Need advice on distributor cap

[true blue]

Every year I look at the distributor cap and rotor. They usually look somewhat burned after about 100 hrs. use. Is this normal? Can they be cleaned up? I usually replace them. Basically I'm tired of spending $82 for the cap and $23 for the rotor every year. This is a 2006 5.7l Volvo GI-F. Would appreciate some advice.

 

[Yellow Yota]

Re: Need advice on distributor cap

Copper or aluminum conductors?

I'd rather have copper, as it conducts better and lasts longer.

 

[true blue]

Re: Need advice on distributor cap

Looks like aluminum to me, but whatever, its the one made for the engine. Mercury makes a similar one but it costs more and lower quality.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Need advice on distributor cap

Never had any luck cleaning them. Although I have been told a run through the dishwasher works.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Need advice on distributor cap

That's pretty expensive. There's not a lot you can do, you can keep using it but eventually your spark gets weaker as material burns off. There's no "gapping" a cap. Just because it looks burned out, doesn't necessarily mean it is.

This may be heresy, but I might look at cheaper alternatives from your local NAPA store, nothing particularly special about a cap.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Need advice on distributor cap

This may be heresy, but I might look at cheaper alternatives from your local NAPA store, nothing particularly special about a cap.

i dunno. this is a merc cap next to a napa cap.

granted, these are for mercruiser. but there was notable difference in caps imho. note the bosses for each of the six plugs wires. big fat boss on the merc. cap on the left. the aftermarket one had no such beef. there was also a notable difference in weight between the two. in the end, for me, the napa cap was substandard and i chose to use the old cap till i could get a new merc. cap.
no idea if the same holds true for vp. but it might..