spark plugs for the SR...

[TheTimanator]

First, I searched Zilvia, FA, and a few other places but couldn't find anything.

I know that for the SR you use the 91 sentra SE-R plugs. SO, knowing that I went out and bought Denso iridiums. I went with the stock heat range...thinking that I won't be upgrading to a different turbo for sometime so I thought I would be safe. The thing I didn't think about, is that the spark plugs I was buying were actually for a NA car.

So, will running the stock heat range be ok? what if I turn up the boost to like 10-12 psi?

Thanks!

[Phlip]

Originally posted by TheTimanator
First, I searched Zilvia, FA, and a few other places but couldn't find anything.

I know that for the SR you use the 91 sentra SE-R plugs. SO, knowing that I went out and bought Denso iridiums. I went with the stock heat range...thinking that I won't be upgrading to a different turbo for sometime so I thought I would be safe. The thing I didn't think about, is that the spark plugs I was buying were actually for a NA car.

So, will running the stock heat range be ok? what if I turn up the boost to like 10-12 psi?

Thanks!

Friend of mine bought plugs for a 300ZX TT and used those without any problem...

[Foxcolt]

You'll be fine. plugs are plugs. As long as you don't get one that's a step hotter you good.

[TheTimanator]

Originally posted by PHLIP
Friend of mine bought plugs for a 300ZX TT and used those without any problem...

The 300zx TT plugs have the same part number as the 91 SE-R so that would make sense.

Anway, would I make more power if I had gone 1 step colder? what would be the difference?

[Foxcolt]

Less prone to detonation. Has nothing to do with power. It's just that they are less prone to turning into glow plugs at high heat. Downside is that it's harder to make em fire. So in acutality you might be making power if you got plugs that were a couple steps hotter but then you much more likley to detonate.

Make sense?

[TheTimanator]

Thanks man, I think I get it. So, if I start to detonate at some point, besides the many other reasons that it could be, one could be the sprak plugs...good to know. I assume that once I upgrade the turbo I will want to start thinking about colder plugs (especially if detonation occurs). Cool, thanks Foxcolt

[xhdriver]

i use ngk bkr6e, if i remember right

[Steeles]

Originally posted by PHLIP
Friend of mine bought plugs for a 300ZX TT and used those without any problem...

you have friends? wow... oh wait you meant me didnt you? hehehe yup messes with autozone employees heads.. Hi I need 4 spark plugs for a 90+ 300zx TT, four quarts of Mobile 1 trisynthetic and an oil filter for a 91 sentra se-r... yes I know a 300 has 6 cyl. no I dont want the other two... it would take too long to explain.... yes JUST four.... yes its all the same car.... just gimmie my parts

[Aubrey]

I really dont recommend using the stock plugs for a sentra. They are heat range 5, thats two steps colder than stock SR plugs. If you are 10-12psi and in a 4th gear pull (engine under load for an extended period of time) you could quite possibly burn a hole through one of your exhaust valves, thats what happened to me from using those exact same autozone plugs. Go to who ever sells NGK's and ask them for BCPR7ES-11, those work great. The 6's that xhdriver recommended would be the lowest i would go on heat range.

[SRKperformance]

plugs are plugs? try telling that to competitive drag racer, they will say your crazy. You should have gotten plugs in a cooler range but those should be ok for now, MAKE SURE you regap your plugs. I used boshe plugs for an ser back in my retard days when i first had an sr and its one of the reasons i blew up my first sr. Never ever use any plugs unless you regap them for turbo specs. or at least double check them. THe gap for the sr20det if you want to boost around 12-16 psi should be .028 on the standard side. I know its small but it will save your motor. Any bigger than .30 and youlll be able to hear the detonation and backfires. Not fun.

[SRKperformance]

aubrey...please explain so using colder buring plugs is not recomended for sr? ive been pulled this way and that on the argument. Im using ngks with in a cooler range. They are for a ser sentra but they are one step colder i believe, maybe two.

[Steeles]

Originally posted by Aubrey
I really dont recommend using the stock plugs for a sentra. They are heat range 5, thats two steps colder than stock SR plugs. If you are 10-12psi and in a 4th gear pull (engine under load for an extended period of time) you could quite possibly burn a hole through one of your exhaust valves, thats what happened to me from using those exact same autozone plugs. Go to who ever sells NGK's and ask them for BCPR7ES-11, those work great. The 6's that xhdriver recommended would be the lowest i would go on heat range.

well Im at 7psi for now and holding (not doing anything else till I get my power FC power wise at least) and they were the exact same ones I pulled out of the car so I feel pretty safe with um for now atleast.

[240racer]

colder plugs have higher numbes. I use heat range 7 plugs in my car, which is two steps colder then stock. I know I have a KA, but the same thing applies. You should be just fine with BKR7[anything] plugs gapped to .030" If you are not running much boost or something and you are having problems with the heat range 7 plugs fouling, then go to heat range 6 and a gap of about .035" should be good.

[N1ceDrgn]

When dealing with turbo, running hotter, a little, is not a bad thing. Just getting a good balance between fuel and spark. You need to keep a good balance. I was running with NGKR 8's for a little while, I turned up my fuel as well though. I stopped after I burned my turbo out. Running hotter, getting a cleaner burn, better compression leads to better spools.. always a good thing.. Once I get my bigger turbo on, I'll probably go back but for now, I'm running normal plugs again..
Bottom line, in my opinion, hotter plugs are not a bad thing, as long as you balance out the spark/ heat with a way to cool it down. Either water injection or turn up the fuel pressure a little.

[Aubrey]

SRKperformance--You got what i said a little backwards, but i think 240racer already straightened it out. Colder is better (as i think you know), well technically it is safer. N1ceDrgn is right when he says that running a hotter plug can net better peformance. However, i would rather save the minimal performance gains to keep my motor. You can fine tune your car on a dyno under controlled conditions but out on the street you could run into many different elements. For example: Temp changes, bad tank of gas, etc. Running colder plugs is safer, simple as that. I always like a little cushion so i dont like to run things to the edge. In racing, there are many rules and people are always trying what ever they can to get a step ahead, a lot of times that means really pushing the limits of the car an sometimes sacrificing a motor in the process. I cannot afford to risk my motor so i run safe. Everyones tips on gapping are right on the money. ~.030 is perfect.

[N1ceDrgn]

The information I posted is from four years in Japan messing around with different tuning methods and personal opinions and experiences. Aubrey and the others are giving you some good info. The last bit I'll add here is, take down all the information from everyone, there has been some good information for you. Take it all down, think about who's information sounds best to you and go with it. Like I said, no one's been leading you astray, we all have our own ideas, which is also one of the purposes for this place. Gather ideas and information and incorporate it into what you are doing. Whoever seems to have given you information that sounds the best to you, do it. There is nothing wrong in being safe or leaving yourself a buffer. I did it for a while when I was in Japan. It wasn't until I was leaving and am now in the states that I am pushing it with my CA19. Sounds dumb, being so far away from spare parts and all but, like I said. I just spent the last four years leaving myself a buffer and testing things out. It is the long way to do it, but I've learned about my car, what it likes and definitely does not.
back to the point, what ever sounds best to you, do it. So far, the people that have replied to your post have given you good information. Best of luck...

[240 2NR]

NGK Spark plug overview

Excellent site on the role spark plugs play in your engine and how to read and determine your plug needs. I'd say it's a must read if you have any spark plug related questions. Trust me, you don't know as much as you probably think. I was pretty enlightened by this link.

[240Stilo]

Originally posted by 240 2NR
Trust me, you don't know as much as you probably think.
I was pretty enlightened by this link.

The Dr. Seuss of Zilvia.net.

[240 2NR]

Wow, I didn't even realize I made that ryhme. I could be a poet and not even know it.

[240Stilo]

Originally posted by 240 2NR
I could be a poet and not even know it.

Ha...my bad felas I had to post whore that last laugh.

[TheTimanator]

Originally posted by SRKperformance
plugs are plugs? try telling that to competitive drag racer, they will say your crazy. You should have gotten plugs in a cooler range but those should be ok for now, MAKE SURE you regap your plugs. I used boshe plugs for an ser back in my retard days when i first had an sr and its one of the reasons i blew up my first sr. Never ever use any plugs unless you regap them for turbo specs. or at least double check them. THe gap for the sr20det if you want to boost around 12-16 psi should be .028 on the standard side. I know its small but it will save your motor. Any bigger than .30 and youlll be able to hear the detonation and backfires. Not fun.

The plugs I got are .4mm of gap......man