Rover 25 sparkplugs

[DamianBlades]

Hi I've just been watching young mechanic of the year and they mentioned how they should change the spark plugs over and this made me think.... In the two years I've had my car I have not changed them and I doubt in the seven years prior to my owner ship they have been replaced either. So I was wondering what are the best spark plugs I can get for my car? at the best price?

Additional information...

Rover 25
Y reg 2000 model
IL
1.4 16v
Upgraded 160mm throttle body from ZR
75k on the clock

[MGJohn]

Remove them and check their condition and gap. May not need renewal but, could be beneficial even so as they do not last forever. If getting spark plugs, best to get the XPart replacements. Cheaper ones are available and will work ~ but, OE is usually best bet longer term.

[DamianBlades]

So no NGK ones then? lol. How much do they run? on their site now but cant see a way of searching their site for them.

[junkcatcher]

How long they last depends on the type fitted if the correct long life platinum or iridium plugs are fitted.
Rover published conflicting information on the plug change interval for platinum the K series engine either 30,000 miles or 60,000 miles, if you choose the latter I would advise re-gapping the plugs at 30,000 miles and again at 45,000 miles.
The reason for re-gapping the plugs is avoid excessive ht voltage zapping the coil packs.

NGK recommended platinum plug is PFR6N-11 this gapped at the MG-Rover specified 1.1mm or 0.044" personally for longterm reliability I would recommend setting a narrow gap say 0.8 or 0.9 mm

[MGJohn]

junkcatcher said:

How long they last depends on the type fitted if the correct long life platinum or iridium plugs are fitted.
Rover published conflicting information on the plug change interval for platinum the K series engine either 30,000 miles or 60,000 miles, if you choose the latter I would advise re-gapping the plugs at 30,000 miles and again at 45,000 miles.
The reason for re-gapping the plugs is avoid excessive ht voltage zapping the coil packs.

NGK recommended platinum plug is PFR6N-11 this gapped at the MG-Rover specified 1.1mm or 0.044" personally for longterm reliability I would recommend setting a narrow gap say 0.8 or 0.9 mm

Thanks for that information junkcatcher. Reminde of something there although obvious when you think about it. Last summer, I checked the plugs on my MGZS 1.8 for the first time in six years since I got it new and regapped them. They were in good shape and the gap did not seem larger than it should be. Car is mainly driven by my better half and now has 45,000 miles and still on original plugs. No reason to check them as the car has not missed not beat since new but, did so just to keep a check on things. I also gapped them at 0.8mm as a pure guess ~ should have checked the manuals but, did not do so as needed to get the plugs back in as car needed to be used soon.

So, what did I learn or, to be more accurate, was again reminded of? It was this:~

said:

The reason for re-gapping the plugs is avoid excessive ht voltage zapping the coil packs.

Lazy me in one of my very rare "if it aint broke why fix it" modes, should have checked them before I did ... Coil packs are costly ~ ask any VAG owner ....

My wife used the car today in the severe cold and icy conditions phoning me when she arrived safely at her office ten miles away. When the car was less than a year old, she had to travel cross country for family reasons on a day when there was a Blizzard White Out in southern England. The journey would normally take two and a half hours at most but, after about four hours with no news I started to get worried. Watching the news channels there were pictures of Subarus and other stuff parked up in the drifts on the roads she would be using. Ten miles from her destination and some six hours after setting out, I got a call from her. Because all the road signs and usual landmarks and references were covered in thick snow "white out", she had no idea where she was even though she was within four miles of where she was born and grew up! She described as much of her surroundings as she could and between us we were able to decide exactly which way to go. An hour later, I got a call from her confirming safe arrival. I cannot ever remember being as worried about something like that ever before except when our toddler son ( now a six foot plus twenty something bloke ) suddenly ran off and disappeared for a long time in a large supermarket ~ the little rascal....

What a relief ~ my wife who is an experienced driver had never experienced white out conditions like that ever before. I was really worried sick. She explained that had she stopped to make a call, she may not have been able to continue the journey. She had passed many stranded and abandonned cars. My wife had nothing but praise for the way the little MG ZS performed and has loved the car ever since.... Having driven the car many times, I can understand why. As ordinary production cars go, and lets face it most production cars are ordinary, the little MG ZS is a good un!
.