hey i just got some plantnium plugs and i was wondering what to set the gap at? my engine is running rich by the way so i herd the gap should be larger? my friends tell me that when i floor my car some black smoke comes out the exhuast. this never happens while driveing normal, just when at WOT so with that said any information would be helpful. the car says 1.1mm but the metal plate i got only goes to .02 till .1 so umm.. the guy at autozone told me .044 but what should i do to make my car perform better?

 

anyone? bigger gap better or worse? bigger burns better?

 

You should be using NGK plugs, which are pregapped.

 

i have the NGK R's but i have herd that a wider gap can help with performance my h23a1 prelude is doing a sorry 19 mpg! 220 miles a tank. i have herd people doing 26-29 mpg so idk i think my engine is running rich so im hoping this fix my econmy and some performance would be nice

 

Use the gap that Honda specifies. The NGK plugs will be at that gap when you buy them.

 

ok what im asking is if i make it wider will it give me more performance fuel ecmony?

 

My assumption is....No.

As for better performance, and better gas millage, if it does, it will most likely be so little of a difference that you won't be able to tell.

 

You are probally going to want to have your fuel injectors checked out, and replace your O2 sensor.

There are only so many variables that can cause low MPG.

Ive got about 18 mpg now, which plain old sucks. But still filled my gas tank up 2 weeks ago now, and still about a 1/3 full.

A tuning system can help with crummy mileagle as well, but you need a tuning system. Get your fuel injectors rebuilt or replaced. They are about 100 bucks brand new, and 50 bucks rebuilt. And thats per injector. Im sure you can take them to a shop for around 50 bucks have them all check to see if they even need to be replaced.

 

my friends tell me that when i floor my car some black smoke comes out the exhuast.

that only happens to me when i hit vtak!
just get NGK's ftw.

 

I think the recommended gap was .44 not sure though

 

its .044 stock. Decreasing the gap will cause less ignition lag. Closing the gap should only be done with increased cylinder pressures.

Personally I wouldnt trust the pregapped plugs I always check them first.
Your gas milage problem is probably more than gaps on your plugs. Gap them at spec and check other things. I dont think changing your gap is going to make a huge difference. It may do something but you have other problems that are more important.

 

 

 

ok so would you get more Hp out of a closer gap or bigger gap.. how would the h23a1 engine perform better, mods are intake headers full exhuast no cat. ngk R sparkplugs 8.5 mm plugs and pulleys

 

Well in auto's we were talking about plugs today and he said the bigger the gap, the more spark since there is more to jump but you would barely tell the difference. Just keep it at .044 and call it a day

 

Honda sys .044 for a reason, that is where you get the best balance of power, economy and efficiency. Opening the gap wider is just a good way to see if you can burn out a coil since the stock coil is designed to provide spark over that stock gap.

If you have shitty gas mileage, FIX THE PROBLEM, dont mod the car. The new plugs is for sure a good first step, I would look into the timing as well as cap and rotor, plug wires, o2 sensor and so on, those will help mileage a lot better than slapping on an intake and hoping it does something.

 

NGK plugs and wires.

As was said though...I always check the gap. In shipping they could move from their pre-gapped specs.

 

i have magstar wires there 8.5 mm my rotor coil and disb are only like a year old. and i have herd that honda coil's are among the best so i dont think making it into a .050 will hurt it much. well could any one tell me if i have a lil bit of oil on the first two spark plugs like only on the small ring on the spark plug what does that mean? its the first two to the left when you pop the hood and its new oil never looks black