Stock Stinger Spark Plugs

[boosted1g]

I searched through the forums but could not find anything, hopefully this was not already covered.

At what point should you change plugs from stock (or regap stock plugs) on a 3.3?

Clearly better plugs are needed for a piggyback/ecu flash, but was not sure if it was recommended to change or regap on a stock stinger, or on one with intake/exhaust mods.

 

[Ulikefishsticks]

Fully stock the plugs are probably fine. I have read somewhere that the gap still isn't ideal on the stock plugs. Once you start adding mods the gap will play a bigger role and if you ever go JB4 you will most likely start getting issues past map 1 with stock plugs and gaps.

The search on the forum is pretty weird and I find better success searching the forum through google.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

bookmarking

my vehicle is stock and with the exception of adding a type of catback I will keep it stock... would also like to know when the spark plugs should be replaced....... mileage and time wise....

thanks all!

 

[ChaneRZ]

I just changed my spark plugs 2 days ago. I went with HKS plugs gapped to .022. The factory NGK was gapped at .030. It was fine for map1 and no issues at all.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

What mileage and date was it changed though?

How many months and miles?

 

[ChaneRZ]

Yeah right now 800 miles only lol. I changed it because I want to try map2.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

Yeah right now 800 miles only lol. I changed it because I want to try map2.

Gotcha! Thank you!

 

[ChaneRZ]

I don’t know if it’s placebo, but it runs smoothly and responsive.

 

[SKStinger]

It’s in the owners a manual folks. 42,000 miles or 70,000 kilometres. You shouldn’t need to touch your plugs until then if you’re not running a tune.

 

[WRXtoStingerGT]

I don’t know if it’s placebo, but it runs smoothly and responsive.

I'm the same way whenever I get anything done to the car... be it an oil change or new tires (of course these do improve performance/handling) or whatever else... haha

It’s in the owners a manual folks. 42,000 miles or 70,000 kilometres. You shouldn’t need to touch your plugs until then if you’re not running a tune.

Thank you so much!!

 

[boosted1g]

It’s in the owners a manual folks. 42,000 miles or 70,000 kilometres. You shouldn’t need to touch your plugs until then if you’re not running a tune.

I understand what the manual says.
My objective was to get insight into the communities experience. I wanted to know if the stock setup was fully adaquete for intake/exhaust bolt ons or if they advised to re-gap or replace the stock plugs for those simple mods.

 

[monusa]

It’s in the owners a manual folks. 42,000 miles or 70,000 kilometres. You shouldn’t need to touch your plugs until then if you’re not running a tune

My 2 cents......if you are staying stock, just leave them be..... I think most 3.3's use Denso for stock while the 2.0 uses NGK.....I have seen some forums where people don't like either stock plug but i have 100% faith in the NGK's....

Some may disagree but speaking from a jb4 user, if going above base map, (1), then stocks "should" be replaced. Lot of people believe if you don't get misfires, then re-gap should be fine. However, my main argument for replacing stock is the fact they are heat range 8. The higher boost levels of using jb4 maps higher than 1, calls for a step or two "colder" plug, i.e. heat range 9 or above(NGK/HKS numbers).....why wait for misfires and potential bad things happening under the hood????????????? have seen this up close and personal....

My 2 cents.....

 

[boosted1g]

My 2 cents......if you are staying stock, just leave them be..... I think most 3.3's use Denso for stock while the 2.0 uses NGK.....I have seen some forums where people don't like either stock plug but i have 100% faith in the NGK's....

Some may disagree but speaking from a jb4 user, if going above base map, (1), then stocks "should" be replaced. Lot of people believe if you don't get misfires, then re-gap should be fine. However, my main argument for replacing stock is the fact they are heat range 8. The higher boost levels of using jb4 maps higher than 1, calls for a step or two "colder" plug, i.e. heat range 9 or above(NGK/HKS numbers).....why wait for misfires and potential bad things happening under the hood????????????? have seen this up close and personal....

My 2 cents.....

Which is exactly why I asked. Would rather be well informed then wait for problems/misfires.

Thank you for the info.

From yours and other's inputs, sounds like I wont have any spark plug issues from intake/exhaust bolt-ons, only after I add a jb4 or other tune device.

 

[Travis Wills]

I replaced my stock plugs at 13,000 miles. They didn’t look great and their gaps were all over the place and very wide.

I went with the HKS and just left them with their stock gap of .026-.028. I checked each plug and they all had that gap so I didn’t bother to change them. I was basically stock before the plug change. Now running map 2 and everything is great so far.

 

[343BlueR32]

From my research there have been known blowouts of factory plugs even on all OEM cars. If it were me I would change them out even if it was the only mod I did just for peace of mind.

I've done plugs on 10 or 12 different Stingers at this point and some had very erratic plug gaps.

 

[RedCal]

From my research there have been known blowouts of factory plugs even on all OEM cars. If it were me I would change them out even if it was the only mod I did just for peace of mind.

I've done plugs on 10 or 12 different Stingers at this point and some had very erratic plug gaps.

What is you "favorite" plug and gap on a stock engine?

 

[343BlueR32]

What is you "favorite" plug and gap on a stock engine?

Just .022 gap. I've only done one set of HKS and the rest Denso. Didn't really see a difference on the mild (mostly JB4 map 2's) to warrant the price difference of the HKS so I'd just say 2 step colder Denso on 22 gap.

I had a JB4 mine with that setup and then took it off for about 2 or 3 months before putting a Racechip Black on and it seemed like it ran smoother during that time period. Very well could have just been in my head so I'm not going to try saying you're going to notice a difference changing the plugs.

In my mind on these it's kind of like a preventative maintenance thing for less than $100 so why not.

 

[G70 Owner]

Stock engine (not tuned. Not counting bolt ons) = stock plugs and gap. Don’t want to gap down too far and have them fouled up

 

[343BlueR32]

If you want to break it down that much then we'd have to start talking octane everyone is running too.

And if it's a lease you're turning in in 30 months and you're leaving it stock I wouldn't mess with anything either.

So there certainly are other factors to take into account on what everyone's personal plans are.

 

[Silverghost]

I searched through the forums but could not find anything, hopefully this was not already covered.

At what point should you change plugs from stock (or regap stock plugs) on a 3.3?

Clearly better plugs are needed for a piggyback/ecu flash, but was not sure if it was recommended to change

In the factory recommended service schedule attached, in the right side column, it shows at 96,000 km if you have iridium or platinum plugs.
I am coming up to 72,000 km or service #3. I had my OEM plugs regapped to 25 within the first 4,000 km from new and no issues. Running stock. Hope this helps.