 

[metzican]

Found the part, NGK PLFR5A-11 http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?tab=search&partnum=plfr5a11.

I was looking this up and for some reason Rock auto says this plug is for 05-08 and part number 93759 for NGK's on rock auto (sorry don't know how to link it) are for 09-12. Is there a difference? Price is $5 difference. I thought the engines and everything where the same between these years.

 

[Muadeeb]

There was likely a design change somewhere around there, as I've seen different cut off points for the PLFR5A vs. the DILFR5A. The VQ series has been around since the mid 90s, the VQ40 is the same age as the 2nd Gen X, and the X went through a couple minor changes between 10 and 11. The best thing is to check the owners manual or FSM and see what it calls for. Can you run something different? Yes, but designers tend to pick a spark plug and design around it.

It's entirely possible that NGK came out with the DIL plug more recently, and Nissan decided that it was a better match to the engine. However, Courtesy shows the PLF for 05-07, the DIL for 08 and later, and the same coil packs for all years.