dave6666
Enthusiast
I bought my '01 GTS with 18K miles and have put a little over 7K more on it in the 13 months I've had. Learned a lot here at this forum, and changing out the plugs and wire are a result of that.
With the OE metal plug shields still perfect - no removal scars - I guarantee you they were factory plugs from '01.
I put in Champion RC12LYC (OEM) plugs and Magnecore red wires from Parts Rack.
Car definitely runs smoother now. Did a 3rd gear installation lap around town last night and won't say there's any seat of the pants HP there, but logic would say it is better which means more power. Even if it is only 2 or 3 HP that is good when they should have been changed 10K miles ago anyway.
REMOVAL COMMENTS
24 hours before I removed the plugs I pulled the old wires and the OE heat shields. I then sprayed Liquid Wrench down in each hole after blowing out the sand. The next day the plugs came out very easily.
You can see by the pics - I did not do anything to the plugs after removal - that the Liquid Wrench seeped all the way past the threads and all over the plugs. Good stuff, that Liquid Wrench, or worn out plug seals? Maybe both. So anyway, the shiny pics are because I have not de-Liquid Wrenched the plugs for their Internet debut.
The 1-9 bank looked worn but good.
The 2-10 bank was OK, but some ash deposits really noticeable on #2 and a little less on #4. New plugs were needed for sure.
1 thru 9 bank
2 thru 10 bank
Plugs 2 & 4
RE-INSTALLATION COMMENTS
As you can quote me in an earlier thread about using antisieze, I said if the old plugs came out easy the new ones would go back without antisieze. I did not use any antisieze.
Torquing to the OEM 20 ft lb's felt right. You could feel the gasket crush for about half a turn and then quickly the torque pulled up.
Used a smidgen of dielectric grease on all of the plug boots and closed the hood.
With the OE metal plug shields still perfect - no removal scars - I guarantee you they were factory plugs from '01.
I put in Champion RC12LYC (OEM) plugs and Magnecore red wires from Parts Rack.
Car definitely runs smoother now. Did a 3rd gear installation lap around town last night and won't say there's any seat of the pants HP there, but logic would say it is better which means more power. Even if it is only 2 or 3 HP that is good when they should have been changed 10K miles ago anyway.
REMOVAL COMMENTS
24 hours before I removed the plugs I pulled the old wires and the OE heat shields. I then sprayed Liquid Wrench down in each hole after blowing out the sand. The next day the plugs came out very easily.
You can see by the pics - I did not do anything to the plugs after removal - that the Liquid Wrench seeped all the way past the threads and all over the plugs. Good stuff, that Liquid Wrench, or worn out plug seals? Maybe both. So anyway, the shiny pics are because I have not de-Liquid Wrenched the plugs for their Internet debut.
The 1-9 bank looked worn but good.
The 2-10 bank was OK, but some ash deposits really noticeable on #2 and a little less on #4. New plugs were needed for sure.
1 thru 9 bank
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2 thru 10 bank
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Plugs 2 & 4
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RE-INSTALLATION COMMENTS
As you can quote me in an earlier thread about using antisieze, I said if the old plugs came out easy the new ones would go back without antisieze. I did not use any antisieze.
Torquing to the OEM 20 ft lb's felt right. You could feel the gasket crush for about half a turn and then quickly the torque pulled up.
Used a smidgen of dielectric grease on all of the plug boots and closed the hood.
