I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __spark plug changing
I first ‘got the bug’ towards the end of 2015 and bought a nice mk2.5. After nearly 9 years of ownership and great fun driving her, I got the urge to replace it with something more modern and better spec’d. After a bit of searching around, managed to do a good part-ex deal with a very reputable garage last November and got myself a lovely late 2012 NC2. (see pic).
It’s done just shy of 45k miles and comes with great service history. On a main dealer service done late Sept 2017 (with 23.5k on the clock), the invoice states that owner declined to have the plugs changed and therefore they’ve not been done at all. I know Mazda specify after 62.5k but on the small number of trips I’ve made in her so far, the idling seems a tad rough and I am therefore tempted to change the plugs for a new set. Should I? Would idling improve? If yes, what plugs should a go for? Thank you
Hi, and thanks for your initial response. Might have a look at the condition/cleanliness (or otherwise) of the mass air flow sensor. Re plugs, which would you go for on these choices??
Now I may be wrong and I’m happy to put right on this one by members…but I believe Iridium plugs are the
‘required’ choice for both 1.8 & 2.0 variants.
My purchase will be through ‘Bofi Racing’ , they stock good kit in abundance at a decent price.
I would recommend Bofi racing as well. Just got the iridium plugs from them for my nc1, can’t fault the price and delivery.
Of topic my friend got iridium plugs from random dealer on ebay and it turned out to be a fake when we measured the gap. So purchase from reputed places online
Thank you for the link. Just had a word with a guy there and he says can’t get hold of the NGK iridium plugs suitable for the 1.8 engine for love nor money! He did suggest calling Euro Car parts. Have looked on their website and, not surprisingly, they list a handful of different makes but do have the NGK Iridiums at £21.99 per plug. (with NGK trade/part number of TR5AI-13). They have various Denso ones and a cheapy Bosch one for under £10 a plug. On each one, they have a drop-down ‘fitment detail’ tab, which includes the engine code. The NGK plugs I mention above show L8 as the engine code - is that right for the 1.8 engine in my vehicle?
I probably could, but not sure I’ve got all the correct tools now! My local garage would do them for around £20 of labour, so that’s not bad. I’ll see.
Just a quick note from an experience i wish to avoid again. Go easy, use the correct and quality spark plug spanner and remover. The plugs are small and very fragile but the iridium tip is extremely strong. If the plugs crack and slinter during the removement the shards can enter the cylinders and if the engine is then turned or started will scratch each cylinder causing major damage.
Changing the spark plugs seem such an easy job but, for me, never again.
My experience of changing plugs was the rubber in the socket broke away and I had to pick it out of the cylinder head! Easy fix: you just araldite it.
Don’t remember where I got them from but it wasn’t difficult (1.8 owner)
