New plugs with tune

B

boostedflex

New member
Hey guys,

So I have spent a bit researching and don't think I have found a definitive answer.  Do I need to replace my plugs with a 93 octane tune from Torrie?  Best I can tell the bulk of the plug issues were 2010 and prior.  I have a 2012, 33k miles, and no issues I can tell with the current plugs.
 
You are not required to replace your plugs, but it is recommended. At just under 50k miles, my factory plugs had varying gaps. I installed SP534s with .030" gaps, which seems to be the standard recommendation of most people here.
 
It is recommended by lms or unleashed to a step up colder plug like mc sp534 gap at 0.3o and 170 stat,my experience is spend 30.oo change plugs cause with a tune and turbos these cars get hot,best way to sum it up is the tune alone puts excessive wear on engine and drivetrain,change pluga and oil more often compared to stock,i personally like to be on the safe side.
 
My flex ran fine with Torrie's 93 tune till a porcelain insulator broke and slid down electrode causing one hell of a misfire. Known issue with stock plugs. I changed out at 37k to the NGK 6510, ltr71x. Dont really feel a change going to colder but stock plugs deff were out of gap.
 
boostedflex said:
Hey guys,

So I have spent a bit researching and don't think I have found a definitive answer.  Do I need to replace my plugs with a 93 octane tune from Torrie?  Best I can tell the bulk of the plug issues were 2010 and prior.  I have a 2012, 33k miles, and no issues I can tell with the current plugs.
Click to expand...

The colder range is actually to help prevent predetonation (knock)... destructive to engines (can bend rods and burns pistons)... knock will cause the ECU to pull timing advance to prevent it from occurring, thus hurting performance and not getting what you should from the tune.  At least with the SHO, from '13 on...  MC sp534 is OEM (cooler range that stock on '10 - '12)... so they only need to be regapped.... Some experimentation with gap other than .030 is going on... but both major tuners recommend this. Your engine will run generally well, but the possiblity of spark blow out increases with increased boost so performance can suffer.
Regarding the change to a cooler T-stat: It's not that our engines get hot per se.... It's that optimal temp for performance is fully warmed up... but not yet heat soaked... All turbo'ed GDI engines run better when they are cooler (as long as the temp is above about 165o or above which assures oil flow and lubrication issues don't occur.  It also lets the engine cool quicker.
 
This guys, I will order the plugs them, already did the tstat.  My x4 comes in tomorrow, should I hold off on flashing, or do the 91 octane tune until I do the plugs to keep it safe?
 
My understanding of plugs and tstat is that they precautionary options...but just that...options, intended to help prevent failure and optimize long term performance. ...like a catch can.

I would think you'll be totally fine to run the 93 short term with no detrimental effects.
 
JimiJak said:
My understanding of plugs and tstat is that they precautionary options...but just that...options, intended to help prevent failure and optimize long term performance. ...like a catch can.

I would think you'll be totally fine to run the 93 short term with no detrimental effects.
Click to expand...

Agree with Jordan completely... you may not get optimal performance from your tune, but the ECU will definitely protect the engine in the short term.... especially if you're not pushing it hard.
 
Finally did the plugs, took only an hour, VERY happy I did not pay someone to do this.  Thanks again everyone!  Don't notice any change in performance, but she does idle smoother, and the piece of mind also definetly makes it worth it :)
 
.030, it is working for everyone else so I figured why buck the trend :). The factory ones were mostly all .040 so happy I did it.
 
I changed mine last month and ordered MC-sp534 and the good part was all of them came pre gapped at 0.30,easy peasy,ford recommends not to put any antseize    ????              /                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
 
boostedflex said:
.030, it is working for everyone else so I figured why buck the trend :). The factory ones were mostly all .040 so happy I did it.
Click to expand...

Your sp534s weren't pre-gapped at .030?
 
I installed my LMS stage 4 tune a couple weeks ago, and just changed my plugs today.  I installed SP534 plugs gapped to .030.  The plugs I pulled out looked really good, but were gapped to between .047 and .050.  Is that normal?

 
If you had around 50,000 miles or more on the original plugs, those gaps are not surprising.  The electrodes erode fairly quickly on the original equipment plugs. 
 
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