GTV V6 spark plugs ripoff?
Discussion
I recently bought a very gorgeous pearlescent GTV 3.0. I knew it needed a clutch when I bought it and got money off accordingly; it was given to a recommended independant guy who did a good job and saved me £170 on the dealer quote, using an OE clutch I supplied. Same week, I get a misfire, take it back to the same place and he traces it to naff plugs, now I know these are a tenner each but I thought £220 a bit steep (all in, with VAT) to change the plugs, especially as he said they traced the misfire very quickly? Are they really that hard to change?
John
John
johnnystealth said:
I recently bought a very gorgeous pearlescent GTV 3.0. I knew it needed a clutch when I bought it and got money off accordingly; it was given to a recommended independant guy who did a good job and saved me £170 on the dealer quote, using an OE clutch I supplied. Same week, I get a misfire, take it back to the same place and he traces it to naff plugs, now I know these are a tenner each but I thought £220 a bit steep (all in, with VAT) to change the plugs, especially as he said they traced the misfire very quickly? Are they really that hard to change?
John
John
inlet manifold has to be removed, so yes, they are a pain.
main dealers charge £70+ an hour labour as well, so you have to kinda expect it im afraid.
use an independant if you can, much cheaper.
Plugs for the V6 are quite pricey. OE ones are NGK PFR6B, double platimum jobs and come in at around £30 each and you need 6 of them, so that's £180 in parts before labour.
Saying that, the specialist I use charged me just over £60 for a set of plugs, so I'm guessing there are cheaper equivalents available.
Saying that, the specialist I use charged me just over £60 for a set of plugs, so I'm guessing there are cheaper equivalents available.
pdV6 said:
OE ones are NGK PFR6B, double platimum jobs and come in at around £30 each and you need 6 of them, so that's £180 in parts before labour.
I was quoted about the same, and found this website:
www.sparkplugs.co.uk/pages/pricing/applications/ngk_petrol_car_applications.asp
If you put in your car details, it comes back with the PFR6B at 6.90 each. I can't vouch for them because I haven't tried them, but it's a massive saving if they're legit.
I don't know about more modern Alfas, (my last was a 75) but back in the 60/70/80's, they used Gold Lodge plugs as standard. I knew many people who tried using cheaper ones, and without exception they ended up with holes in the piston crowns.
Make sure 1) your plug has the right heat range, and 2) that it's a multi electrode type. Singles just won't do it.
Having said that, Alfa engines aren't what they used to be, and nearly everyone does multi electrode plugs these days. But I think you'll find plugs are cheaper to fit than pistons......
Make sure 1) your plug has the right heat range, and 2) that it's a multi electrode type. Singles just won't do it.
Having said that, Alfa engines aren't what they used to be, and nearly everyone does multi electrode plugs these days. But I think you'll find plugs are cheaper to fit than pistons......
alhuyshe said:
I don't know about more modern Alfas, (my last was a 75) but back in the 60/70/80's, they used Gold Lodge plugs as standard. I knew many people who tried using cheaper ones, and without exception they ended up with holes in the piston crowns.
Make sure 1) your plug has the right heat range, and 2) that it's a multi electrode type. Singles just won't do it.
Having said that, Alfa engines aren't what they used to be, and nearly everyone does multi electrode plugs these days. But I think you'll find plugs are cheaper to fit than pistons......
Make sure 1) your plug has the right heat range, and 2) that it's a multi electrode type. Singles just won't do it.
Having said that, Alfa engines aren't what they used to be, and nearly everyone does multi electrode plugs these days. But I think you'll find plugs are cheaper to fit than pistons......
Yeah I remember Alfasuds needed the Lodges... A main dealer once put other ones in mine as well
johnnystealth said:
Well my man charged me just over £60 for the plugs so I guess these arent original.... Any disadvantage to using non-OE plugs that anyone knows of?
Probably won't last as long. The reason Alfa used expensive multi-electrode plugs was so you didn't have to get the manifolds off every 10,000 miles.
alhuyshe said:
I don't know about more modern Alfas, (my last was a 75) but back in the 60/70/80's, they used Gold Lodge plugs as standard. I knew many people who tried using cheaper ones, and without exception they ended up with holes in the piston crowns.
Make sure 1) your plug has the right heat range, and 2) that it's a multi electrode type. Singles just won't do it.
Having said that, Alfa engines aren't what they used to be, and nearly everyone does multi electrode plugs these days. But I think you'll find plugs are cheaper to fit than pistons......
Make sure 1) your plug has the right heat range, and 2) that it's a multi electrode type. Singles just won't do it.
Having said that, Alfa engines aren't what they used to be, and nearly everyone does multi electrode plugs these days. But I think you'll find plugs are cheaper to fit than pistons......
Golden Lodge 25HL in my Sud!
All the flat fours run 25HL's. Not sure about the Twin Cam's and V6 but not running the Golden Lodge on the F4 will lead to the troubles you've mentioned...
Yes you need the Platinum plugs - mainly because they are a pain to fit and they are rated at 60,000 miles. It takes about 4 hours to change them.
The Alfa workshop manual lists an alternative copper variety, but they'll need adjusting every 12K miles, so a false economy really.
The best thing to do is to get new ones when you have the cambelt changed as the plugs have to come out anyway. I charge £99 a set for NGK plugs (in Alfa branded packaging) including fitting if you're also having your cambelt changed, otherwise it's another £100.
Mike
Roberts Aerospace & Automotive (Alfa Romeo, Fiat Coupe, and Maserati specialist in Hampshire)
www.cars.robertsaerospace.com
The Alfa workshop manual lists an alternative copper variety, but they'll need adjusting every 12K miles, so a false economy really.
The best thing to do is to get new ones when you have the cambelt changed as the plugs have to come out anyway. I charge £99 a set for NGK plugs (in Alfa branded packaging) including fitting if you're also having your cambelt changed, otherwise it's another £100.
Mike
Roberts Aerospace & Automotive (Alfa Romeo, Fiat Coupe, and Maserati specialist in Hampshire)
www.cars.robertsaerospace.com
Slightly off topics but I used to own a nissan 200sx which also needed NGK Platinums, many people on the SXOC used www.sparkplugs.co.uk with no problems.
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