MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: nezquick on May 17, 2012, 07:19:10 pm

Title: Spark plug gap
Post by: nezquick on May 17, 2012, 07:19:10 pm

Would someone like to explain to me in simple terms what a spark plug gap does.. i took my ngk plugs straight out the box and theyve worked fine with no missfires etc etc.. i see people posting what gap theyve used and wonder what the actual difference is ...

Iv used the search button as well and want to know why the gap not what the gap should be  :popcornsoda:

Title: Re: Spark plug gap
Post by: bacillus on May 17, 2012, 07:29:12 pm

As a general rule you don't need to gap NGK iridium plugs (most come with 0.8 gap) as you could easily damage the center electrode.
Folk that regap to a smaller gap are usually ones who are experiencing misfires and have gone through most of the troubleshooting list.

Title: Re: Spark plug gap
Post by: nezquick on May 17, 2012, 07:30:45 pm

Ahhh i see,

So how comes some people run smaller gaps on stage 2 stage 2+?

Title: Re: Spark plug gap
Post by: GrayMK5GTI on May 17, 2012, 08:53:52 pm

I'm stage 1 K03 and had to gap mine down from 0.8mm as I was getting a misfire at low revs under heavy boost as IIRC the spark gets blown out from between the electotrodes and causes a misfire.

R-tech recommend reducing the gap on plugs for tuned cars also  :happy2: