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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Changing Spark Plugs
Hi guys,
My Dad called to tell me he was driving the G today and that it is running rough and seems to be sluggish. I got to thinking about it and realized the car has been running a bit rich as of late. When I go home this weekend to bring the G to SF I was thinking to check the plugs for fouling. So assuming I pull a plug or two and find fowling, what tips can you guys give me on changing out the set? I did a search on changing the spark plugs but found nothing particuarly helpful. I've changed plugs once, many years ago, but haven't done it in a good 8-10 years. I'm going to have to re-learn gapping. Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers!
Adoni |
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dai
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
Use a good quality wire type of spark plug gapping tool. The other styles are next to useless. A good wire set will have a tool to bend the side electrode. Be gentle when bending the side electrode to get a precise gap. I want to have drag on the wire when I pull it between the center electrode and the side electrode. I personally use a tiny bit of anti-seeze on the spark plug threads. I only use fingers to install the plugs most of the way in and then use a tool. Cross threading spark plug threads in an alloy head is a very expensive problem. Use a torque wrench to set final tightness. I like NGK plugs best even when Bosch are called for. My bias.
-Dai |
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
Ah yes, that answers my next question, spark plug preference by owners...I DON'T buy into this whole $75 per spark plug stuff, should I? |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
Adoni - 4/25/2007 8:17 PM
Ah yes, that answers my next question, spark plug preference by owners...I DON'T buy into this whole $75 per spark plug stuff, should I?
Not on a 280GE. I found the Champion Plug's to work just fine in mine. |
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
I just figured on using Bosch or NGK. I've heard that you really can't go wrong, just stay away from Autolite |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
Adoni - 4/25/2007 8:32 PM
I just figured on using Bosch or NGK. I've heard that you really can't go wrong, just stay away from Autolite
I'm pretty sure that mine came from the factory with Champions - N9Y, I think. Somehow that number just came floating out of the old memory ethers. Not sure that's correct. |
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
I've done a bit of searching online and it looks like the plug used in the 1970's m110 motors was also used in the 380 and 560SEC's so I'm guessing it's a pretty standard plug. If Champion was OEM then I'll probably go that direction unless someone can give me a good reason otherwise. |
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Merz-Ben
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2006
Location: Floyds Knobs, IN 47119
Vehicle(s): 230G, U1200, U1250 DoKa, U1300L, U1500, U1700, 416
Posts: 377
| RE: Changing Spark Plugs
Well, I'm biases against Champion's... everyone around this area gives you champions if you don't specify, and over the years I've been running the shop I think I have had probably 5% of them bad from new (and this was out of probably 800 plugs). Seems like my luck is that if I was putting plugs in my own stuff I'd get a good batch, but then I'd put a set in for a customer and they would be back in a couple of days due to a miss. Needless to say, with those results, I now demand NGK's, I don't think I have had a bad NGK since I switched about 5 years ago (and I've probably used about 1000 of them in that time).
Cheers,
Ben |
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Phil
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Vehicle(s): 1984 280GE
Posts: 218
| RE: Changing Spark Plugs
Merz-Ben - 4/25/2007 9:29 PM
Needless to say, with those results, I now demand NGK's, I don't think I have had a bad NGK since I switched about 5 years ago (and I've probably used about 1000 of them in that time).
I highly second this; I have a post around here RE this subject and concluded that certain plugs that 110s do not like.
In addition, checkout this tool- it is a must.
http://www.cvfsupplycompany.com/plspplbopupl.html |
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dai
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
I too have had Champions fail out of the box. Glad you had a run of good luck with them Dutch. The best plugs I have ever used are the V series NGK's. Incredible performance and great resistance to fouling in a motor with DelOrto's with ticklers. Never had a bad NGK or one go south in a motor. Very high quality construction and are often gapped perfectly out of the box. How do they do that?
I second the boot pliers.
-Dai
Edited by dai 4/25/2007 11:53 PM
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w.james
Veteran
Date registered: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Vehicle(s): 84 280 GE 617A 5sp getrag
Posts: 239
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
Advise
You will need a good universal socket to get to #6
Spray some parts cleaner around the plug and then blow it out with air. The plugs being down in a whole, have a tendency to collect oil and dirt, it best to get this out so that it doesn't foul the treads
Good Luck |
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03-Gwagen
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s): CLK63 Black Series, 2018 G63, 2016 GLE300d
Posts: 888
| EPC Spark Plug Part Number
Is part # A0041591903 the current spark plug part #?
Edited by 03-Gwagen 4/28/2007 11:54 AM
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hus55
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: north cyprus,lapta.
Vehicle(s): 300GDS, G300 LONG,300GDT CLK55 AMG CAB.
Posts: 2230
| RE: Changing Spark Plugs
i fitted NGK IRIDIUMS about 2 months ago and they are fantastic,especially when running on autogas.
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shakir
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: London , UK
Vehicle(s): 1986 280 GEL manual, lpg.1991 300GEL AUTO
Posts: 404
| Re: Changing Spark Plugs
Yes mate I have fitted NGK iridiums back in.....errrr
I think it was 2005 and never looked back, best so far. |
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03-Gwagen
Elite Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s): CLK63 Black Series, 2018 G63, 2016 GLE300d
Posts: 888
| RE: Changing Spark Plugs
I can't find in WIS the proper spark plug gap.
Where do we find those specs? |
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G-AMG
G-Class DIY Host
Date registered: May 2006
Location: South Texas
Vehicle(s): '04 G55, '80 280GE, '99 S420, '98 E320, 2011 E350
| RE: Changing Spark Plugs
The Electrode Gap should be 0,8mm.
I used the plain-ole Bosch W 7 DC last time, and have had zero problems.
One cute trick one of the wise sages on this site (Roughneck??) taught was while installing the plug, a sure-fire way to prevent cross-threading:
Rotate the plug COUNTERCLOCKWISE first, and you feel a distinct "Click" THEN screw on CLOCKWISE, with your fingers, not a driver. |
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