1998 Civic - Spark Plug Gap Setting

Kevin G. wrote:
> Thanks, everyone, for your replies.
>
> Brand name aside, is there any danger to me installing spark plugs
> that have a .004" less gap than Honda's recommendations?
>
> Are there any tools (that I already have) that I can use to widen the
> gap besides a spark plug gapping tool? Will needle-nose pliers work?

You can use pliers or a small screwdriver, but a proper gapping tool
should only cost you about $2-$5. Any good set of plug gauges will
include a gapping tool.

Kevin G. wrote:
> Thanks again, everyone, for your replies. It looks like I should be
> focusing my attention on NGK or Bosch spark plugs, which are both the
> exact gap that I need.

again, i would avoid bosch. i've had many bad experiences with those
things being fine one day, visually perfect on inspection, but the car
will simply refuse to start. ngk will keep on working until the
electrodes are melted stubs of nothingness. absolutely utterly reliable.


>
> Now that we have taken care of the spark plugs, I have also already
> purchased the Bosch spark plug wire set. Is this a "bad" wire set? I
> am reading some negative comments about Bosch in this post. If I did
> purchase the NGK plugs, would they "mesh" good with the Bosch wires?
> Or, should I stick with Bosch plugs since I already have the Bosch
> wires?

again, i'd take them back and spring the few extra bucks for oem or ngk.
if you want a little extra fizz, the coiled core plug leads are
excellent - magnecor or, of course, ngk.


>
> Thanks for your continued assistance.
>
> Kevin
>
> On Oct 7, 12:01 pm, jim beam > wrote:
>> jim beam wrote:
>>> Kevin G. wrote:
>>>> Thanks, everyone, for your replies.
>>>> Brand name aside, is there any danger to me installing spark plugs
>>>> that have a .004" less gap than Honda's recommendations?
>>>> Are there any tools (that I already have) that I can use to widen the
>>>> gap besides a spark plug gapping tool? Will needle-nose pliers work?
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Kevin
>>> if your objective in using these plugs is to have something longer
>>> lasting or something that "preforms" better, consider ngk iridiums.
>> i'm sorry, performs, not preforms.
>>
>>
>>
>>>> On Oct 7, 3:19 am, Matt Ion > wrote:
>>>>> motsco_ wrote:
>>>>>> jim beam wrote:
>>>>>>> return these plugs and get ngk or denso - don't bother gapping them.
>>>>>>> don't bother with bosch either. seriously. those of us that have
>>>>>>> been around the block a few times and that have tried many different
>>>>>>> plugs will all tell you, ngk or denso in honda. nothing else works as
>>>>>>> well or as reliably. and both those factors save you money.
>>>>>> -------------------------------
>>>>>> Like Jim said. Take them back.
>>>>> I think you people put WAY too much emphasis on specific brands of plugs
>>>>> being "better" for certain cars. My '87 Accord has been running the
>>>>> same set of Bosch Platinums for over two years with nary a hiccup. In
>>>>> fact, I only just recently had to pull them out to track a blown head
>>>>> gasket (RIP) and they're still in good condition.
>
>

Matt Ion > wrote in news:sl8Oi.1004$th2.905@pd7urf3no:

> Kevin G. wrote:
>> Thanks, everyone, for your replies.
>>
>> Brand name aside, is there any danger to me installing spark plugs
>> that have a .004" less gap than Honda's recommendations?
>>
>> Are there any tools (that I already have) that I can use to widen the
>> gap besides a spark plug gapping tool? Will needle-nose pliers work?
>
> You can use pliers or a small screwdriver,



NO! No pliers!

Pliers can make burrs that can cause pre-ignition!



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Kevin G." > wrote in
ps.com:

> Thanks again, everyone, for your replies. It looks like I should be
> focusing my attention on NGK or Bosch spark plugs, which are both the
> exact gap that I need.
>
> Now that we have taken care of the spark plugs, I have also already
> purchased the Bosch spark plug wire set. Is this a "bad" wire set? I
> am reading some negative comments about Bosch in this post. If I did
> purchase the NGK plugs, would they "mesh" good with the Bosch wires?
> Or, should I stick with Bosch plugs since I already have the Bosch
> wires?
>



If you like to make sure your catalytic converter lasts as long as
possible, only OEM wires are correct.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

How am I able to determine what brand of OEM wires they are? I don't
have any spark plug-related information on the underside of my hood

Thanks,
Kevin

On Oct 7, 5:45 pm, Tegger > wrote:
> "Kevin G." > wrote oups.com:
>
> > Thanks again, everyone, for your replies. It looks like I should be
> > focusing my attention on NGK or Bosch spark plugs, which are both the
> > exact gap that I need.
>
> > Now that we have taken care of the spark plugs, I have also already
> > purchased the Bosch spark plug wire set. Is this a "bad" wire set? I
> > am reading some negative comments about Bosch in this post. If I did
> > purchase the NGK plugs, would they "mesh" good with the Bosch wires?
> > Or, should I stick with Bosch plugs since I already have the Bosch
> > wires?
>
> If you like to make sure your catalytic converter lasts as long as
> possible, only OEM wires are correct.
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Kevin G." > wrote in
oups.com:

> How am I able to determine what brand of OEM wires they are? I don't
> have any spark plug-related information on the underside of my hood
>


OEM wires are available only at your local Honda dealer.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger,

Thanks for your replies (and thanks, also, to everyone else whose
replied)...

My '98 Civic has 153,000 miles on it and I think it has only had one
tune-up in its lifetime (probably around 60,000 miles, but I do not
know for sure). I know that the tune-up was not done at a Honda
dealership, but was done at one of those automotive repair places
(Monro Muffler, I believe). The automotive place wouldn't use OEM
parts, would they?

I just recently replaced the oxygen sensor (before CC) because of
check engine light trouble codes indicating a defective O2 sensor,
plus my car was having hesistation problems and rough idling. I think
now is a good time to do a tune-up. In addition to replacing the
plugs and wires, I'm also going to replace the cap and rotor.

Thanks,
Kevin

On Oct 7, 6:59 pm, Tegger > wrote:
> "Kevin G." > wrote groups.com:
>
> > How am I able to determine what brand of OEM wires they are? I don't
> > have any spark plug-related information on the underside of my hood
>
> OEM wires are available only at your local Honda dealer.
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger wrote:
> Matt Ion > wrote in news:sl8Oi.1004$th2.905@pd7urf3no:
>
>> Kevin G. wrote:
>>> Thanks, everyone, for your replies.
>>>
>>> Brand name aside, is there any danger to me installing spark plugs
>>> that have a .004" less gap than Honda's recommendations?
>>>
>>> Are there any tools (that I already have) that I can use to widen the
>>> gap besides a spark plug gapping tool? Will needle-nose pliers work?
>> You can use pliers or a small screwdriver,
>
>
>
> NO! No pliers!
>
> Pliers can make burrs that can cause pre-ignition!

I didn't say it was a GOOD IDEA...

On 10/7/07 6:34 PM, in article
, "Kevin G."
> wrote:

> Tegger,
>
> Thanks for your replies (and thanks, also, to everyone else whose
> replied)...
>
> My '98 Civic has 153,000 miles on it and I think it has only had one
> tune-up in its lifetime (probably around 60,000 miles, but I do not
> know for sure). I know that the tune-up was not done at a Honda
> dealership, but was done at one of those automotive repair places
> (Monro Muffler, I believe). The automotive place wouldn't use OEM
> parts, would they?
>
> I just recently replaced the oxygen sensor (before CC) because of
> check engine light trouble codes indicating a defective O2 sensor,
> plus my car was having hesistation problems and rough idling. I think
> now is a good time to do a tune-up. In addition to replacing the
> plugs and wires, I'm also going to replace the cap and rotor.
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin
>
> On Oct 7, 6:59 pm, Tegger > wrote:
>> "Kevin G." > wrote
>> groups.com:
>>
>>> How am I able to determine what brand of OEM wires they are? I don't
>>> have any spark plug-related information on the underside of my hood
>>
>> OEM wires are available only at your local Honda dealer.
>>
>> --
>> Tegger
>>
>> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
>

If it hasn't had any maintenance for 93,000 miles, you should be worrying
about the overdue timing belt change & not the plugs.

I recently had the car in the auto repair shop after the check engine
light came on. I wanted to get a "complete" engine diagnosis, and
they told me that my car need a "major" tune-up and a new O2 sensor.
They didn't mention anything about timing belt problems. Is this
something that should've/would've been discovered during this engine
diagnosis?

Thanks,
Kevin

On Oct 8, 10:42 am, E Meyer > wrote:
> On 10/7/07 6:34 PM, in article
> m, "Kevin G."
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> > Tegger,
>
> > Thanks for your replies (and thanks, also, to everyone else whose
> > replied)...
>
> > My '98 Civic has 153,000 miles on it and I think it has only had one
> > tune-up in its lifetime (probably around 60,000 miles, but I do not
> > know for sure). I know that the tune-up was not done at a Honda
> > dealership, but was done at one of those automotive repair places
> > (Monro Muffler, I believe). The automotive place wouldn't use OEM
> > parts, would they?
>
> > I just recently replaced the oxygen sensor (before CC) because of
> > check engine light trouble codes indicating a defective O2 sensor,
> > plus my car was having hesistation problems and rough idling. I think
> > now is a good time to do a tune-up. In addition to replacing the
> > plugs and wires, I'm also going to replace the cap and rotor.
>
> > Thanks,
> > Kevin
>
> > On Oct 7, 6:59 pm, Tegger > wrote:
> >> "Kevin G." > wrote
> >> groups.com:
>
> >>> How am I able to determine what brand of OEM wires they are? I don't
> >>> have any spark plug-related information on the underside of my hood
>
> >> OEM wires are available only at your local Honda dealer.
>
> >> --
> >> Tegger
>
> >> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
> If it hasn't had any maintenance for 93,000 miles, you should be worrying
> about the overdue timing belt change & not the plugs.