Spark plugs

[Pete_RS2]

I've fitted the correct Bosch spark plugs today. It had some NGK PFR7B things in there. Anybody know if you can get the rubber boots which fit over the plugs separately ? The ends on a couple of mine have split or broken off resulting in a bit of oil around one of the plugs.

I also stripped down the brakes today as the n/s/r pads were binding. Just like the fronts were a couple of weeks ago. New damping plates and a thorough clean and they're now working perfectly & blissfully silent .

I'm gradually getting everything fixed. Leaking clutch slave cylinder is next and an oil & filter change as somebody had fitted a Motaquip filter

[porkkis]

Yes you can buy the "HT leads" separately. They cost a lot as you can imagine. Actually a bit more than a lot.

Oil in the plug area means your cam cover seal is leaking. Better to fix that before it causes ignition problems.

[Pete_RS2]

Thanks porkkis. I guess this is the gasket which will be leaking ?

[audiman]

Yep but it comes as a set with the other outer gasket and the two half moon pieces thatsit in the head. GSF do the kit in Victor Reinz which is OE maker anyway, £24 quid from audi IIRC.

[Lee]

Pete, the oil isn't caused by the ends breaking off those boots. The leaking oil is what is causing them to perish. Eventually the whole rubber goes brittle and they snap in two causing big misfires.

Dealer Price in the UK for those rubber boots is around £30 each. So doing all 5 cost me over £150 some time ago. Expensive but not that bad if it's once every 8 to 10 years! Plus, I now know what to look for now so slowing their demise is easy if the rubber gaskets you picture are replaced when the tell tale signs are evident.

[Graham]

The Rubber boots on my ABY are BMW, they have the badge on the side, and am i right in saying your talking about the boots which go from the coils to the plugs?

[Pete_RS2]

Yep they look like the end of a normal HT lead.

[Lee]

034 905 447 from Audi. Branded Beru with Audi rings if I remember correctly.
BMW part number would be interesting to see if they are cheaper. GSF didn't do them.

[porkkis]

Graham any possibility for you to check the BMW numbers and post them here?

I've heard that Audi ones are 5kohm and BMW 2kohm but if they work fine it doesn't matter then.

[Lee]

Here is a pic of the Audi one. Is this what what you need?

[Pete_RS2]

They're what have perished on a mine. Do they just push on the coil pack ? One or two of the plugs were fairly loose. I guess this could also contribute to the oil leakage ?

[Lee]

Oil leakage is why the plugs were loose not vice versa. They were not seating properly when installed. You won't get oil leaking into this area if the plugs unwind unless you have very serious mechanical issues. The boots just push on to the coilpacks. If you have crap in the plug recesses clean them thoroughly to ensure the replaced plugs seat properly. I also use 25Nm as with anything less I had the plugs unwinding even with everything really clean. Oil leakage is from the gasket pictured in one of the previous posts. Get the full gasket set including the 'half moons'.

[Pete_RS2]

Yes I torqued the Bosch plugs upto 30Nm. I ordered a gasket set today so I'll probably fit it at the w/e. Where do those half moons go exactly ? Is it advisable to take the plugs out to check for oil in a couple of weeks and re-use them ? I don't really want to fork out for another set after just putting these ones in there.

[audiman]

they sit in the back of the head Pete, you will see them, they are blue! Might be worth just whiping the plugs out and cleaning the holes, plugs can be reused.

[Pete_RS2]

I checked my spark plugs today & all of them had some oil on them. This is after changing the cam cover gasket a few weeks ago. Is there likely to still be some residue from before it was changed or could the new gasket be leaking ? I torqued all the cam cover bolts up correctly to 10Nm....