Some of you saw my thread a while back about how my Lilith's performance suddenly decreased https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=101522.

I was thinking bad tensioner or bad clutch, then I stated that I had just changed my plugs over to Bosch Platinum +4s. Just checked them out a few minutes ago. First off, ALL of the plugs took little effort to loosen. I swear, if I could have gotten my fingers down the hole, I probably could have untightened them with my fingers. The real kicker was the number 2 cylinder. Any more vibration and I fear it would have blown. Retorqued them, and now she's back to her former self. So, as the title states, please check your plugs out if you have switched from OEM. I know there are threads on this already, but this is just a reminder.

 

You're in Navarre? I'm visiting the Panhandle and staying in Fort Walton Beach! Hi! Good advice about checking the plugs. Thanks for the post.

 

mini clo, 28,186 posts.........WOW!

 

Hi Clover,

It's Tim, formerly known as BadMINI. You're still in Ft. Walton. I'll have to see you before you leave. How's everything going?

~ Tim ~

 

What should the plugs be torqued to?

 

Stock plugs should be torqued to 20 lbs via the Bently manuals. Fireballed! says to torque the NGK plugs to 25 lbs. I used 20 lbs. for awhile and every now and then had a loose one if I waited a little long to check them. Never a problem at 25 lbs.

 

I spec 25 lbs on ngk's, never had a problem.

heat is the problem here in the south!

 

YA loosing compression wil make it a dog. I know also when I went from stock NGK rating of 6 to 1 step colder I almost felt the same amount of added power as tightening down the plugs. Something to think of if you get some mods on the car. FYI I went 21lbs and torqued a tad more no problems over 1k miles

 

Also noticed that most of the plugs I have seen have a spring style washer. This means that they will tighten down and then break free a little before seating. Make sure that you are seating them all the way BEFORE trying to torque.

 

I torqued mine down to 25 this time. When I first installed them it was 20. I'm guessing that's why they backed out. And yes, the heat down here probably also contributed.

 

Yeah, I haven't had any problems with the Boschs yet besides them backing out. One thing I don't like about Bosch is how they don't tell you whether their plugs are hot or cold. Their site is very informative, but no info. about temp ranges of their plugs.

 

Like everyone else's plug it's in the number, and you can use a cross-reference chart to see where it compares. Don't care much for Bosch platinums though.

 

Thanks for the diagram and info !! I don't mind Boschs too much in my other cars, but I was skeptical about putting them in the MINI. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like waiting for plugs to come through the mail, and we all know how Auto Zone can be at times. The Boschs were the best they had at the time. I'll eventually get some NGKs.

 

Don't forget that you should wait and let the engine cool before you torque the spark plug on an aluminium head. Not doing so could result in damage to the threads.