306 1.8 and NGK V-groove plugs

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Sat 26 Mar 2005 20:05
306 1.8 and NGK V-groove plugs - SjB {P}
Just thought I'd share something.

Last weekend, I serviced SWMBO's 32k miles 1995 306 1.8 SR Sedan.

The car has always driven well, but equally the idle has always been a little on the lumpy side, and slight pinking has usually occurred on gently accelerating from medium revs with a light throttle. These symptoms have persisted through several services - including the original, and one set of new, non V-groove, Champion plugs - since we purchased the car three years ago. When I took the plugs out this time, I checked them carefully, and prounounced them to be in perfect nick. In fact, they looked so 'right', that I nearly put them back in...

However, I decided to stick to the Pug schedule, and simply because the Champion plugs were out of stock, fitted NGK (which I always used to use) plugs, but this time, V-groove.

We haven't put enough miles under the wheels to get a feeling for fuel consumption, but the idle lumpiness has completely gone, and so has the light throttle pinking. Mid range torque also appears to be more ample than before. I know plugs need a sharp edge for the spark to propagate easily, but I'd always dismissed V-groove plugs as a marketing ploy to get punters to part with more dosh. Hmmm. Wish I'd fitted them three years ago, now!
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Sat 26 Mar 2005 20:14
306 1.8 and NGK V-groove plugs - Rishab C
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Sat 26 Mar 2005 20:38
306 1.8 and NGK V-groove plugs - ihpj
Thats nice to know because I am always questioning the development of such gizmos. When I replaced the plugs etc. on my own PUG 205 GTi - I questioned the wisdom of putting in 'Bosch Super 4' or 'Iridium' or even the 'V Groove' type of plugs. In the end I opted to save the cash and bought the OE Champion basic standard set of plugs.

Maybe next time I'll look at the V Groove twice - and since then I have ahd to replace the HT leads, cap, rotor etc as well, so with the upgraded HT leads and new cap etc. premium plugs might make a differnece. Thanks for feeding that into the system.
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