cali_beemer Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 I have done searches as I know this has been discussed. I was planning on putting in autolite plugs. Whats the big difference between the AP and the APP's? I read one post on not to run the APP's becasue you cant gap them properly?? I have an 04 dual spark 1150 GS. Can anyone tell me what the part numbers I need are in the autolite?
SKYGZR Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 The AP is Platinum coated only on the Electrode. The APP is coated both on the Electrode, and Anode. I opted to use the AP as the first test, and works just fine. Don't know if any improvement/difference/gain, would be noticed/realized/felt, with the APP..yet without installing them..I can't report on that topic..yet..:-)
cali_beemer Posted July 16, 2008 Author Posted July 16, 2008 thanks, can anyone tell me what to do about the secondary spark plug? It has the dual spark motor and the second plug is a different size than the primary.
John in NC Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 The secondary is 4162. I do not think this one is available in Platinum. I bought a socket that will fit the secondary plug and ground it down using a grinding wheel in order to get it to fit. Use the APP's and gap them at the BMW specs. Works great!
smiller Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 Just FWIW there's not much point to using the platinum plugs in an oilhead application. The only real advantage of platinum electrodes is for extreme longevity in vehicles that specify very long replacement intervals, but since it's so easy to change the plugs during each valve adjust it makes more sense just to put in a $2.69/pair set of standard Autolites.
Stan Walker Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 +1 for what Jerry Duke says. or +2 for what smiller says. That's what Stan says
gmarktbone Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 What is the gap supposed to be on the 3923 plugs?
smiller Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 What is the gap supposed to be on the 3923 plugs? BMW says .032" but the most popular setting seems to be .035-.038".
philbytx Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 OK Seth, stop being so ambiguous! What would be the exact 3923 gap for us anal types :grin:
smiller Posted July 16, 2008 Posted July 16, 2008 OK Seth, stop being so ambiguous! What would be the exact 3923 gap for us anal types :grin: Sorry. The precise setting should be .0363975231"
smiller Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Where do I get a feeler gauge that thick? You don't use a feeler gauge, you use a spark plug wire gauge (which also usually includes a helpful thingie to adjust the electrode gap.) Available at any auto parts store
cali_beemer Posted July 17, 2008 Author Posted July 17, 2008 The secondary is 4162. I do not think this one is available in Platinum. I bought a socket that will fit the secondary plug and ground it down using a grinding wheel in order to get it to fit. Use the APP's and gap them at the BMW specs. Works great! Is there another option that doesnt require a special tool? I would hate to have to fix this along the road side someday and have it take a special tool. Can I use the stock NGK in for the secondary and use the autolite for the primary?
Jeron Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 By special tool do you mean the socket or the plug gaper(wire gauge)? The gauge you can do without until you get home (most plugs come gaped in the ballpark) but the socket is a must to change a plug. Either way, I cant see needing to replace a spark plug on the side of the road.
NonComp Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Almost any gap will work out of the box. It may not be optimal, but it will get you home. Buy a cheap set of guages from your auto parts store. I've had mine for 30 years. They don't wear out and will come in handy when you're ready to do your own valve adjustment
Little Joe Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 The secondary is 4162. I do not think this one is available in Platinum. I bought a socket that will fit the secondary plug and ground it down using a grinding wheel in order to get it to fit. Use the APP's and gap them at the BMW specs. Works great! Is there another option that doesnt require a special tool? I would hate to have to fix this along the road side someday and have it take a special tool. Can I use the stock NGK in for the secondary and use the autolite for the primary? I believe cali_beemer was asking about a secondary spark plug option that does not require a different plug wrench than the primary. I posed this question a couple of weeks ago. Haven't seen a response. If the 3923 is the go-to, cheap solution for the primary, isn't there a cheap solution for the secondary that has the same hex profile so I just have one plug wrench (preferably the stock one)?
cali_beemer Posted July 17, 2008 Author Posted July 17, 2008 The secondary is 4162. I do not think this one is available in Platinum. I bought a socket that will fit the secondary plug and ground it down using a grinding wheel in order to get it to fit. Use the APP's and gap them at the BMW specs. Works great! Is there another option that doesnt require a special tool? I would hate to have to fix this along the road side someday and have it take a special tool. Can I use the stock NGK in for the secondary and use the autolite for the primary? I believe cali_beemer was asking about a secondary spark plug option that does not require a different plug wrench than the primary. I posed this question a couple of weeks ago. Haven't seen a response. If the 3923 is the go-to, cheap solution for the primary, isn't there a cheap solution for the secondary that has the same hex profile so I just have one plug wrench (preferably the stock one)? This is exactly the question I was asking. A spar plug gap gauge is a no brainer and I have one. They can also be found at wally world all over america. I was asking in regards to the secondary spark plug offerings. Can you mix brands? Does it matter?
Jeepster Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 The secondary is 4162. I do not think this one is available in Platinum. I bought a socket that will fit the secondary plug and ground it down using a grinding wheel in order to get it to fit. Use the APP's and gap them at the BMW specs. Works great! Is there another option that doesnt require a special tool? I would hate to have to fix this along the road side someday and have it take a special tool. Can I use the stock NGK in for the secondary and use the autolite for the primary? I believe cali_beemer was asking about a secondary spark plug option that does not require a different plug wrench than the primary. I posed this question a couple of weeks ago. Haven't seen a response. If the 3923 is the go-to, cheap solution for the primary, isn't there a cheap solution for the secondary that has the same hex profile so I just have one plug wrench (preferably the stock one)? This is exactly the question I was asking. A spar plug gap gauge is a no brainer and I have one. They can also be found at wally world all over america. I was asking in regards to the secondary spark plug offerings. Can you mix brands? Does it matter? The bike won't know the difference as long as the heat range is within OEM specs. Just don't show the box to your bike
gmarktbone Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 OK, all kidding aside. I have used feeler gauges for many years to determine spark plug gaps. Is there a difference between feeler guages and a spark plug gap gauge. You know, these beemers really don't do much to build your 'renching self-confidence-I would never be concerned about this on a ford....
eddd Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 OK, all kidding aside. I have used feeler gauges for many years to determine spark plug gaps. Is there a difference between feeler guages and a spark plug gap gauge. You know, these beemers really don't do much to build your 'renching self-confidence-I would never be concerned about this on a ford.... It is easier to get a correct reading with the wire type. It is too easy to have the feeler gauge inserted at a slight angle leading to an incorrect reading.
Little Joe Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 The secondary is 4162. I do not think this one is available in Platinum. I bought a socket that will fit the secondary plug and ground it down using a grinding wheel in order to get it to fit. Use the APP's and gap them at the BMW specs. Works great! Is there another option that doesnt require a special tool? I would hate to have to fix this along the road side someday and have it take a special tool. Can I use the stock NGK in for the secondary and use the autolite for the primary? I believe cali_beemer was asking about a secondary spark plug option that does not require a different plug wrench than the primary. I posed this question a couple of weeks ago. Haven't seen a response. If the 3923 is the go-to, cheap solution for the primary, isn't there a cheap solution for the secondary that has the same hex profile so I just have one plug wrench (preferably the stock one)? This is exactly the question I was asking. A spar plug gap gauge is a no brainer and I have one. They can also be found at wally world all over america. I was asking in regards to the secondary spark plug offerings. Can you mix brands? Does it matter? The bike won't know the difference as long as the heat range is within OEM specs. Just don't show the box to your bike Sooo . . . how do I compare the heat ranges of various plugs? I tried Googling "spark plug heat range comparison", and the only semi-informational hit I got was this. Not very helpful, as it seems that these manufacturers, at least, each simply have their own relative hot-to-cold scale.
John in NC Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 OK! OK! Use the autolite for the Primary. This is where the improvement in performance happens. Keep using the OEM plug for the secondary. This way, the toolkit wrench will fit both. Problem solved. BTW. I can tell a difference between the plain 3923, the AP3923, and the APP3923. I use the APP3923.
RickB Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Does anyone have any experience using a Champion spark plug for the secondary? Love the Autolite AP3923 in the primary: works great, available, and cheap (kinda like me...) The Autolite 4162, however, is proving hard to find locally, nevermind the OEM plug. Looks like the Autolite 4162 crosses to a Champion RA6HC. Rick <><
Jeepster Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Sooo . . . how do I compare the heat ranges of various plugs? I tried Googling "spark plug heat range comparison", and the only semi-informational hit I got was this. Not very helpful, as it seems that these manufacturers, at least, each simply have their own relative hot-to-cold scale. This is where having a knowlegeable and trustworthy parts store near comes in handy. Unfortunately the one I used just shut it's doors about 3 months ago, the guys grandfather started the business when he got back from WWII. So, anybody have any recommendations in SoCal.
NonComp Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 BTW. I can tell a difference between the plain 3923, the AP3923, and the APP3923. I use the APP3923. You can add XP3923 to that list. It's the one with the iridium post. The only reason it bought it was because it was the only Autolite plug the store had in stock. Works fine.
RickB Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Does anyone have any experience using a Champion spark plug for the secondary? Love the Autolite AP3923 in the primary: works great, available, and cheap (kinda like me...) The Autolite 4162, however, is proving hard to find locally, nevermind the OEM plug. Looks like the Autolite 4162 crosses to a Champion RA6HC. Picked up a set of Champion RA6HC's today. I figured if they're good enough for Briggs & Stratton, they must be good enough for BMW... I gapped them to .035, and put them in the secondory holes (after removing the wonderful 32 FASTENERS to get the 04 RT's bodywork off, of course...). The Champions were 2 bucks a pop, and use the same size socket as the OEMs. Fired the bike up and went for a short test ride (~15 minutes). I must say that the bike ran like a "Champ"... Rick <><
cali_beemer Posted July 19, 2008 Author Posted July 19, 2008 Does anyone have any experience using a Champion spark plug for the secondary? Love the Autolite AP3923 in the primary: works great, available, and cheap (kinda like me...) The Autolite 4162, however, is proving hard to find locally, nevermind the OEM plug. Looks like the Autolite 4162 crosses to a Champion RA6HC. Picked up a set of Champion RA6HC's today. I figured if they're good enough for Briggs & Stratton, they must be good enough for BMW... I gapped them to .035, and put them in the secondory holes (after removing the wonderful 32 FASTENERS to get the 04 RT's bodywork off, of course...). The Champions were 2 bucks a pop, and use the same size socket as the OEMs. Fired the bike up and went for a short test ride (~15 minutes). I must say that the bike ran like a "Champ"... Rick <>< good info, I think I might try that. I dont mind using the factory NGK plugs but the cost from a dealer is insane for a spark plug. Luckily for me, I have a GS so I dont have to remove the 32 screws
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