Correct spark plug recomendations.

BIG DOG · Post by **BIG DOG** » 13 Oct 2009, 07:52

Hello I have a 1996 855 5spd turbo .My owners manual recomendation for a plug is Champion RC7GYC or equivalent what would be some equivalent plugs that would be a good option in bosche, ngk or others or is there a even better alternative car is stock as of now.
Thanks!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 13 Oct 2009, 08:14

Sadly the Champion RC7GYC are made of a rare material called unobtanium. You can't buy them anymore. I run OEM Volvo plugs in my turbo and I run the real cheap Bosch FR7DC plugs in my N/A models. The FR7DC plugs will also work in the turbo but they really don't last much over a year. The gap is critical no matter what you buy, 0.028" or slightly less. Avoid the multi-prong platinum plugs like the Bosch Platinum +II or +IV versions like the plague, they will never work correctly due to the gap.

...Lee

BIG DOG · Post by **BIG DOG** » 13 Oct 2009, 12:59

Ozark Lee wrote:Sadly the Champion RC7GYC are made of a rare material called unobtanium. You can't buy them anymore.
...Lee

That's funny the unobtanium part not the you can't buy them part.

The damn thing with that is the dealer is 75 miles away and it would be nice to go to my local parts depot and get plugs.

Warren561 · Post by **Warren561** » 13 Oct 2009, 14:56

BIG DOG wrote:The damn thing with that is the dealer is 75 miles away and it would be nice to go to my local parts depot and get plugs.

Perhaps mail order?

I've had good experiences with IPD, FCP Groton, and myvolvopartsonline.com

Romort628 · Post by **Romort628** » 13 Oct 2009, 15:11

For as much of a pain it is to put these in I only want to do it one time.
So call me stupid but I by OEM Volvo plugs, its not worth the check engine lights misfires and all that or pour preformance for a couple bucks.

volvomileage · Post by **volvomileage** » 13 Oct 2009, 15:25

easy solution for oem volvo plus

fcp groton...they have them in stock and delivered to your door. and they are plug and play pregapped....bosch coppers are also a very good choice and cheap but they have to be gapped...

cheers !

Post by **jtp** » 13 Oct 2009, 19:09

I went with iridium plugs from ipd, box said they didn't need to be gapped but I was getting a ton of misfires before I gapped them. I will be going OEM next time around.

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 13 Oct 2009, 20:20

I just bought the Bosch copper plugs and they were pre-gapped to 0.028 when I bought them. YMMV.

BIG DOG · Post by **BIG DOG** » 13 Oct 2009, 21:00

So what would the number be on the bosch copper or ngk copper or are they not recommended for the turbo? Looks like a trip to the dealer for me by the time I pay to have them shipped and over the boarder fee I might as well go get them from the dealer just for the ease of it plus I get to take the car on a 150 mile run

.
Thanks!

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 14 Oct 2009, 07:58

I am going to get jumped all over by the non believers on here but...

I have run Autolite Double Platinums in my 850 NA for the last 70k miles without issue. I also pulled one of them two weeks ago and the electrodes are still like new, though a little brown and maintained their gap. My fuel milage also increased by about 2 mpg from the moment I put them in.

I put the Bosch coppers in the other 850 NA and they work fine but no mpg improvement and they will need to be replaced in 25k.