Hi folks, I searched and saw several threads that mentioned the spark plug gap setting of .8mm but what I'm wondering here is what is the consensus towards which technique is the best for setting gap?
For years I relied on the old tool that had the little loops of gauged wire and the little crows foot contraption for bending the electrode but then a friend told me that method was crap because when you bend the electrode that way you end up with an angled electrode where only part of it, usually the tip, is the right distance from the center electrode while the rest was angling further and further away. He insisted on using feeler gauges for the exact measurement and he would squeeze the feeler gauge between the two electrodes softly with a vise. His electrodes were almost always parallel but I wondered about squeezing ceramic, even slightly? Recently I read somewhere a site (bosch maybe) where they specifically stated not to use the feeler gauge for this but they did not elaborate any more on why????????
I have also used the method that I think my father showed me which was lightly tapping the plugs electrode on a piece of wood at an angle and then using that circular ramp up gauge that goes from skinny to fat to essentially re-widen the gap to the right amount. The thing I wondered with that method (which usually produces relatively parallel electrodes if you tap at the right angle) is where to stop on the gauge? IOW, as you ramp up do you stop when the first edge of the electrode is at the number, or do you go to the center of the electrode, or to the next edge? I would assume it makes a minor difference at least and also the thing with that method is that the electrode seems to spring tighter so that you actually ramp past the number by several bars so that you can slightly squeeze the corect mark in and out.
I have also wondered about those plug gapping pliers, seems like the best of both worlds - a safe way to squeeze the electrodes very parallel to each other but for the fifty bucks or so I see them for, I gotta wonder if its worth it for the once a year or so I change the plugs on any of my vehicles?
As always I'm probably over-anal-izing this, but I am interested in what techniques you all are using for gap? Thanks.
For years I relied on the old tool that had the little loops of gauged wire and the little crows foot contraption for bending the electrode but then a friend told me that method was crap because when you bend the electrode that way you end up with an angled electrode where only part of it, usually the tip, is the right distance from the center electrode while the rest was angling further and further away. He insisted on using feeler gauges for the exact measurement and he would squeeze the feeler gauge between the two electrodes softly with a vise. His electrodes were almost always parallel but I wondered about squeezing ceramic, even slightly? Recently I read somewhere a site (bosch maybe) where they specifically stated not to use the feeler gauge for this but they did not elaborate any more on why????????
I have also used the method that I think my father showed me which was lightly tapping the plugs electrode on a piece of wood at an angle and then using that circular ramp up gauge that goes from skinny to fat to essentially re-widen the gap to the right amount. The thing I wondered with that method (which usually produces relatively parallel electrodes if you tap at the right angle) is where to stop on the gauge? IOW, as you ramp up do you stop when the first edge of the electrode is at the number, or do you go to the center of the electrode, or to the next edge? I would assume it makes a minor difference at least and also the thing with that method is that the electrode seems to spring tighter so that you actually ramp past the number by several bars so that you can slightly squeeze the corect mark in and out.
I have also wondered about those plug gapping pliers, seems like the best of both worlds - a safe way to squeeze the electrodes very parallel to each other but for the fifty bucks or so I see them for, I gotta wonder if its worth it for the once a year or so I change the plugs on any of my vehicles?
As always I'm probably over-anal-izing this, but I am interested in what techniques you all are using for gap? Thanks.
