spark plug replacement

[Edge180]

I am curious how often folks here replace their spark plugs? I don't have an hour meter on my boat but I've owned it since 2006 and not replaced them. I am guessing we put 20-25 hours a year on it. It's a 2002 Volvo Penta 4.3 GL-A. I bought plugs from my local VP dealer and they are AC Delco. He suggested I pull the existing ones out and if they are brown replace; if they look good and appear to be platinum original Volvo plugs; leave em in. Thoughts?

 

[Bondo]

Re: spark plug replacement

I am curious how often folks here replace their spark plugs? I don't have an hour meter on my boat but I've owned it since 2006 and not replaced them. I am guessing we put 20-25 hours a year on it. It's a 2002 Volvo Penta 4.3 GL-A. I bought plugs from my local VP dealer and they are AC Delco. He suggested I pull the existing ones out and if they are brown replace; if they look good and appear to be platinum original Volvo plugs; leave em in. Thoughts?

Ayuh,.... I run the AC Delco MR43T's in my 4.3LX Merc,...

I try to look at 'em yearly, or so,...
If the electrode still has nice sharp corners, I put 'em back in,...

Btw,... Cream, 'n coffee Brown is what I look for,...
Color tells ya more 'bout how yer inductions system is workin', than the life of the plugs,...

My motors at 'round 1500 hours or so, 'n Maybe it's 3rd set of plugs,... possibly the 2nd set...

The platinum plugs should last darn near a lifetime, with yer boatin' habits,.....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: spark plug replacement

I had my previous boat for 7 years and did not replace the plugs (so about 250 hours). I would get a look at them each year when I did the compression test, etc. So, I think you could run for quite a while on a set of plugs . . .

I just put new plugs in my 'new' boat, as the old ones were getting quite rusty, etc. Probably had been in there for many years.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: spark plug replacement

How often you change plugs depends on two things: 1) Lots of run time, or 2) low run time but the plugs have not been changed since new and the boat is now 3, 4, 5, or more years old. #1 should be self explanatory. #2 is an expensive lesson if ignored. Even though plugs don't wear out on a boat that is used very little, TIME takes a toll in that the plugs can RUST into the head. What happens then is the plug shell will break off leaving the stub in the head. Since plugs are hard enough to get out when they are in one piece, this makes it even more difficult and it also runs the risk of dropping bits of ceramic from the plug into the engine. I've also seen the ceramic portion of the plug blow out of the metal shell because the crimp has been weakened by rust. So if you boat sees very high use, then change annually. If used lightly every two or three years. I would never go more than three years on a set of plugs regardless how much or how little the boat was used.

 

[Edge180]

Re: spark plug replacement

Thanks. I will wheel one out and take a look. I appreciate the advice. All sounds good.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: spark plug replacement

I change them yearly. Mostly because of the fogging oil that I put in the motor.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: spark plug replacement

Even if you don't replace them, its worth removing them occasionally so that they don't get stuck in the block from corrosion.