Spark Plug Gap

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07-12-2003, 01:04 PM

seemaxgo

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Spark Plug Gap

My Maxima owners manual does not list any gap information for the NGK plugs. I see some reference in the forum that they don't have to be gapped. Is that true? If not what is the correct gap. Thanks.

07-12-2003, 04:16 PM

slizan99

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mine came pre-gapped, but I always check them.
Gap should be 0.043inch(1.1mm)

07-12-2003, 11:29 PM

nismology

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Is that the gap for the Copper or Plats?

07-13-2003, 06:32 AM

slizan99

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platinum.

07-13-2003, 10:06 AM

seemaxgo

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Quote:

Originally posted by slizan99
platinum.

Thanks for the help.

07-13-2003, 10:30 AM

slizan99

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no prob.

07-13-2003, 10:32 AM

Jatan

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0.044

07-14-2003, 12:33 AM

Max Noob

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gaps for plat and copper are diff??

07-14-2003, 08:20 AM

Juki5536

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Im gonna jump in on this thread cause I dont wanna make another one, but is it really worth it to get platinums over copper? Platinums just last longer, right?

07-14-2003, 08:35 AM

#10

mzmtg

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Quote:

Originally posted by Juki5536
Im gonna jump in on this thread cause I dont wanna make another one, but is it really worth it to get platinums over copper? Platinums just last longer, right?

The plats last for 60k, the coppers last for 30k. Considering that the coppers are less than $2 per plug, it seem like an easy choice.

The coppers give a slightly stronger spark too (copper is a better conductor than platinum).

07-14-2003, 03:51 PM

#11

Max Noob

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is the gap same for coppers and plats?

07-14-2003, 04:28 PM

#12

sloppymax

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Quote:

Originally posted by Max Noob
is the gap same for coppers and plats?

yes it is. in the haynes, it lists .039-.043 for plats and .043 for copper. the only plugs you cant change the gap on are ones like bosch that have two or four electrodes instead of one.

07-14-2003, 04:44 PM

#13

BEJAY1

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Quote:

Originally posted by mzmtg

The plats last for 60k, the coppers last for 30k. Considering that the coppers are less than $2 per plug, it seem like an easy choice.

The coppers give a slightly stronger spark too (copper is a better conductor than platinum).

NGK plats are on ebay for $6.16. Just changed mine and I'll spend the extra cash not to have to do that #5 plug as often

07-14-2003, 11:25 PM

#14

izzydig

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Thanks to you guys, I changed my plugs today for some NGK coppers. They work good, smooth I say. I really didn't have any trouble whatsoever changing them. I read that it is difficult on one plug, but again, no problems whatsoever here.

The only sad note, is that on spark plug #6...the last one I changed (farthest to drivers side, closest to firewall), there was a sh%tload of oil.

Will have to do some valve cover seals in the near future. Though even though it doesn't drop any oil per se, I really don't like it as is.

The oil level stays the same after 4K mile oil change intervals, and I have almost 218K miles on this maxima. Does a leaky valve gasket cause any performance problems?