No fear of the piston hitting. I think they are too far into the
combustion chamber which may cause the tip to get too hot. I am at a
loss as to why VW would put them in the '85 owners manual, not before or
after. I have used them without incident but I wonder. FWIW, the 4477
Bosch quad tip is not listed for the Vanagon. But the tip is the same
distance as the "C" plugs. I have used them with great success. They may
be a more universal design.

Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Zoran Mladen [mailto:zmaninco@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:05 PM
To: Dennis Haynes; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Broken Spark Plug Electrode/Tip

Hey Dennis,

I agree that the W7DTC is a bit longer, but I have been running them for
years on my Vanagons as well as any Vanagon I have worked on.  So while
they are longer, I do not think they are too long to the point that the
piston will hit them.

Have you had personal experience where this has happened?

Z

Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:
Broken spark plug tips and loose plugs are both indicative of an engine
pinging itself to death. The W7DTC plugs are too long. They were only
listed as a fit for the '85 model year. I guess a mistake! Check your
ignition timing and make sure the cat is not plugged.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of James V
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 8:12 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Broken Spark Plug Electrode/Tip

After my van suddenly lost power, I found that one of the spark plugs
(right/rear) was loose. Before tightening it, I pulled it: The tip is
gone
and one of the "electrodes" (bosch tri-electrode) is broken off.

Would simply being loose cause the plug to break this way?

I figure it wouldn't be such a good idea to simply replace the plug with
broken bits in there... So, what now?

Thanks,

James V
90 Carat
  _____

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