Here is the deal. For all you folks with some mods like exhaust+tune and have over 15,000 miles, it might be time for some new plugs.

I was on a run a few weeks back with the socal 6speeders and was following Quick911 and Turbo Mike (IPD) when I noticed something wierd. When I gun it in 4th gear with overboost on, I was getting what felt like wheel hop. In 4th gear I thought? There is no way I am losing traction in 4th. My car is just not that powerful... When overboost is turned off, it doesn't do it anymore. Scratching my head, I turned to several folks for a possible diagnosis including my dealer.

I got everything from: it's the ECU tune, it's the clutch, it's a PCM unit malfunction, it's the accelerometer. Thoroughly confused, I called up Turbo Mike from IPD USA to see how much more confused I can get. It took him less than 30 seconds to diagnose the problem. Here is how the conversation went.

How many miles? 17,000
When were the plugs changed? never
It's your plugs DUMMY!!
With modified 997 turbos, the plugs will only last about half it's regular life span due to the higher boost pressures with a modded car. The plugs are misfiring...


So I go and get the plugs replaced and gapped closer based on Turbo Mike's recommendation. I thought about doing some higher performance coil packs with colder plugs, but decided it was not necesary for my car's performance level. I stuck with the Bosch factory plugs gapped closer. You would think that a spark plug change is like a 30 minute job right? NOT. It's more like a 6 hour ordeal.

Anyways, with the new plugs in place, the car runs perfectly and stronger than ever.

I want to thank Turbo Mike (IPD USA) for his expertise.

 

Thanks for the info! Great to know this stuff.

What plugs did you put in?

 

I put in the standard Porsche/Bosch plugs. We just gapped it closer.

 

+1. Glad to hear that it was only the plugs!

 

Im about due, who did the install?

 

Good one. Thank you.

 

I got mine done at Mckenna.

 

Thanx for sharing such great info.

 

I guess I have to change plugs before I reflash. What was the gap on the car?

 

26,000th. I believe.

 

New plugs at 15k? What is the factory reccomended?

 

40K...but read this:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...97-turbos.html

 

So, was it ever decided if modded cars would benefit using a colder plug?

 

I was very happy with colder plugs, specifically Denso's double platinum PK20PR-P8.

 

Just wondering what did the dealer charge you, kinda interested as I did them myself and would love to know how much I saved, lol

edit, thanks for the quick pm reply