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Copper Spark Plug Install on B6 Audi A4 1.8T

Prior Experience: Zero
Cost: approx. $5.00
Time: aprrox. 20 minutes

Discuss this mod - Here

So after hearing rave reviews about using copper plugs on the 1.8T's I decided to make the switch. By popular demand my choice of copper plug was the NGK BKR6E model number 6962 - V-Power. The word on the street is that the stock plugs are just not right for our car. They are designed for long life, instead of performance. The copper plugs conduct heat better which results in smoother power - and regains some of that HP that is lost with the poorly gapped stock plugs.

If you happen to live in a place with constant warm weather, you may want to run the NGK BKR7E's instead. These plugs are 'colder' and can give you better performance than the 6E's. However, beware that in cold weather you may have a hard time with cold starts. Because I live in NY/PA, I stuck with the 6E's and am quite happy with the result....

WARNING: This whole 'mod' should only be done when the engine is completely cold - first thing in the morning works best! Your coilpacks will thank you!

SUPPLIES - The supplies are basically spark plugs and a gapper. Assuming you have the required tools, this is a 5 dollar job.

    
What $$
4 NGK BKR6E's 1.68 ea
Gapping tool 95 cents
5/8" Spark plug socket freebie
Socket wrench with extension freebie
Torque wrentch freebie
Screwdriver freebie
  B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs
 

The very first thing you want to do is check the gaps on your plugs. From the factory, the NGK's should be gapped to 0.032" - you want to verify this with your gapping tool. Go through all the plugs to be sure. If they are open too far, press down on them and then reopen them to the right distance. Mine were all gapped correctly. Here you see the center of the ground strap is at 0.032.

  B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs
 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs  

The picture to the left is just to show you what the 5/8" spark plug socket looks like. On the inside it has a little rubber ring which holds the top of the plug as you lift it out of or place it into the engine. It is important that you pick one of these up, and don't just try to use any old socket.

 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs  

So to start off, you want to remove the engine cover by unscrewing the 3 plastic clips around the outside - this is self explanatory and I don't even know why I put this in here.

 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs  

After you remove the engine cover, you will see the 4 coilpacks that you will need to remove to get to the spark plugs. Unlike in the B5's, the B6's are not bolted down (which leads to a million other problems that we all know too much about). When changing the plugs, it is a good idea to completely swap out one plug before moving to the next.

First thing to do is to unplug the wire harness from the coilpack

 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs  

Then with a finger on each side of the coilpack, you want to lift it straight out, away from the engine. When its out, place it to the side and be sure not to get the metal parts dirty.

 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs  

When the coilpack is out, you want to get in there with the socket wrench with a long extension and the 5/8 spark plug socket....just unscrew that spark plug and it will lift right out thanks to the special socket.

 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs  

After you take the stock plug out, you just put your new one in. You want to torque the screw down to 22 ft-lbs. You then push the coilpack back into place and re-connect the harness.

Repeat 3 more times and your done

 

Just for the hell of it I decided to measure the gaps of all the stock plugs - not to my surprise, they were all different, and NONE of them were 0.032" - check them out

 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs   B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs
 
B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs   B6 Audi A4 Spark Plugs


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