3.2L: What non-OEM plugs do you like or have success with?

carboncow · Post by **carboncow** » 04 Sep 2018, 19:49

I see a lot of expensive NKG out there at my local shops...and iridium, nickel or platinum. Is one metal better then others...longevity?

A lot of options.

Post by **jimmy57** » 04 Sep 2018, 20:21

Iridiums seem to be the longevity champs. Double platinums next. Both of these will go 100K easily in non turbo and probably 75K in turbo use. I am not sure which brand is best. I'm not sure there is a clear winner. I never use Champions as they are the ones I have the most damaged threads from. I like Denso, NGK, and Bosch. If Beru were more widely available they would be on the list. Beru have been OE from Volvo but I do not know who is supplying the factory plugs now.

carboncow · Post by **carboncow** » 04 Sep 2018, 20:25

Thanks. I figured iridium was the way. I see autolites for half the price of others and reviews seem fine. Unless anyone can confirm they are garbage I’ll have my buddy give them a shot.

GenericVolvoDriver · Post by **GenericVolvoDriver** » 04 Sep 2018, 23:42

https://forums.swedespeed.com/showthrea ... QR10-plugs

I used the IKH20TT's. Work perfect. Supercede the FK20HQR10 plugs as per:
http://denso.elcome.co.uk/ecat/Search/FK20HQR10

carboncow · Post by **carboncow** » 05 Sep 2018, 06:23

Thanks but Denso are all but impossible to find local in my areas. Often our local store products get negative comments from euro car owners often with no good data to back them. We are going with autolite iridium this AM. Will post back.

Post by **pgill** » 21 Jul 2020, 14:26

GenericVolvoDriver wrote: ↑04 Sep 2018, 23:42 https://forums.swedespeed.com/showthrea ... QR10-plugs

I used the IKH20TT's. Work perfect. Supercede the FK20HQR10 plugs as per:
http://denso.elcome.co.uk/ecat/Search/FK20HQR10

Excellent information

Thanks for sharing the links

I have been using the IKH20 in my 2008 LR2 and 2010 S80

I am changing the plugs every 50,000 miles

For my next change I will be upgrading to the TT's (IKH20TT)

I've recommended the IKH20TT to several MVS readers and they have had excellent results.

The only missing piece of information is the Gap.

IKH20 1.1 mm (.044")
IKH20TT 1.0 mm (.040")
FK20HQR10 1.0 mm (.040")
FK20HQR8 0.8 mm (.032")

The original plugs that I removed from my 2010 S80 were 1.1 mm and I believe the LR2 also came with 1.1 mm gap.

Both of these are non turbo

For the Turbo (Polestar) applications I believe that Volvo went to the 0.8 mm gap

If you are running stock boost the 1.0 mm gap should be fine

One last thought I change plugs every 5 or 6 years and I wait for a sale and buy the plugs ahead of time

Thanks

Paul

chitownV · Post by **chitownV** » 23 Jul 2020, 17:21

I cannot comment directly about the plugs pgill recommended because I don't have personal experience with them.

However, the goal for a spark plugs is to give the most area of the hottest spark. That means run the widest gap it is supposed to have so more of the spark is exposed to the air/fuel mixture. Running a smaller gap can mask weakening coils. With good coils, a factory wide gap plus a hot spark will give the best ignition. For this reason, I like to know the health of my engine and like to run the stock gap sizes with the original Volvo plugs because if I am compensting for a weaker spark with a smaller gap, that might mask the fact that a coil could be on its way out. However, if you have new coils and the engine is running very well, doesn't hurt to try the plugs pgill recommended. If it works, hooray. If it doesn't run well, then you know for sure it is the plugs and swap back the old ones.

I remember building performance engines, we used to mark the spark plug (insulator/ceramic side) with a sharpie so we knew where the ground electrode was covering the ignition point. Then we would tighten the spark plug so the open area of the center electrode faced the center of the cylinder. I wouldn't suggest this for long-term at home because if the plug isn't tightened properly, it could loosen over time. For a race, it worked very well and we would remove the plugs to check the condition after each race.

The lesson, we want both the hottest spark and the most area of the spark exposed. Covering that up with multi-tip plugs might lower performance and setting a smaller gap could mask coils that should be replaced. While the 3.2 isn't turbo'd, it does like to rev in the mid to upper revs a lot, so it still needs good spark. That extra mid to upper rpms wear could also attribute why the 3.2 coils should be replaced as early as 150k miles.

chitownV · Post by **chitownV** » 23 Jul 2020, 17:40

Just also saw that FCP is posting the Denso IKH20TT is for XC90 3.2 from chassis # 568001. So, not to be used for the earlier 3.2 engines.

Post by **pgill** » 23 Jul 2020, 18:07

Volvo changed the sparkplugs for the 3.2

If you do a part number search from Volvo I think you will find 31286359 is the latest part number

Note: My 2010 S80 and my 2008 LR2 did not come with these plugs originally

Looking at the picture

Upper Arrow - 31286359 (for MY 11 and after)

Green Arrow - This is a TT style plug

Lower red arrow - 10 (This is a Denso part number with a 1.0 mm gap)

I plan to run the TT's bough directly from Denso and to eliminate Volvo's markup

However if Volvo is cheaper then buy from them

: 31286359.jpg (149.65 KiB) Viewed 5181 times

Post by **pgill** » 23 Jul 2020, 18:14

Here is a better picture showing the part number for the spark-plugs

FK20HQR10

: FK20HQR10.jpg (12.35 KiB) Viewed 5180 times