Stock plugs on the 2.0 and probably 3.3 are heat range 8.......that will translate different to other vendors but the HKS are 1 step colder @ heat range 9. The stock plugs will work, to an extent, but will require re-gap at a minimum. Cruising around town won't make much difference but at WOT, the colder plug will do better if you are running higher than stock boost. Mainly, map 2/3(1 is higher boost but in the range of the stock plugs)
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New Install - Having Issues
- Thread starter MikedUp15
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I am in Buffalo, NY. The plug change procedure looks super simple on the 2.0. I’m going to inspect the install of my current Densos. If the gap is off or the torque was wrong. I will re-install and test. Otherwise I’m going to buy another set of the HKS and install properly. Will the HKS run OK even with JB4 disabled (for diagnostic purposes)?
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Yes......but, with the HKS being step colder, you may notice hint of sputter until the engine gets up to temp. That is the nature of the colder plug.
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Deviate
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Yea i wont be up that way till August (Syracuse). Sorry bro figured if you were close maybe i could help. Definitely give a listen to @monusa and his thoughts. (even though he abandoned us....hahaha!) As well as the other jb4 guys, lots of knowledge here. You'll figure it out.
Yes I am confident I’ll nail it down once I take a look at what was done (I have not looked into any of the work that was done since I was under the impression the guy who did the work knew what he was doing). I really appreciate all the help!
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Thanks!!! but hey, I did say "leaving with some regret"......LOL. There are a few guys on here with a LOT more experience.
If it matters, this forum is BY FAR a better experience than the MKV Supra forum. Never experienced so many whiners complaining about a vehicle that they all think is the greatest thing since sliced bread..LOL It is an awesome car but it only slightly won out over a '22 Stinger GT.
Another potential issue with my current Denso plugs...I think they are the equivalent of a 35 heat range HKS, or 7 NGK which would mean this plug is 1 step HOTTER than stock...No wonder I am having issues.....already ordered a new set of HKS M45XL last night which will be going in immediately. 
This guy was just blindly throwing parts at my car and I can almost guarantee they are not properly torqued/gapped correctly.
This guy was just blindly throwing parts at my car and I can almost guarantee they are not properly torqued/gapped correctly.
Deviate
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Yea thats a pretty good guess. Why didn't you just order the plugs at the same time as the jb4? Every write up ive seen says what plug to get. Sounds like its time to DIY all your stuff. Keep us postedAnother potential issue with my current Denso plugs...I think they are the equivalent of a 35 heat range HKS, or 7 NGK which would mean this plug is 1 step HOTTER than stock...No wonder I am having issues.....already ordered a new set of HKS M45XL last night which will be going in immediately.
This guy was just blindly throwing parts at my car and I can almost guarantee they are not properly torqued/gapped correctly.
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I did order the plugs with the JB4, but he said they were junk and the car didn't like them. I don't trust him at all based on our recent conversations. I'm sure he didn't re-gap them or anything hence the reason why I had a blowout on map2 within 100 miles after he installed everything lol
ChaneRZ
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Look for another shop.
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
No $hit!!!!!! What he said.......Hey, I am not a pro but someone once said: "the smartest person is the one who KNOWS what they DON'T know"....... The JB4 information on the BMS website is pretty good but all the experience on this forum, as well as, "N54tech" is priceless. Go through the info and ask questions about the tuning world that you DON'T know. No such thing as a dumb question...failure to ask those usually end up with a bad taste in your mouth.....(what she said...lollllllll)
There are some pros on here and when they have time, will gladly answer your 'queries". This will help get the most out of your vehicle as well as being able to enjoy it safely. Just because this so-called "shop" was familiar, doesn't mean they were in your "best interest"......don't know them so won't make it personal but it sounds like their "best interest" was the color GREEN!!!!!!
I am back!! I wanted to be sure I drove the car for about 600 miles before reporting back since I recall the issues popping up after 100-200 miles. Happy to report that I have the car screaming now. I went over the plug gap and torque of the plugs/coils. Here are my findings/steps I took:
1) After pulling out the coils and removing the plugs he installed, I noticed they were WAY under torqued - almost to the point where I didn't even need a ratchet to pull them out.
2) I inspected the plugs which seemed OK so I moved onto inspecting the gap of the plugs using a feeler gauge. The gap was way off and inconsistent amongst all the plugs. Some were .030", another was .027" and one at .025". I am certain he used a dial style gapper tool and likely damaged the electrode when attempting to gap them. Not to mention he didn't even gap them correctly!! (Not even close). The packaging of the HKS plugs even says they should not be re-gapped due to how small/sensitive the electrodes are. Now I know why this happened and why a billet style tool is a must:
3) I purchased a brand new set of HKS 45XL plugs and carefully gapped them all to .022". I bought a billet style gapper tool and practiced on the old plugs until I was 100% confident I could get the new plugs spot on. I took my time and did this right in the living room. It did not make sense to me that the shop had 2 sets of these $120 plugs "fail".
4) The next day, I installed in the car using a torque wrench for the plugs (~13 ft/lbs) and coils (~8 ft/lbs). Everything went in smoothly. Fired up the car and could not believe how much more responsive it felt. It was a completely different car. I did not want to jump the gun, so I drove it for 200 miles or so on map0 with no issues. Then I moved up to map1 for 200 miles with no issues. I'm now back to map2, have been reviewing logs and am happy to say it's running as designed. I also made the switch to Mobil 93 octane fuel which reduced the timing corrections I was having using Delta Sonic fuel.
Lesson learned - if you want it done right, do it yourself. Thanks everyone for the help!
1) After pulling out the coils and removing the plugs he installed, I noticed they were WAY under torqued - almost to the point where I didn't even need a ratchet to pull them out.
2) I inspected the plugs which seemed OK so I moved onto inspecting the gap of the plugs using a feeler gauge. The gap was way off and inconsistent amongst all the plugs. Some were .030", another was .027" and one at .025". I am certain he used a dial style gapper tool and likely damaged the electrode when attempting to gap them. Not to mention he didn't even gap them correctly!! (Not even close). The packaging of the HKS plugs even says they should not be re-gapped due to how small/sensitive the electrodes are. Now I know why this happened and why a billet style tool is a must:
3) I purchased a brand new set of HKS 45XL plugs and carefully gapped them all to .022". I bought a billet style gapper tool and practiced on the old plugs until I was 100% confident I could get the new plugs spot on. I took my time and did this right in the living room. It did not make sense to me that the shop had 2 sets of these $120 plugs "fail".
4) The next day, I installed in the car using a torque wrench for the plugs (~13 ft/lbs) and coils (~8 ft/lbs). Everything went in smoothly. Fired up the car and could not believe how much more responsive it felt. It was a completely different car. I did not want to jump the gun, so I drove it for 200 miles or so on map0 with no issues. Then I moved up to map1 for 200 miles with no issues. I'm now back to map2, have been reviewing logs and am happy to say it's running as designed. I also made the switch to Mobil 93 octane fuel which reduced the timing corrections I was having using Delta Sonic fuel.
Lesson learned - if you want it done right, do it yourself. Thanks everyone for the help!
ChaneRZ
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Welcome back!
Travis Wills
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I would get a new buddy. Sorry, but it does not sound like he is doing you any real favors.
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Heath68
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Read through this last night as I experienced my first misfire. I noticed it two days ago but yesterday got worse with rough idle.
Fortunately I had a spare set of plugs as someone else recommended on here. Denso IKH24 gapped to .023 I installed them today (little at a time throughout the day while I work from home )
You can see from the picture these were beyond their useful life. I don’t have exact mileage but I installed these 12-15k ago. My advice is to replace about 10k again as previously mentioned in this forum somewhere. Apologies for not quoting the poster.
Fortunately I had a spare set of plugs as someone else recommended on here. Denso IKH24 gapped to .023 I installed them today (little at a time throughout the day while I work from home )
You can see from the picture these were beyond their useful life. I don’t have exact mileage but I installed these 12-15k ago. My advice is to replace about 10k again as previously mentioned in this forum somewhere. Apologies for not quoting the poster.
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Similar lifespan for HKS. Price of admission when tuning....
Yeah, those are smoked. I am about 1,200 miles into my HKS plugs. Hoping I get more than 10k for $120 a set. Assuming your misfire is resolved with the plug change?
Heath68
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Yes, changing the plugs fixed it…phew. I still have the JB4 set to 0 but that was not the issue. Big thanks to everyone here for the advice and the OP for asking these questions.
