Volvo Plugs

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 26 Dec 2013, 05:35

What is so special about the OEM Volvo plugs listed for an 04 XC70 that make them $13/each? Has anyone had luck with some lower cost alternatives? I have heard negative things about the Bosch plugs.

Thanks!

Post by **abscate** » 26 Dec 2013, 07:05

The lore here is that for a turbo Volvo motor use ONLY Volvo OEM single electrode plugs, the non-turbo motors are less finicky.

Magnus308 · Post by **Magnus308** » 26 Dec 2013, 07:59

turbotim2 wrote:What is so special about the OEM Volvo plugs listed for an 04 XC70 that make them $13/each? Has anyone had luck with some lower cost alternatives? I have heard negative things about the Bosch plugs.

Thanks!

Volvo OEM is Bosch plugs and they work great
If you want it cheaper just buy a Bosch plug without the Volvo blue box.

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 26 Dec 2013, 08:08

Man i bought some really good duralast plugs from autozone. And they work fine and have been working fine for a yr and a half +. So Just wanted to say its not necessary to have volvo plugs. And yes i have a turbo. And they look the exact same as the bosch 1 for like 10 15 dollars less. So yea any sparkplugs from autozone made for your car will work fine. Might get different results from each but they will all work fine. I would go with what's on ipd or fcp but if in a rush autozone bosch is fine and they got ngks to for like 115$

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 26 Dec 2013, 08:21

Magnus308 wrote: Volvo OEM is Bosch plugs and they work great
If you want it cheaper just buy a Bosch plug without the Volvo blue box.

Its the platinum Bosch right? I heard the coppers are not good at all.

Post by **jimmy57** » 26 Dec 2013, 09:40

I have never had plug sensitivity with LPT engines or even HPT engines EXCEPT for the 2004-2007 R models.
None of the multi-electrode versions but platinum or iridium single electrode from Denso, NGK, or Bosch all work well.

Post by **JDS60R** » 26 Dec 2013, 12:55

On an 04 xc70 with 2.5T we use Bosch FR7DPP+ they are the exact same as the OE plug and are Yitrium.

The 05-07R motors are special and there is a debate between plug manufacturers between which plug is right. The OE plug is a Bosch FR7MPP10 (yitrium - says platinum irridium) and sticks into the chamber 3mm. But the autolites and even the Ford plug often found in this motor (Bosch FR7N133 or Ford 7G9NI2405AA) sticks into the chamber 4mm.

The trade off seems to be the 4mm gets us feedback that it is extracting more power/seems more bright on lower rpms especially when first started but fuel mileage suffers and no top end performance gains.

The 3mm insert gets better mileage and gives a smooth powerful performance ( no greater or less than the 4mm).

I had a long conversation with Bosch on this and they say the 4mm Bosch/ FMCC is a specialty plug and will physically fit but is not specified for the R motors. They say the FR7MPP10 is the correct plug ( best price at rockauto $5.36 ($5.10 if 10 pack))

FR7DPP+ is hard to narrow down on cheap price -Autozone has them for $5.99 but Rock auto lists a FR7DPP ( notice the + is missing) at $3.60 . Bosch says they don't make a FR7DPP. I have yet to order the FR7DPP ( suspected to be FR7DPP+) from rockauto to see it they are the same. (Please PM me if you do and tell me what they are- Please !!!)

I have lots of customers that we use the Bosch FR7DPP+ on and they are loved.

The most recent R motor I purchased was in 2009 for a 2007R and it came with the FMCC (4mm) plug in it. Gas mileage was not great until I moved to the FR7MPP10 (3mm) . I saw no decrease in power output.

Here is a side by side of the Volvo specified OE plug (3mm) and a Bosch FR7MPP10 (3mm)
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =9&t=59591

Post by **JDS60R** » 26 Dec 2013, 13:21

Here are some pics of the FMCC plugs(4mm)(dirty) vs a Bosch FR7MPP10 (unused).

The FMCC/Bosch plugs (4mm - dirty) were taken out of a brand new R motor purchased in 2009 to fit a 2007R.

Hopefully you can see the 1mm depth into cylinder difference in the photos. Ioriginally thought the FMCC had a finer center electrode tip but it does not they measure out the same , it is the color causing the illusion. Bosch verifies same materials used in both plugs and same tip configuration but FMCC sticks in 4mm and is not recommended.

This R went 11K on them with no detonation ( daily use - not racing) but mileage has significant drop ( 2.5mpg drop). (I do not consider the first 2500 miles of any engine as good data as the engine could have some breaking in to do)

The R had 5k old filters and runs on full synthetic everything.
We installed new filters and no improvement. We changed oil - no improvement. Ran it to 11K miles and no changes.
Then changed the plugs.
Plugs made the mpg difference.

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 26 Dec 2013, 16:09

i didnt know if u were talking about plug wires or spark plugs. i commented on wires. as for plugs in mine i use the super copper plus. But mines a 94 turbo so i dunno about your car.

Post by **jimmy57** » 26 Dec 2013, 16:31

The vehicle OP posted on is a coil on plug car.
JDS60R did a great job of detailing the plug issues.
The R's in that range had the highest boost and high specific output. The cylinder pressures are greater in those engines and their spark plug requirements are particular. Most engines would have no measurably different results from a number of different plugs used as long as all were the correct heat range and electrode configuration.
Volvo specified some plugs for many engines from the late 90's to late 2000's that reduce likelihood of fouling plugs with repeated starts with short running time. The non-turbo engines got multiple electrode plugs. Turbo engines usually don't do well with those.