Don't bother regapping those plugs

[Ulysses]

Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

change them out.

After 12,000 miles the car was running a little rough and had some back fire. There was a definite "seat of the pants" feel of a power loss. The car ran like crap.

Decided to try a little experiment and regap the plugs and see how it ran afterwards. Pulled each plug and individually inspected and regapped each one and replaced. Each had nice color but the tips were really rounded and found each to be beyond .035". I believe the spec is .033 to .038. The next value on my feeler gauge was .044" so I couldn't get an accurate read on what the present value was, but it was definitely close to the .044" value. Regapped each to .035". Went for a spin and I had the same backfire and feeling of power loss.

Let the engine cool down and replaced all the plugs with new Champions gapped to .035".

Hopped in and magically the car ran much smoother. Idle was nice and smooth. No more backfire and the power is back.

So get rid of them old plugs!

 

[Janni]

Re: Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

Cheapest "mod" ever to a Viper - $10 can make your car come alive again.... we'll be chnaging them every year or so, I think...

 

[Paul Hawker]

Re: Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

On a related note it is also a good idea to replace stock plug wires every few years, and this usually results in improved seat of the pants feel. Vipers can run very high underhood temperatures, which can cause the plug wires to degrade.

 

[ACELLR8]

Re: Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

Great points could not agree with you more! Just put new plugs in the RT and back fire is gone.

Just curious if you had to drain the radiator and remove the Radiator By-Pass hoses to get good acess to the plugs? I kind of thought that part was a pain, it seemed it would have been dificult if I did not remove the by-pass hoses.

 

[Ulysses]

Re: Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

On a 2000, I did not have to remove bypass hoses to get at the "PLUGS" themselves. It was quite easy with a spark plug boot puller tool and a universal joint. The wires are next to change. They are on order and should be here soon (national back-order).

 

[SlowCreamPuff]

Re: Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

So, what plugs do you guys run?

What's the part number?

My SlowCreamPuff has over 23,000 miles on it already and it feels really weak.

Thanks.

 

[Ulysses]

Re: Don\'t bother regapping those plugs

Champion RC12LYC
stocking number 412