Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Lizzie Zoom on 30 September 2024, 17:21:36

Title: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 30 September 2024, 17:21:36
Now I know for many of the male piston heads on here I am going to seem like a silly, very silly, woman ::) ::)

I have had a car since 1970, servicing my private vehicles and arranging my company owned ones being regularly serviced.  I have, I think if my memory is not letting me down, replaced the plugs at about 40,000 miles, so twice a year at least, to get the best performance.

With my private cars, especially with then Senator and all the Omega’s, I have changed them every major service, so about 15,000 miles to, once more, get the best level of performance.

Now today, feeling a little bored in these retirement, not the best of health years, I looked up on  Google when you should change them.  There it was in print a heading statement, and in other entries, every 100,000 to 120,000 miles they should be changed. WHAT?? :o :o :o

I have never left it that long, even with my very high mileage company cars, and certainly never with my private ones.  So that means for most standard mileage motorists doing the average 7 - 10,000 miles per year, would never change the plugs before selling their car on or scrapping it!!

I just cannot believe it, after my 54 years of driving, that plugs can be realiable after all that time/mileage.  But maybe I have for all those years been too cautious with my spark plugs!! :o :o

What do you think is the right time to change them and do? ??? ???





Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 30 September 2024, 17:34:41
Now I know for many of the male piston heads on here I am going to seem like a silly, very silly, woman ::) ::)

I have had a car since 1970, servicing my private vehicles and arranging my company owned ones being regularly serviced.  I have, I think if my memory is not letting me down, replaced the plugs at about 40,000 miles, so twice a year at least, to get the best performance.

With my private cars, especially with then Senator and all the Omega’s, I have changed them every major service, so about 15,000 miles to, once more, get the best level of performance.

Now today, feeling a little bored in these retirement, not the best of health years, I looked up on  Google when you should change them.  There it was in print a heading statement, and in other entries, every 100,000 to 120,000 miles they should be changed. WHAT?? :o :o :o

I have never left it that long, even with my very high mileage company cars, and certainly never with my private ones.  So that means for most standard mileage motorists doing the average 7 - 10,000 miles per year, would never change the plugs before selling their car on or scrapping it!!

I just cannot believe it, after my 54 years of driving, that plugs can be realiable after all that time/mileage.  But maybe I have for all those years been too cautious with my spark plugs!! :o :o

What do you think is the right time to change them and do? ??? ???


Not sure about the Omega Lizzie.

I do know that the mighty Signum should have it's plugs changed at 80,000 miles. She is currently just shy of 97,000 miles and they have never been changed.

The front 3 are a piece of piss to change but the rear 3 are a pig to get to. :)
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 30 September 2024, 17:37:32
......and she has 6 individual coil packs... :o

Unlike the 135 and 246 coil packs found on the Omega.
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 30 September 2024, 17:38:34
My Omegas and subsequent Vectras I used to do every 20k along with the air filter. But that was as much because the parts were cheap than they necessarily needed doing and they used to get oil changes every 10k regardless (they were all used as taxis though). Now my cars get an oil change when I get them and I will gradually work through the rest of the various service items over time.

40k isn't unreasonable, but don't forget that most service schedules are designed to minimise servicing costs within the warranty period to satisfy fleet managers and lease companies

So a car with a 60k warranty might only require three oil changes although you would be insane to do that on a privately owned car.

Sure tolerances have improved over time, similarly fluid characteristics, but the ever increasing engine failure rates are as much about ridiculous maintenance intervals as poor design.
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 30 September 2024, 17:41:34
Now I know for many of the male piston heads on here I am going to seem like a silly, very silly, woman ::) ::)

I have had a car since 1970, servicing my private vehicles and arranging my company owned ones being regularly serviced.  I have, I think if my memory is not letting me down, replaced the plugs at about 40,000 miles, so twice a year at least, to get the best performance.

With my private cars, especially with then Senator and all the Omega’s, I have changed them every major service, so about 15,000 miles to, once more, get the best level of performance.

Now today, feeling a little bored in these retirement, not the best of health years, I looked up on  Google when you should change them.  There it was in print a heading statement, and in other entries, every 100,000 to 120,000 miles they should be changed. WHAT?? :o :o :o

I have never left it that long, even with my very high mileage company cars, and certainly never with my private ones.  So that means for most standard mileage motorists doing the average 7 - 10,000 miles per year, would never change the plugs before selling their car on or scrapping it!!

I just cannot believe it, after my 54 years of driving, that plugs can be realiable after all that time/mileage.  But maybe I have for all those years been too cautious with my spark plugs!! :o :o

What do you think is the right time to change them and do? ??? ???


Not sure about the Omega Lizzie.

I do know that the mighty Signum should have it's plugs changed at 80,000 miles. She is currently just shy of 97,000 miles and they have never been changed.

The front 3 are a piece of piss to change but the rear 3 are a pig to get to. :)
That's how you know the engine is fitted wrong >:D
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 30 September 2024, 17:54:07
My Omegas and subsequent Vectras I used to do every 20k along with the air filter. But that was as much because the parts were cheap than they necessarily needed doing and they used to get oil changes every 10k regardless (they were all used as taxis though). Now my cars get an oil change when I get them and I will gradually work through the rest of the various service items over time.

40k isn't unreasonable, but don't forget that most service schedules are designed to minimise servicing costs within the warranty period to satisfy fleet managers and lease companies

So a car with a 60k warranty might only require three oil changes although you would be insane to do that on a privately owned car.

Sure tolerances have improved over time, similarly fluid characteristics, but the ever increasing engine failure rates are as much about ridiculous maintenance intervals as poor design.

Ah, that is reassuring DG.  I have not been too far out then, or entering a mad dream when what I have believed is ridiculous or completely stupid!! ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 30 September 2024, 17:57:45
Now I know for many of the male piston heads on here I am going to seem like a silly, very silly, woman ::) ::)

I have had a car since 1970, servicing my private vehicles and arranging my company owned ones being regularly serviced.  I have, I think if my memory is not letting me down, replaced the plugs at about 40,000 miles, so twice a year at least, to get the best performance.

With my private cars, especially with then Senator and all the Omega’s, I have changed them every major service, so about 15,000 miles to, once more, get the best level of performance.

Now today, feeling a little bored in these retirement, not the best of health years, I looked up on  Google when you should change them.  There it was in print a heading statement, and in other entries, every 100,000 to 120,000 miles they should be changed. WHAT?? :o :o :o

I have never left it that long, even with my very high mileage company cars, and certainly never with my private ones.  So that means for most standard mileage motorists doing the average 7 - 10,000 miles per year, would never change the plugs before selling their car on or scrapping it!!

I just cannot believe it, after my 54 years of driving, that plugs can be realiable after all that time/mileage.  But maybe I have for all those years been too cautious with my spark plugs!! :o :o

What do you think is the right time to change them and do? ??? ???


Not sure about the Omega Lizzie.

I do know that the mighty Signum should have it's plugs changed at 80,000 miles. She is currently just shy of 97,000 miles and they have never been changed.

The front 3 are a piece of piss to change but the rear 3 are a pig to get to. :)

Just like the passenger side rear on the Omega. I have often had to swear out loud as I have struggled to find just the right length of plug extraction tool to get to it, and then to put it back without buggering up the threads! ::) ;)
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 30 September 2024, 18:10:08
To put it back, get a length of rubber hose that fits snugly on the top, then feed it in and it'll spin in if the thread's lined up.

I think it was Addy of this parish that taught me that one.
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Nick W on 30 September 2024, 18:25:34
I do them every other annual oil change, unless it hasn't done many miles. So they never do much more than 20k miles. NGK or Bosch plugs.
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 30 September 2024, 18:48:37
Speaking of spark plugs my old 2 stroke bikes went through them very quickly.

My old Yamaha RD250 could destroy a brand new plug in less than 100 miles. >:D
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Nick W on 30 September 2024, 19:03:05
Speaking of spark plugs my old 2 stroke bikes went through them very quickly.

My old Yamaha RD250 could destroy a brand new plug in less than 100 miles. >:D


We were messing about with 2-stokes when platinum plugs became readily available. If you combined them with synthetic oil, plug life became almost acceptable ;D
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 30 September 2024, 19:53:32
Speaking of spark plugs my old 2 stroke bikes went through them very quickly.

My old Yamaha RD250 could destroy a brand new plug in less than 100 miles. >:D


We were messing about with 2-stokes when platinum plugs became readily available. If you combined them with synthetic oil, plug life became almost acceptable ;D

I holed one of the pistons on my RD250.... ;D

Not sure if I was running the wrong plugs and a hot spot developed. It looked very neat when the head was removed. >:D
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 30 September 2024, 20:01:11
To put it back, get a length of rubber hose that fits snugly on the top, then feed it in and it'll spin in if the thread's lined up.

I think it was Addy of this parish that taught me that one.

Good one, thanks :y
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Andy B on 01 October 2024, 08:12:37
......
The front 3 are a piece of piss to change but the rear 3 are a pig to get to. :)

Just like the passenger side rear on the Omega. I have often had to swear out loud as I have struggled to find just the right length of plug extraction tool to get to it, and then to put it back without buggering up the threads! ::) ;)

they are easy compared to the lower 3 plugs on a Smart Roadster .... all the back end of the car needs to come off to do them  ;) ;)
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Raeturbo on 01 October 2024, 11:45:26
Speaking of spark plugs my old 2 stroke bikes went through them very quickly.

My old Yamaha RD250 could destroy a brand new plug in less than 100 miles. >:D


We were messing about with 2-stokes when platinum plugs became readily available. If you combined them with synthetic oil, plug life became almost acceptable ;D

I holed one of the pistons on my RD250.... ;D

Not sure if I was running the wrong plugs and a hot spot developed. It looked very neat when the head was removed. >:D
.   
       
              Yes I holed a piston in my first Evo at Dodington track many years ago I was running higher boost and should have dropped a grade on the plugs.  (Should have had it mapped too🤣).  Those were the days ::) ::)
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: cam.in.head on 02 October 2024, 10:29:22
also to add . this depends on what style of plugs are fitted . there are various multielectrode plugs and the engine would obviously run if you fitted single electrode ones too although not correct spec . im pretty sure mine has twin electrode ngk fitted which still appear uneroded and run fine after 10k so far ( only do around 1k a year anyway)
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 02 October 2024, 13:33:53
From memory, I fitted GM quads to my Omega about 7 years / 20,000 miles ago and it still runs fine.
Modern ignition / injection systems and better quality of the plugs themselves, give them a much easier life than in days of yore,so they dont need changing anywhere near as often as they used to.
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 02 October 2024, 17:18:05
What are spark plugs?   ???    :-\    ::)    :D    ;D
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 02 October 2024, 17:39:21
Little sparky things fitted to proper engines.  :y
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 03 October 2024, 05:30:21
What are spark plugs?   ???    :-\    ::)    :D    ;D
Glow plugs that work properly >:D
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 03 October 2024, 11:50:43
What are spark plugs?   ???    :-\    ::)    :D    ;D

The bang part of suck, squeeze, bang and blow. :)
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Raeturbo on 03 October 2024, 21:28:22
What are spark plugs?   ???    :-\    ::)    :D    ;D

The bang part of suck, squeeze, bang and blow. :)

        Oooooh you are awful…. But I like you😱😱😁
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Andy B on 03 October 2024, 21:36:51
What are spark plugs?   ???    :-\    ::)    :D    ;D

The bang part of suck, squeeze, bang and blow. :)

Looks like Porsche are patenting ......  suck squeeze bang squeeze bang blow

https://youtu.be/uMEegb-IrRQ?si=5S-zVQK-NmPXhzmU
Title: Re: When To Change The Spark Plugs
Post by: Nick W on 03 October 2024, 22:47:38

Looks like Porsche are patenting ......  suck squeeze bang squeeze bang blow



But that's what Porsche representatives have demanded from their customers for years.