AGU 1.8T in Mk4 Golf GTI - Reducing Plug gap with stage 1 tune?

[fergo308]

Hi all,

Here's one for the gallery: I had a customer ask me yesterday if I could gap a set of NGK BKR7E plugs down to 0.7mm for her before I shipped them as she is running a stage 1 tune on a 1.8T AGU engine in a Mk4 Golf GTI,as she's been told that this is the usual thing to do.

The car runs fine with stock plug gap,but she's just 'being careful' and doing what has been recommended to her.
Is this a common thing in VAG tuning land?
If the engine isn't misfiring or breaking down,I'm finding it hard to find a reason for reducing the plug gap personally.

Comments welcomed.


Justin...

[h100vw]

Hey Justin, You are essentially correct, there's no need to regap the plugs on a Stage 1 car. In fact BKR6Es are possibly a better choice for a Stage 1 being closer in spec to the standard plug.

Reducing the gap prevents dramas running big boost on modified engines. If you look at VWVortex you'll see many references to it.

On my Phase 3 Polo, I reduce the gap to 28 thou from 35. I replace my plugs at the first sign of a misfire. The smaller gap extends the service life a little too.

It will make life easier on the coilpacks too. Not a big issue on the Golf with the bolt downs but on everything else it would be useful.

Gavin

Hi all,

Here's one for the gallery: I had a customer ask me yesterday if I could gap a set of NGK BKR7E plugs down to 0.7mm for her before I shipped them as she is running a stage 1 tune on a 1.8T AGU engine in a Mk4 Golf GTI,as she's been told that this is the usual thing to do.

The car runs fine with stock plug gap,but she's just 'being careful' and doing what has been recommended to her.
Is this a common thing in VAG tuning land?
If the engine isn't misfiring or breaking down,I'm finding it hard to find a reason for reducing the plug gap personally.

Comments welcomed.


Justin...