Focus Fanatics Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Going to Change the Gaps for a Direct Comparison

Jump to Latest
41 - 60 of 248 Posts
Discussion starter · #42 ·
well, either way, it failed miserably. i did it earlier today, regapping each to .055, give or take .001. i put them all back in, torqued them to 11, and used dielectric grease. took it for a ride, and HOLY CRAP, it was misfiring like crazy. i couldn't believe it. i mean, i didn't even go to .060.

so, i had a local mechanic just double-check for me, and he said everything looked fine. didnt charge me or anything, as i know him. anyways, the car is still skipping like nuts.
i dunno, maybe the dtecs do not like it, or maybe it is the plat/iridiums cannot handle any bigger gap? maybe that is why people were doing coppers? either way, i think i will order a new set of stockers, as these still have 54k on them. tousley has em for cheap.

i think that tomorrow, i may just set them back to normal, see if it smooths back out, and maybe grab some coppers just to experiment til the stockers come in. they are cheap enough anyway. if the coppers work at a wider gap, it will show for sure that the coppers are better for conductivity, wouldn't you agree? unless it is just thrown off by the fact that the coppers would be brand new.

i am amazed that such a small change would make such a big difference though. i mean, it skips like crazy when first starting in a new gear. doesn't skip at higher speeds though.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#43 ·
From the sound of it, you've got some other problem besides the gap change. I doubt there's any plug brand or type that shouldn't run ok at a .055 gap. Perhaps one of your coils is going bad.

What's with this thread locking anyway....
 
#44 ·
Agreed with bluefront. It doesn't sound like bad plugs, but more like a coil that can't properly jump the voltage up high enough. Unfortunantly, testing the secondary side of a COP ignition coil isn't the easiest thing to do...
 
#47 ·
NemesisEnforcer said:
if the coppers work at a wider gap, it will show for sure that the coppers are better for conductivity
Click to expand...
[eek] no FREAKIN way...!!!! [thumb]



[rofl]


as for the misfire, i had a brand new copper core plug that had a crack in the insulator causing cyl 1 to miss. did you drop any of the plugs or by chance tweak it somehow? @ .055 you shouldn't have that issue.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #48 ·
hmm...i didnt really drop it, but the #2 fell out of the socket when i was going to put it back in...but it only dropped like 4 inches. i took it out and double checked the gap...everything else seemed fine.

also, guys, i already have new cops...remember, there was NO issue whatsoever with the car up until i did the regap today. i did that, and BOOM! suddenly, i am skipping all over the friccin place. almost like the stockers cannot go to a wider gap.
i dunno, maybe i didnt really get the cop boot back on the plug all the way. will double-check.

heres the odd thing...kinda complicated. been reading up on what autolites to get for now (if regapping the stockers back down does not smooth this back out), and most say the 104 coppers...BUT, on the autolite site they say the 2005 2.3 needs the 103. then, if you do an 06 or 07, it says to do the 104s. the only difference b/t the 05 and 06 is the tune, right? well, i updated my tune to the 2007, so does that mean i should do the 104s instead of the 103s? i mean, i cannot think of any other difference b/t the 05 and 06 engines...

i will see how fast tousley can get me the stockers too, but i would like something in the mean time.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#49 ·
The difference between those plugs is the heat range.....shouldn't have anything to do with a misfire. I've been using a set of copper NGKs for a year now...gapped about .052. No problems.

If you dropped a plug even a small distance, it may have cracked. O2 sensors are equally fragile.
 
#50 ·
bluefront said:
The difference between those plugs is the heat range.....shouldn't have anything to do with a misfire.

If you dropped a plug even a small distance, it may have cracked. O2 sensors are equally fragile.
Click to expand...
took the words right out of my mouth, couldnt have said it better myself.

definately check all the plugs for cracks, and trust me, they can be hard to see.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #53 ·
ok, thanks for the replies. i just don't understand why the difference b/t the 05 and 06 listings. i know the heat range is the difference, i just dont get why they would rec. one over the other based on the year of the car.

i am guessing that noone else knows either. i am going out now to check on the plugs.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #54 ·
okay, so i did it, and it still skipped. so, i went out and got some 104s, gapped to .055, and tossed em in. nice and smooth again. musta done something to the stockers yesterday, b/c even back at .051, they would not work right.

i disconnected the battery too, just to reset everything. i still do not know if i should be using these though, based on the 103 vs 104 situation. someone on the jet posted how he was getting fuel dilution in doing this.

i will talk to steve at tousley, and see what he says. probly get some new stockers, and toss them in, gapped at .055 or so. what do you guys think?
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#55 ·
i think you should quit spending money and leave the 104's in for 10k miles. after that, you should make the decision to go back to stock or keep on using the coppers

why fix what aint broke? you have already proved this method by ruining your stockers. if anything you should have started with the cheap coppers and left your stockers alone. i know that wasnt your point of the whole deal, but sometimes things are better left alone. not to mention you are testing things that are already proven to work and are supposedly within factory specs.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #56 ·
i dont mind spending the money. i would rather spend the money and get it perfect.

if stock iridium/plats wit the fine wire .7mm will work well with a slightly bigger gap, i will do that. here is a thread that really discusses all this indetail, from the jet. at this page, the problems start though. some guys go back to stockers. starts around post 184.

http://forums.focaljet.com/duratec-tuning/523400-copper-spark-plug-update-2-a-8.html

Image
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#57 ·
any of the plugs available: stock, copper w/e should work within factory specs plain and simple. if they dont work, you have some other issue other than gap.

just run the coppers at .060 and see what you think. seriously, i couldnt tell a difference from the stock plugs. i just did it because it was something to do and i dont mind having to change them out every 10k or so.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #58 ·
oh, no worries, i getcha jeff. i am like you, in that i have nothing else to do, and i have money, so i am just tossing things around. who knows, maybe i will just grab a tune, and see if that will add any power.

just seems that the 103 vs 104 thing on autolite.com is odd.

also seems that the coppers at .060 may have led to probs down the road for some people. that is why i am looking at the stockers again. just considering the wider gap. just do not know if the iridium/plat stockers can be gapped bigger.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#59 ·
Hey, if you guys have money and want to experiment. I have an 09 SE with ATX, all stock. We could start with plugs and go from there! I drive 10k miles a year, so we could get an effective test.
 
Discussion starter · #60 ·
lol, i pay for my own stuff lol. id have done a million dynos already if there was a good one near me. just not willing to drive min of an hour each way, for all the times i would have to head there.

would shut a bunch of people up about my threads though lol...having the dyno proof.

i know one guy did a dyno test though, on the jet. he posted it up...from the stockers to the autolite 104s, he got 1.5 hp and 4tq. but, the stockers had 17k on them already, and the autolites were brand new. same gapping. so, could just be the new plugs, not that the coppers were better.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
41 - 60 of 248 Posts
About this Discussion
247 Replies
27 Participants
Last post:
S0C0nFused
Focus Fanatics Forum
posts
5.8M
members
203K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to Ford Focus owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about SVT performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Technical Chat Ford Focus Builds & General Showroom MK3 Focus SVT Performance (2002-2004) MK1 Focus