[Harv]

Hi, new to the forum, and pleased I've found it.

I'm about to do my first service on a 54 CMax 1.8 Zetec Petrol, 18,000 miles on clock and am trying to find out what I need to do for the service. Found the service schedules on http://www.cmaxownersclub.co.uk but none of the service intervals specify how often the spark plugs should be changed.

So, my question is - when should I change the plugs

Thanks

Harv

 

[Richard G]

I think everyone would suggest about every 12 months or 15,000 miles is about the norm depending on how you drive or if you feel there is a derogation in performance. This can depend on the make of plug as well

 

[Harv]

Thanks for your reply.

I am not sure that 15,000 is appropriate though, and assume this is not Ford's figure. Modern fully managed engines seem to get a lot more life out of their plugs, I have a VW Polo with a 40,000 mile interval. Also the Service Schedules on this site do not list a plug change at 12,500 or 25,000 miles.

Is there an official Ford recommended figure?

I also note from the Service Schedules that the recommended interval for a camshaft drive belt is 150,000 miles or 10 years although I'm not sure I would be brave enough to leave it that long.

Harv

 

[Richard G]

No it's not a recomended figure just from several!!! years of motoring. It perhaps is very pessemistic for todays engines but still... even in a 51 Reg 1.8 focus petrol I could tell the difference on changing the plugs at this sort of mileage

You might be able to get an expected life figure from say Bosch or NGK based on several different manufacturers use of a particular plug type

 

[reestyboy]

I just had the 25,000 mile service done on my '04 1.8 Zetec C-Max. The guy at 'Lifestyle Ford' in Horsham (West Sussex) said that I should have the plugs changed at this stage. It adds about £75 to the cost of the service so I elected to change them myself. However, it turns out that the Motorcraft 'plugs are £40 per set !!! (they're platinum) so I bought the applicable NGK Platinum plugs (PTR5A-10) at £20.49 from Halfords.

Can anyone advise the correct electrode gap ?

Thanks

 

[Harv]

I took a look at the NGK website at http://www.ngkpartfinder.co.uk/ and they have a cross reference facility there. The recommended NGK replacement for the Motorcraft AGFS22iPJ that my CMax has fitted is the NGK ITR6F13 which is different from the plug you quoted reestyboy. Are you sure you've got the right plug, from the NGK website, the PTR5A-10 seems to be for the Focus, not the CMax

The NGK website also states that the electrode gap is already preset for the CMax (I think it may be 1.3mm)

Harv

 

[Harv]

Sorry, typo in previous post - CMax plug is Motorcraft AGFS221PJ.

 

[mjshort79]

hi ford suggest you change your spark plugs at 40000 miles had my car serviced yesterday and asked them the same question i have a 1.8 petrol ghia and wanted the plugs changed ford dealership told me i did not need to as car has only done 32000 miles also they do not change the air filter until 50000 miles just added that incase enyone interested

 

[reestyboy]

Thanks Harv,

The guy in Halfords entered my vehicle registration into their computer system which correctly identified my car as being a 1.8 Zetec model. Their system listed the correct NGK plug as being the PTR5A-10 (which, like theMotorcraft,is a platinum plug ).

Cheers,

Reestyboy

 

[reestyboy]

Further to my last post, Harv got me thinking so I whipped out one of the existing plugs. Suprise, suprise - Halfords got it wrong !!! My car is indeed fitted with the NGK ITR6F13. As the car was only 9 months old when I bought it and it had not had it's first service, I assume that the NGK's were factory fitted.
So, it's back to Halfords tomorrow to exchange the plugs and give 'em a bollocking !!!

Edited by: reestyboy

 

[Harv]

Hi reestyboy, glad you found out you got the wrong plugs before you fitted them.

Be warned that the NGK ITR6F13 plugs will probably cost you a bit more (they're itanium, whatever difference that makes), but as supplied, the gaps are correctly set for the CMax at 1.3mm (that's the 13 bit of the part number)

Harv

 

[reestyboy]

Many thanks Harv - very useful info