Click Banner for Details on this Saabnet.com Classified
The banner above is an advertisment - if it asks you to download software, please ignore.
Site News - 7/1: Members: Log In to See Fewer Ads! | 5/28: SAAB Evolutions/TSN T-Shirts $14

[General | Members | C900 | 9000 | NG900 & OG93 | 93 | 95 | NG95 | 99 | Sonett | Vintage Models | Clubs | Other Cars | FAQs | Gifts | Member Photo Galleries | Member Directory | Classifieds | Manuals | *Buddy Registry | *Mileage Registry | Polls | What's New | Raffle | Photo of the Month | Sponsors]

NG900 & OG93 Bulletin Board
1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest]
(Search Author's Posts: e.g. Keyword:username)*Members Only


[Main NG900 & OG93 Bulletin Board | BBFAQ | Prev by Date | Next by Date | Post Followup ] Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
Recommended Spark Plugs for NG900 and 9-3
Like This Post: - Subscribe to Daily Digest for this Bulletin Board
Posted by REM in Seattle (more from REM in Seattle) on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:29:31 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Spark plug question, John, Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:27:07
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup

NGK Spark Plugs for NG900 and 9-3
By Rob Mustard (aka REM in Seattle)
Search word: rem_mod
Last updated – August 24, 2009


The Saab NG900 and 9-3 turbo engines (among others) use a very sophisticated DI (direct Ignition) cassette as part of the “Trionic” engine management system. Besides providing spark control for each cylinder, the DI cassette and ECU (Engine Control Unit) computer also use the spark plugs to sense knock via the ionization level in each cylinder. Therefore, the exact properties of the NGK spark plugs are important to keep the "Trionic" system operating correctly. The NGK cooper core and platinum spark plugs are the original brand and type used by SAAB from the factory.

So the answer on spark plugs is while you are able to switch between the NGK platinum and regular ‘copper core’ plugs in the “Trionic” system, using other brands of spark plugs is just asking for check engine lights, misfires, hard starting, and possible DI cassette damage.

For the record I decided to list the current spark plugs recommended by NGK for the NG900 and 9-3 2.0L and 2.3L turbocharged engines (not the 9-3SS). As you can see both heat ranges 6 and 7 are called out. For NGK spark plugs, the lower the number the hotter the spark plug. So a heat range 6 spark plug runs hotter (at a higher spark plug tip temperature) than a heat range 7 spark plug. Also note that regular copper core plugs, and platinum plugs are both specified depending on the model year.

I believe the conventional wisdom of the Saabnet (based on a lot of owner input and feedback) still stands.

- Use the inexpensive regular copper BCPR6ES-11 (or BCPR6ES) for primarily city driving where the BCPR7ES-11 (or BCPR7ES) shows a lot of black carbon deposits on the plug tip. The use of the ‘hotter’ heat range 6 spark plug will help reduce the black carbon deposits on the spark plug tip.

- Use the inexpensive regular copper BCPR7ES-11 (or BCPR7ES) for primarily freeway, sustained high speed, spirited driving, towing, or when using an upgraded ECU like Speedparts, BSR, etc.

- Replace the spark plugs every 10,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on your driving style. The BCPR6ES-11 and BCPR7ES-11 are factory gapped by NGK to 0.044". The BCPR6ES and BCPR7ES are factory gapped by NGK to 0.035". The Saab specification has changed over the model years but is generally 1.0mm +/- .1mm (0.040” +/- 0.004”). It is best to gap new spark plugs to the lower end of the tolerance, as the spark gap will wear and increase over the life of the spark plug. Therefore, all the NGK plugs need to be re-gapped to 0.036" before use in the Saab 2.0L and 2.3L turbo engine.

The NGK BCPR6ES-11 and BCPR7ES-11 copper core plugs were Saab original equipment from 1994 thru 1999. From 2000 thru 2002, the NGK PFR6H-10 platinum spark plugs were Saab original equipment, and the NGK PFR7H-10 was offered as an option from the Saab part department for “hard driving”. The additional cost of the platinum spark plugs may be justified if you are paying someone else to do the installation and want to run 30,000-miles between spark plug changes. Otherwise, the regular copper plugs perform just as well for less money but need to be replaced more often.

Here are the NGK recommended spark plugs and spark plug gaps for the NG900 and 9-3 2.0L turbo (S and SE models) and 2.3L turbo engine (Viggen) by model year (MY) per the NGK Spark Plugs USA (http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/) application charts as of July 19, 2009.

Prices for NGK spark plugs are from Sparkplugs.com (http://www.sparkplugs.com/) as of July 19, 2009.

MY1994; all turbo models
BCPR7ES-11 STK# 1095 Gap .040” standard copper plug price $2.89 ea.
BCPR7EIX-11 STK# 5691 Gap .040” Iridium IX plug price $7.83 ea. (See note below)

MY1995-1996; all turbo models
BCPR6ES-11 STK# 6779 Gap .040” standard copper plug price $2.89 ea.
BCPR6E-11 STK# 5632 Gap .040” V-Power copper plug price $2.89 ea.
BCPR6EGP STK# 7088 Gap .040” G-Power platinum plug price $3.15 ea.
BCPR6EIX-11 STK# 4919 Gap .040” Iridium IX plug price $7.83 ea. (See note below)

MY1997-1999; all turbo models
BCPR7ES-11 STK# 1095 Gap .040” standard copper plug price $2.89 ea.
BCPR7EIX-11 STK# 5691 Gap .040” Iridium IX plug price $7.83 ea. (See note below)

MY2000-2002; all turbo models
PFR6H-10 STK# 6290 Gap .039” Laser platinum plug price $12.06 ea.

Note: Saab has never offered NGK Iridium spark plugs as orginal or replacement parts. Some Saabnet members report unsatisfactory results when using NGK Iridium spark plugs.

Rob Mustard (aka REM in Seattle)
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible; Steel Gray metallic; 5-speed; 25,000 miles
1998 Saab 900SET; Silver metallic; 5-door; Automatic; 110,000 miles
1984 Saab 900T; Cherry Red; 3-door; 5-speed; 242,000 miles (RIP)

Posts in this Thread:
Alert me when someone posts in this thread:
Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup
Post a Followup

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

Name: Member Login / Signup - Members see fewer ads. - Latest Member Gallery Photos
E-Mail: (Optional)
Re-Enter E-Mail: (Confidential & Secure - Not revealed to other users!)
Note: Please check your spam folder for BB responses.

Subject:

Posting rules are simple - No for sale/wanted ads may be posted here - use the site classifieds.
You may not cross-post your message to multiple BBs.
Not permitted: political/religious topics and being disrespectful (personal attacks, insults, etc...).
Site Members do not see any red text, inline ad links, bottom of page anchor ads, box ads, or anti-spam check.

Message: (please no for sale/wanted classifieds - post those in the Saabnet.com Classifieds)
Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).


Links are now automatically made active, no need for any special code (or use the Option Link field below) - don't put links in () or end with a '.'
To add inline images to your post above, use [img]http://www.domain.com/img.jpg[endimg] (or use the Optional Image Link field below).

Optional Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/)
Link Title: (Optional)
Optional Photo/Image Link: (e.g. http://www.saabnet.com/img.jpg)
Photo/Image to Upload: (Please be patient while file uploads)





StateOfNine.com
SaabClub.com
Jak Stoll Performance
M Car Covers
Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)

This is a moderated bulletin board - Posting is a privilege, not a right. Unsolicited commercial postings are not allowed (no spam). Please, no For Sale or Wanted postings, SERIOUSLY. Classifieds are to be listed in The Saab Network Classifieds pages. This is a problem solving forum for over 250,000 Saab owners, so expect to see problems discussed here even though our cars are generally very reliable. This is not an anything goes type of forum. Saabnet.com has been a moderated forum since 1988. For usage guidelines, see the Saabnet.com Mission and Purpose Page. Please remember that you are not anonymous. Site Contact | Site Donations | Other Sites by SP - Poverty2Prosperity.org | Run Club Menlo Park | ScreenBot



Site Members do not see red text instructions, bottom of the page anchor ads, or box ads.
Click here to see all the Site Membership Benefits!