Subaru spark plug life

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat May 26, 2007 7:50 pm

The Subaru Accolyte would like to know what our local Subaru Evangelist thinks about some of the claims on short spark plug life on subies? It's making me lose my faith in Subaru conversions.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sat May 26, 2007 9:40 pm

I have two thoughts on this...

First, even if they are going thru spark plugs in a hundred hours, each plug runs $5-10, and it needs six of them.

What are the typical life hours on an aircraft spark plug? 200 hours? 300 hours? (I honestly don't know...). They cost $30 per plug for regulars, and $45 per plug for fine wire plugs (if you need 'em). You'd need eight of those. We spent $240 on spark plugs (SPARK PLUGS!!!) right before we sold the Cherokee!! I about had a heart attack!

Second, there are several plugs to choose from for the Subaru with different heat levels. They'll find the right one's for the power levels being sustained in the 6 cyl.

Charlie Walker has 800 hours on his 4 cyl. Subie with the original plugs in it. Still look and work like new. The 6 is generating more heat, so the proper plugs need to be found for the power and heat.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:08 pm

They say the Finewire ones can go to TBO!

Dunno if I would do it, though.

CJ

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Sat May 26, 2007 10:24 pm

Cool. It sounded like that one guy didn't have too many hours on his before he had to replace his plugs. But you're right. I guess paying for all 6 plugs for about what you would pay for a single aircraft plug isn't all that bad.

Still not 100% there but slowly moving that way.

aerial · Post by **aerial** » Sun May 27, 2007 4:44 pm

I just bought Autolite URHM40E (massive electrode) for the o-320 for $15.95/ea. from SkyGeek. I like their oil filter prices too.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun May 27, 2007 6:39 pm

aerial wrote:I just bought Autolite URHM40E (massive electrode) for the o-320 for $15.95/ea. from SkyGeek. I like their oil filter prices too.

That's STILL $128!!

1:1_Scale · Post by **1:1_Scale** » Sun May 27, 2007 7:53 pm

That's why I want a deisel- I'm too cheap to pay for spark plugs!

aerial · Post by **aerial** » Mon May 28, 2007 12:36 pm

cjensen wrote:That's STILL $128!!:o

Yeah, but that's a lot of fire for $128 dollars.

It's a better deal than gas right now. It seems like it costs me $60 everytime I fire up the plane.

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon May 28, 2007 1:29 pm

I'm still curious what the recommended spark plug life is for aviation plugs. Maybe there isn't one? As long as they are servicable maybe?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:47 pm

Chad, google up "finewire plugs tbo" and you will see what I mean.

captain_john wrote:They say the Finewire ones can go to TBO!

Dunno if I would do it, though.

CJ

I would probably do like 1,000 hours and change them out.

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:58 pm

I did all kinds of Google searches the other day for standard plugs...didn't come up with anything.

Fine wires are too expensive to even think about.