30k service PLUGS?

[quicksilver77]

Hello all,

It is time for the 30k service on my 2001 996 C2 Coupe, and from the reading I have been doing, it looks like I am on the cusp: MY98-01 996's needed to replace spark plugs at 30k, but MY01-04 996's replace plugs every 60k.

Referring to the owners manual it says 60k. That said, the owners manual also says to change oil every 15k... Yeah, I don't follow those instructions either. I change the oil every 7,500 miles (cheap insurance?) does anyone ACTUALLY do their oil every 15k? :eek:

My question is this: Should I change the plugs at 30k or hold off? No one likes to throw away money. For a bit of background, I try to track the car at least once a month, she is a daily driver, and is having no problems to date. What do you all think?

As a side note, I pulled the rear most plug from each bank don't laugh, I had some extra time and I wanted to see if I was up to the DIY (I also had not purchased the new plugs), neither was fouled, but both looked like I might be running a bit lean, ie. the plugs were dry but had a light brown dusty coating to them? Is my diagnosis correct? Second opinion? Or is this normal?

One more question. I have been trying to find a set of Bosch Platinum +4 plugs for my 3.4L, and I have been coming up empty. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

-Sean

[Izzy]

Hey Sean,

I did my plugs at 36K, figure I would do it faster than the recommended, since you are tracking so much (you lucky dog!), it wouldn't hurt. And you have those shiny high performance mufflers coming.

You can do it, anyone can do it if I can. The rearmost plugs are the hardest to remove. I think next time I will remove the rear wheels, bumper cover, and mufflers. It may add 30 minutes to the job, but I got fat fingers and need all the space.

For the price of the plugs from Sunset, it is a pretty cheap job if you DIY. While I was doing the plugs, I also changed the tubes and o-rings. It added $20 to the job, but I have read how dealers change them all at the same time. I would hate to go through the contortions of changing plugs and then go back later and replace the plastic tubes. I thought the duty cycles must be pretty close anyway. It is analogous to Vegas and not putting your spare change in the slot machine you are walking by, know what I mean?

This is a picture of the "tool" I used to remove the plugs. It is now patented.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5818&hl=

I think I did the whole thing from Sunset, somewhere in the $50 range for all parts. Took me about 2 hours. About 1 1/2 hour for the first side, 30 mins the other after I figure out the tricks.

I did notice smoother idling after the job was done. And what the heck, it was fun anyway.

Izzy

[Costa]

the plugs were dry but had a light brown dusty coating to them? Is my diagnosis correct? Second opinion? Or is this normal?

Light Brown colour sounds just about right - You do not want the deposits on the plug to look white or with flaky/bubbly bits around the insulator - This would indicate running too lean.

Edited January 24, 2006 by ZX7R

[quicksilver77]

Hey Sean,

I did my plugs at 36K, figure I would do it faster than the recommended, since you are tracking so much (you lucky dog!), it wouldn't hurt. And you have those shiny high performance mufflers coming.

You can do it, anyone can do it if I can. The rearmost plugs are the hardest to remove. I think next time I will remove the rear wheels, bumper cover, and mufflers. It may add 30 minutes to the job, but I got fat fingers and need all the space.

For the price of the plugs from Sunset, it is a pretty cheap job if you DIY. While I was doing the plugs, I also changed the tubes and o-rings. It added $20 to the job, but I have read how dealers change them all at the same time. I would hate to go through the contortions of changing plugs and then go back later and replace the plastic tubes. I thought the duty cycles must be pretty close anyway. It is analogous to Vegas and not putting your spare change in the slot machine you are walking by, know what I mean?

This is a picture of the "tool" I used to remove the plugs. It is now patented.

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5818&hl=

I think I did the whole thing from Sunset, somewhere in the $50 range for all parts. Took me about 2 hours. About 1 1/2 hour for the first side, 30 mins the other after I figure out the tricks.

I did notice smoother idling after the job was done. And what the heck, it was fun anyway.

Izzy

Izzy,

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing as I scrolled through you link to your "patented" tool! Seriously, my eyes are still watering!

Did you change plugs with the OEM replacement Bosch/Beru plugs or did you go with a different option?

I am quite glad to hear that I am not running lean though thanks ZX7R!

[Izzy]

I should patent it, I have seen worse patents. Glad to make you laugh. I did use OEM, got everything from Sunset. I think they where Beru, in a Porsche box.

On the other subject, UPS has the box of goodies, dropped off this morning at their facility.

[quicksilver77]

Izzy,

I can not express enough gratitude for your kindness and promptness! I just hope the goodies are not too LOUD!!!! Next time you visit Northern California, look me up! The beer is on me!

:cheers:

Thanks again!

-Sean

[Izzy]

My pleasure, and you got it. I do go to San Fran to visit our data center. Will let you know.

Izzy

[Tool Pants]

You should have the 4 electrode plug.

I have raised a similar issue on the Boxster side. In 2000 the 2.5 Boxster became 2.7 and the 3.2 S came out. The 2.5 has 2 side electrodes and Porsche says to replace at 30k. When the 2.7/3.2 came out Porsche switched to 4 electrode plugs but Porsche still said 30k. But for the 2001 Porsche says 60k. The plugs and engines used for 2000 are identical for 2001. There is no reason for it to be 30k on a 2000 but 60k on a 2001. I have asked the mechanics and they also cannot figure out the discrepency.

The plug in your car is the same as the 2.7/3.2 Boxster. We have replaced a few at 30k and the plugs looked almost like new. I consider the 4 electrode plug a 60k plug.

On the Boxster side there are reviews of the Bosch Platinum +4 plugs.

[Izzy]

Here are some pics I saved from last summer, the new and the old plugs close up. Worth a thousand words.....

Izzy

[tomdeg]

Hello all,

It is time for the 30k service on my 2001 996 C2 Coupe, and from the reading I have been doing, it looks like I am on the cusp: MY98-01 996's needed to replace spark plugs at 30k, but MY01-04 996's replace plugs every 60k.

Referring to the owners manual it says 60k. That said, the owners manual also says to change oil every 15k... Yeah, I don't follow those instructions either. I change the oil every 7,500 miles (cheap insurance?) does anyone ACTUALLY do their oil every 15k? :eek:

My question is this: Should I change the plugs at 30k or hold off? No one likes to throw away money. For a bit of background, I try to track the car at least once a month, she is a daily driver, and is having no problems to date. What do you all think?

As a side note, I pulled the rear most plug from each bank don't laugh, I had some extra time and I wanted to see if I was up to the DIY (I also had not purchased the new plugs), neither was fouled, but both looked like I might be running a bit lean, ie. the plugs were dry but had a light brown dusty coating to them? Is my diagnosis correct? Second opinion? Or is this normal?

One more question. I have been trying to find a set of Bosch Platinum +4 plugs for my 3.4L, and I have been coming up empty. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

-Sean

I just recently replaced mine also @ 30k. I bought them from these guys:

http://replacement.autopartswarehouse.com/...%20Plug&dp=true

[b-man]

I have a 2002 C2. I changed my plugs around 65,000 miles and, judging by the way they looked, they definitely needed to be changed earlier. I think every 30,000 miles would be about right.

b-man

[quicksilver77]

Thanks for the help everyone! Did the plug change last night!

[johnp77777]

Sean, my 99 c2 manual calls for 30Kmi between plug changes. Definitely improves idle at that frequency. I don't notice a performance impact.

I too am leery about 15Kmi on the oil. Being synthetic, I go 10K. So far, I haven't had to add oil between changes and I'm at 60Kmi on the odo.