How often are is everyone checking gap?

[BradF80]

How often is everyone checking gap?

As the title states. How often is everyone checking the spark plug gap on their cars? Does it seem like they need to be re-gapped much?

 

[borockster]

Not very often at all.

This is a pic of the factory AC Delco 41-121 Iridium after 50K. 30k with a mild tune. As you can see the plug looks great and the gap is fine.

 

[Dogz]

Over 50,000 km's & never checked the gap. With the iridium plugs they aren't meant to be re-gapped & they are a very tough reliable plug. I'll probably check them at 100,000 km's to see if they need replacing yet.

 

[The Champ]

Oh, maybe about 100,000 miles. Then I'll just put new ones in.

 

[Maddmatts]

Do the 1.4's still have QC issues on sparkplug gaps on new engines? It was a minor nuisance issue on 2012's (and maybe 2013's) but haven't heard about it since.

 

[$ub$onic]

I set my gap once in my 1.4 when I got it and have checked the 1.8 twice in 70k miles with no adjustment needed.

 

[Llia]

So the stock AC Delco are made in JAPAN? I picked up a set of NGKs. Figured I'd check/change my plugs at 30,000 miles.
1.4L Turbo
IFR7X7G91039 - NGK , LASER IRIDIUM - $36

 

[spacedout]

Oh, maybe about 100,000 miles. Then I'll just put new ones in.

GM reduced the maintenance interval for the plugs on the 1.4T after 2012 from 100K to 60K with no change in the actual parts. I recommend downloading the 2016 owners manual to get the most current maintenance schedule, they have updated it yearly just like they have for the cruze.

Even knowing that I waited until 85K to change my plugs on my cruze, when ramping on the highway I got a misfire CEL. Checking the gaps they were all within spec(so I'm guessing the gaps were tight when new). When I ordered the plugs I also ordered a new coil pack in case I ripped a plug boot. I did not but decided to install the new coil pack since it may have been the source of the misfire CEL.

 

[Llia]

Now I'm hesitant to change my plugs. I don't have a spare coil pack.

I had a coil pack go bad on a Cobalt. It was intermittent CEL at first so I ignored it. Then one day the car misfired so bad it left me limping home at 20mph.

 

[The Champ]

GM reduced the maintenance interval for the plugs on the 1.4T after 2012 from 100K to 60K with no change in the actual parts.

Thanks for the info. I'm so used to 100K spark plug changes that I didn't realize the 1.4T needed a shorter interval.

Having grown up in an era where we did a spring and fall tuneup where we changed spark plugs to the current era where some people may never change plugs in their cars while they own them....

Yup, the good ol' days where we...

Changed the AF every fall and cars were considered "worn out" at 60,000 miles....

The first car that I took over 100,000 miles was a 1979 Pontiac Grand LeMans that I purchased new, in 1983. That same car hit 200,000 miles in 1989. I sold it to a coworker for $1000 in 1991 with 217,000 miles on it. The most expensive single repair was less than $500.00 when I had the front end (ball joints and tie rods) and the transmission rebuilt at the same time.

 

[Llia]

So far so good. Still looking for my feeler gauges. But I replaced the ACDelco 55585517 with the NGK IFR7X7G91039

Here is how they looked after 30,000 miles.

 

[Natesriv]

Every Day Compadre



If you ain't dancing to this after 10 seconds...you're dead

 

[Llia]

If you ain't dancing to this after 10 seconds...you're dead

I was okay till they dropped a bomb on me.

 

[MartyH]

What is the correct gap for the 2013 1.4 turbo? I'm using the AC Delco 41-121 Iridium plugs.

 

[diazmjd]

Dang, I didn't even realize checking the gap was a thing. I'd probably switch out the plugs if going through the trouble anyway. Don't take this as gospel but I think .032 or close to unless someone else says different.

 

[JesusTheAgnostic]

My 2012 turbo was gapped at .026. I was told to gap them a bit tighter, but I think I might need new plugs because mine don't quite look like the ones in the pictures on this thread.

Also the 2012 manual says .028

 

[RMinNJ]

I thought .28 was the correct setting. I can confirm when I checked mine at 8000 miles from the factory the gaps were all different..making them even it ran better. I think I'll replace mine now as I'm at 60k.

 

[JBScat]

I don't think anyone can agree on proper gap.


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[cuartz7o]

Should be .028 per the online manual i read. Some folks on the cruze forum were gapped to .032 but for specific reason. .028 should be good, I just replaced my original plugs at 42k and they were ask over the place ranging from .024 to .032. Brought them all in spec to .028 and she runs amazing. Revs are smooth now, also helps that I replaced my coil pack at the same time.

Was my first time doing spark plugs ever at 30yrs old!

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[JTee2017]

According to the factory manual, it says 6mm to 7mm, which is quite a range.
That is approx 0.023" to 0.28".

I got my new 2017 Sonic in September and immediately checked the plugs. They varied from 0.023" to about 0.026". I set them all at 0.028".

So far, at 2,200 miles on the odometer it is running fine..

For reference, this is a pretty narrow spark plug gap compared to car engines years ago. . . even after electronic spark was introduced. Most often, spark plug gap was 0.035" to 0.040" or even more. Even some platinum tipped plugs were higher than 0.028".