TheSamba.com :: View topic - Spark Plugs

Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:57 am

Hey - I'm sure this has been covered before but here it goes !

Anybody have any experience with Autolite 425 plugs ? I pulled the Bosch WR8AC + from my engine and they looked really fouled (oil & soot) and this
is with a compression check coming up 115 on all 4 Cylinders. Valves recently adjusted and a recent rebuild of engine.

Are these Bosch plugs to cool ? (not hot enough) on another note:

Autolite 425 plugs - anybody try these or got them going in there VW.

Just looking for experience here - don't want to put the Autolite plugs in just because they come up as a compatible plug for the Bosch WR8AC +

Thanks !

Tony C

Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:47 pm

autolite 425 is what I used up until last year. IMO, they were a better plug than ngk, but some of the newer batch look kinda cheap, and they changed the numbering system too, so I'll probably quit using them.
No reason not to use them, put em in!

Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:17 pm

I ran them with no issues.

Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:20 am

I have always used Bosch and never had a reason to use anything else.

Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:27 pm

Thanks guys for the feedback - I appreciate it !

I heard stories about Autolite plugs striping heads and seizing - etc.
So I was wondering if anyone else had experience with the product.

Thanks again . . I will try them out.

On another note lots of people swear by NGK plugs . . I have only used Bosh but I have had a few fouled plugs with the Bosch, so I'm looking for alternative.

Thanks !

Tony

Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:46 pm

There is a reason autolites are called auto tight, just saying.
I've been doing air cooled vw's since'84, and my experience has been that ngk are the best plugs you can run, you will not find any pro-stock vw's running an autolight plug, or any competitive racer for that matter

Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:30 am

I have heard about such horror stories with Autolite Plugs. I had a stripped head once before - it was a nightmare too deal with. I think I'll try the NGK plugs, which ones do you suggest ? I have a 1700 engine (88mm Pistons in a 1600 stock case) with machined heads. Got duel H 40/44 ESI Kadron carbs with Igniter electronic ignition. BugPak Turbo exhaust with merged headers.

Should I be looking for a hotter plug with this set-up ? (as I mentioned my Bosch plugs came out looking oily with a fair amount of soot) got me thinking they might be too cold of a plug (Bosch WR8AC +) This is after I checked the compression (115 on each cylinder) and all valves set (exhaust & intake) at .006.

Thoughts on NGK model number.

Thanks !

Tony

Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:46 am

Persoanlly I would lose the "R" for resister and use NGK B5ES for 3/4" reach plugs or NGK B5HS for 1/2" reach plugs.

Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:29 pm

If your sooting up the bosche plugs..... a japanese five dollar spark plug is not gonna do jack squat but help stimulate japan's economy, which is fine by me, but maybe not what you want.

The "horror stories" are due to #1....concerning fords(which is it's own issue), and #2.......plugs made before about the mid 90's. From the mid 90's to today the aurtolite plugs have smoother better threads VS NGK clear as day to anyone with good eyesight, but old stories persist, and guys are still swearing by lithium grease and castrol oil like it's 1980.

If the engine is fouling plugs then you need a good cheap plug with is WHAT THE AUTOLITE IS, put em in forgoddsakes, your afraid of nothing.
Get a wideband if you don't like SOOTING UP THE AIR of this planet with your cheap ass poorly calibrated carburetors :P