How many miles on spark plugs??

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by highway star, Dec 22, 2014.

  1. highway star

    highway star New Member

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    The OEM spark plugs on my '09 have 16k miles.
    No problems but I'm gonna change the air filter, so
    while I'm in there, go ahead and change the plugs?
     
  2. DriverDave

    DriverDave New Member

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    I wouldn't bother with the plugs. They should be fine to more than 50k miles. I had 36k on my 07 when I traded it in without ever changing the plugs (ran fine).
     
  3. bitterpil

    bitterpil New Member

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    If you are going to pull them to check them, then replace them. It's not worth the effort to inspect and keep. At 16k mine were fine but since I had them out, I wasn't putting them back in. Since you have to have replacements on hand In case you need to replace so there is no savings to keeping them. You can also elect to skip inspection and just keep running the ones you have. If you aren't having any issues. Don't bother. Just change the filter and keep gettin it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2014
  4. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    At about $17.00 a crack, I wouldn't change them unless they needed changing. The iridium plugs I ordered from the USA, were about 17 bucks each. If replacing with the normal everyday plugs, then ya sure. Change them for what you go through to take them out. But if you have not already pulled them out, and the bike is running fine, at 16K miles, leave them alone. I am not at home right now to look up the records, but I know mine had far more miles than that before they were changed. I think this issue is covered in the Owners Manual.
     
  5. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

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    I replaced mine at 16,000 miles because I did the valve check and it's easier to turn the motor over with the plugs out, and I was going to change them anyway. That being said, they looked just fine. I wouldn't do it just because I was changing the air filter, and I'm sure it would be fine. I would change them at 30,000 miles though, and maybe sooner if the engine feels a bit "off".
     
  6. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Just got home and checked my records, as fine as they are. Yup. Mine were changed at 30,000 miles give or take.
     
  7. rigger4343

    rigger4343 New Member

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    If I remember correctly, my manual said to replace at 32,000 miles.
     
  8. bitterpil

    bitterpil New Member

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    Inspect at 16k replace at 32k
     
  9. pzpz

    pzpz New Member

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    Had the front replaced at 100K km, they look fine gap is OK - could easily done 200K km on them. Saving them as spare parts...

    ATTENTION : Although the gap is OK, 2 of the plugs exhibit compression loss (leaking plugs) - just starting to leak.

    This seems to be caused by over torquing or by too much hours of use. Can lead to a bad ignition coil.
    So inspect them each interval by the book.(can use a hole camera without taking them out to check for leak)
    (here is an example of really bad leakage:
    https://www.google.co.il/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.volvoclub.org.uk%2Ffaq%2FImagesProcedures%2FSparkPlugOvertorqued.gif&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.volvoclub.org.uk%2Ffaq%2FEngineMechanical.html&docid=U92gxfgUGlkQVM&tbnid=k4CRj2mxRDguhM%3A&w=221&h=284&bih=844&biw=1559&ved=0ahUKEwiYy8O0v9LPAhUEXRoKHQG7BRkQMwgeKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8 ,
    https://www.google.co.il/imgres?img...9LPAhUFfhoKHbkgBowQMwgkKAcwBw&iact=mrc&uact=8 )

    SP10.jpg .
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2016
  10. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    on the side of the box of these spark plugs, they tell you to be careful of checking gap of them, kind of like a Japanes pictogram. 99% percent sure here, but I am dealing with an on coming hurricane and the bastards where I work expect me to come it :frusty: Fem...I change my Kawasaki at 7000 but use stock "cheap" plugs, these iridiums go 20,000 at least
     
  11. James Bond

    James Bond Member

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    Don't waste the time and materials. At 16K miles, the bike is just getting broken in, literally. It takes a lot of miles for a VFR to "settle in" it's groove. When it does, it runs significantly better according to my butt dyno and smooth running ear. Iridium plugs are made to last, thus the cost. Ride the bike.
     
  12. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    I put new denso's in-at 10,000 , it did run a bit better.
     
  13. Aimbot9000

    Aimbot9000 New Member

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    Replaced my unknown age plugs at 50k miles with iridium plugs, at 90K now and all is well.
     
  14. cosmo

    cosmo New Member

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    In there for the air filter is not the same as in there for the spark plugs. Save your self the extra work and dollars by following the Honda service manual that say 32k change.

    Put your money for new plugs against a manometer to balance your starter valves. That is a better performance per dollar than replacing spark plugs early.
     
  15. Darth Vader

    Darth Vader New Member

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    I totally agree with Cosmo , leave the plugs and sync the starter valves.
    My plugs have 20 odd thousand on them and she ran fine. Did my sv s and now she's smooth as silk .
    A 99 5th gen with 48 k miles on the clock
     
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