could someone please tell me about spark plugs... I really think its time to replace them... but apparently i shouldn't get the best ones out there... I see all the bosch displays. i've heard that i shouldn't use those though... im lost

FWIW, I put the standard Bosch Platinums in my 87 745t shortly after I got it, along with new cap, rotor and wires. That was 1,700 miles ago and so far the Boschs seem to be keeping up to the reputation they have earned in previous vehicles I have used them in, including some high mileage Datsun 280Zs, which also have the Bosch fuel injection system. We will see what happens as time (and miles) go by... Worthy of mention is that the plugs I removed in favor of the new Boschs were apparently the original Volvo plugs; at least the previous owner said he had never changed them (took 'em out with a blowtorch, too, I did ;-) ). At 201,000+ miles they still looked pretty good, although very worn with almost no electrode showing and quite a large gap the color was very good; they did bring me home from Chicago where I bought the car. Tough little nuts.

cheers,

shifted

"Early to bed and early to rise, get your hands greasy before the sunrise..."

I use Autolite N64's in my 88 740T with 242K. Runs like a champ.

JS

Just get NGK's and be done with it. Bosch are OK, but can be finiky in some cars, especially 700 turbos...BPR6ES or BPR7ES
--
Paul's Lubricants and Volvo Page

I second Paul's opinion on this - NGK copper plugs are the best. Cheap, reliable, long-lasting. Stick new ones in every other year and you are done. Save your time to worry about things other than the spark plugs.

i tried bosch platinums, and i couldn't have done worse if the ngk's worked. ok, i suck at gapping. i checked and it said .028, i tried this and ran RIIIICH. rich to the point where it burned the metal thingies(according to a bosch rep, that is the technical term) on the plugs, bad. i got mixed advice on gaps, some said .028, .030, .032 and as large as .036. i just went with bosch platinum 2's. these plugs rock! double metal thingies, pre-gapped. i lost about 30 miles a tank with my crappy gapping job, and now i'm getting about 280 a tank. if you're gonna replace the plugs, get new wires too, just don't go to discount auto parts, they'll try to charge ya $70 for em. i got them at a local chain a mile down the road for $45. if you're gonna go all out and change the distributor cap, good luck. i made up about 30 new curse words trying to get that little bastard on.

I prefer the Bosch Platinum (one electrode type) they never foul and go forever. Get them at Auto Zone for cheep and they even have a return policy that if you don't notice a performance improvement, you get your money back.
Jon

If the car is fuel injection I'd stay away from the Bosch Platinums. I have a 74 164 that was running poorly and a very competent Volvo mechanic advised me not to use them.Alot of older fuel injection BMW's and Volvos experience problems with them. I know for the BMW's they recomend Bosch Silver or NGK. Not sure about what is prefered for Volvo but definitely not the Platinums. Anyone else heard this?

I think it is a preference thing. I use the Bosch copper - I think they are called super and they seem to work fine.
Blair
87 745, 90 745tic

most cars aren't picky, except for the v6 models, you're only suppose to use volvo plugs...something about the resistance they have and the way the pickup on the #1 coil wire responds. however, i've found that NGK tr5 also work.