Spark Plugs - Cheapo's or not

[nibblitz]

Just a bit of advice needed really.. I have a 2.2 Direct petrol .. Do I just buy cheapo ngk recommended spark plugs, or are those iridium ones so much better and really worth it? Multi electrode or single electrode? whats better? What do you put in yours? Are all plugs suitable (especially the multi electrode) going to be gap set out of the box? Should I buy specific plugs to satisfy temp range or anything (I really am a DIY mechanic numpty, but Im going to try, lol)

[Das]

Just normal single electrode NGK's. Used expensive ones years ago and could not find any difference, except to your wallet.

[rushy]

The Direct comes with 4 electrode as standard. I cant call your plugs but stock factory plugs for the none direct 2.2 seam to work out to be the best.

[nibblitz]

Thanks a lot, as I thought, iridium wot nots dont represent vaule nor significant gains then.. So I think Im going to probably be getting either NGK BKR5EQUPA or BKR5EQUB .. Should be alright changing 'em, Ive got one of them long socket doobries for spark plugs from way back (about 15 years ago) when I last changed plugs on a car, lol..

[Big Dave]

How many miles has it done? They don't need changing until 80,000 miles or 8 yrs.

Vauxhall "own brand" plugs are fine, and as cheap as chips.

You shouldn't attempt to regap multi-electrode plugs. All gaps come preset anyway.

[Tony W]

Thanks a lot, as I thought, iridium wot nots dont represent vaule nor significant gains then.. So I think Im going to probably be getting either NGK BKR5EQUPA or BKR5EQUB .. Should be alright changing 'em, Ive got one of them long socket doobries for spark plugs from way back (about 15 years ago) when I last changed plugs on a car, lol..

Replaced the standard VX plug (Bosch & fitted from new) last year at 4 years & 37K miles on our 55 reg Facelift Club with the Z18XE engine....



......with NGK BKR5EQUPA(Long Life - 8 years) quad electrode plugs & more expensive than the 'standard life - 4 years ' NGK quad BKR5EQUB plugs, as I work part time for a local motor factors & we stock NGK Plugs

These are the NGK replacement for the VX (Bosch references in the Vectra C handbook we got with the car - 4 year life or 8 year life plugs covered) The 1.8 VVT plugs are different....

Didn't expect a noticeable improvement in performance - went for longevity....

Interestingly, for my nephew's 54 reg Zafira with the Z18XE engine the NGK plug reference was BKR5E. It seems to run fine with these..

I checked the NGK catalogue @ work & also the NGK web site for cross referencing to be sure before buying them...

Cheers

[solorider]

Replaced the standard VX plug (Bosch & fitted from new) last year at 4 years & 37K miles on our 55 reg Facelift Club with the Z18XE engine....



......with NGK BKR5EQUPA(Long Life - 8 years) quad electrode plugs & more expensive than the 'standard life - 4 years ' NGK quad BKR5EQUB plugs, as I work part time for a local motor factors & we stock NGK Plugs

These are the NGK replacement for the VX (Bosch references in the Vectra C handbook we got with the car - 4 year life or 8 year life plugs covered) The 1.8 VVT plugs are different....

Didn't expect a noticeable improvement in performance - went for longevity....

Interestingly, for my nephew's 54 reg Zafira with the Z18XE engine the NGK plug reference was BKR5E. It seems to run fine with these..

I checked the NGK catalogue @ work & also the NGK web site for cross referencing to be sure before buying them...

Cheers

i would not fit ngk plugs into a vauxhall unless they were factory fitted,the heat range on the ngk plug is wrong,the correct heat range is actualy in between bkr5ek and bkr6ek (bkr5e and bkr6e on later cars),i also have seen several engine faliures because of ngk plugs on vauxhalls,in one case the centre electrode fell out causing some engine damage,i used to work for a vauxhall main dealer and from experiences working there i will only fit ngk plugs to my motorbike

[Tony W]

i would not fit ngk plugs into a vauxhall unless they were factory fitted,the heat range on the ngk plug is wrong,the correct heat range is actualy in between bkr5ek and bkr6ek (bkr5e and bkr6e on later cars),i also have seen several engine faliures because of ngk plugs on vauxhalls,in one case the centre electrode fell out causing some engine damage,i used to work for a vauxhall main dealer and from experiences working there i will only fit ngk plugs to my motorbike

No probs so far....

[Grumpy1954]

I always used to fit the Bosch 4 electrode plugs, the sharknose BMW's, Toyots Celicas etc I had back then seemed to run smoother on them, never had any starting problems either.
Fitted a set to a Rover 623 GSi I owned briefly and the onwers club went nuts, said the same about Bosch and Rover's as Solorider says about NGK and Vauxhall.
In the days I was running £200-500 cars I could afford to try it and see, don't fancy blowing up this one, not even the glow plugs lol

[mitch1965]

Buy the ones from the dealers, they're cheap as anyone elses. £15 i paid for my set.