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What Was Your Spark Plug Gap?

136688 Views 474 Replies 193 Participants Last post by  snowwy66
If you changed your spark plug gap per this thread or this thread, please report what the original values were here. If you have yet to change them, please remember to report the original values.

My case with GM has been escalated to a district case manager at GM to hopefully get some exposure on this issue. My primary goal is to allow people to go to their dealerships and have their spark plug gaps checked and corrected (as there has been a 100% error rate so far), and the more people and numbers I can present them with, the better.

If your username is on the below list, I already have your numbers down. If not, please post them. I need specific values, such as ".022, .023, .025, .025." I will also need the model year of your Cruze.

We have 37 cars recorded so far. I'd like to get at least 50. My current spreadsheet is also attached.

InsaneSpeed Steve
sciphi
garrettb1
Rosstude
wilde74k
rlw1224
crazylegs
ozman2005
audiobahnman
calintz
charlie_t
cecaa850
Chevyderek72
Ian_12
whatsstuckk5
XtremeRevolution
coinneach
tecollins1
Beachernaut
Red Dragon
twin1987
churdler
Vetterin
UR2N0Z
Higgs Boson
silverram323
OnlyTaurus
jblackburn
H3LLON3ARTH
SlvrECObullet
Campuscop2003
haoleboy
weimerrj
UpstateNYBill
EcoCruzer
danimal

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looking at your spreadsheet, seems we should also be recording model years also. My 2012 was .019,.024,.025,.024
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looking at your spreadsheet, seems we should also be recording model years also. My 2012 was .019,.024,.025,.024
Good suggestion.

If those who have already reported their numbers would provide the year of their vehicle, I can certainly have that added to the spreadsheet. I will add those values for all newly reported gaps.
Good suggestion.

If those who have already reported their numbers would provide the year of their vehicle, I can certainly have that added to the spreadsheet. I will add those values for all newly reported gaps.
It would be nice to know if the engines are 1.8 or 1.4T as well. This may give us an idea about the severity of the problem for each engine.
It would be nice to know if the engines are 1.8 or 1.4T as well. This may give us an idea about the severity of the problem for each engine.
I have been making a mental note of this and have not yet noticed any trends.

Sent from my Bulletproof_Doubleshot using AutoGuide.Com Free App
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I PM'd my info - I was surprised that my plugs were either .025 or .026 still under spec but pretty consistent. This is a May 2011 built ECO - Austrian built engine and transmission per the window sticker. By the way the total cost to check and regap plugs was $16 in tools and supplies. Gapping tool was $2, mini feeler guage $3, magnetic 5/8 plug socket $6 and anti sieze $5 from auto zone.
2012 ECO A/T Mfg. 11/11

I don't know the plug order, but left to right... 0.020, 0.025, 0.025, 0.020 are all now gapped to 0.035.
2012 ECO MT, final assembly Oct 2011

0.023, 0.025, 0.025, 0.023

All now at 0.035 - 0.036
AS you know from the other thread; 3 out of four at .025 and one at .020
Spreadsheet updated.

I've decided I'm going to go through it later and get the years. Easier than having every person post in this thread.

41 cars have currently been reported in this spreadsheet.

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Mine were .024 .024 .025 .025

2012 ECO 6m made in Aug 2011 -- if it helps the color is white!!!!
For those of you who work better visually, I graphed Xtreme's sheet after adding albow77. There is a very definite peak at 0.025 with the plug gap margin of error being -0.002 +0.001.

Line Text Plot Diagram Slope
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Well you've convinced me to open her up and check.

Question: Where do you buy these spark plugs from? No online store carries them. Even the NGK website does not list 2011 Chevy Cruze as one of it's options.

I only ask in case I break the tip or something.
Well you've convinced me to open her up and check.

Question: Where do you buy these spark plugs from? No online store carries them. Even the NGK website does not list 2011 Chevy Cruze as one of it's options.

I only ask in case I break the tip or something.
Any auto store should have them. I can't imagine why they wouldn't. Absolute worst case, a dealer will have it. You can also use a different brand Iridium plug.
For those of you who work better visually, I graphed Xtreme's sheet after adding albow77. There is a very definite peak at 0.025 with the plug gap margin of error being -0.002 +0.001.

View attachment 5841
That visual graph sure makes it look like NGK thought they were supposed to be .025, and there were serious quality control problems on top of that.
That visual graph sure makes it look like NGK thought they were supposed to be .025, and there were serious quality control problems on top of that.
Agreed. There are now enough plugs (> 100) in the chart to start doing statistical analysis, but I think just seeing it graphically is sufficient. It also appears NGK was given the same spec for both the 1.4T and 1.8 engines, which makes me wonder if they shouldn't both be 0.035 +- 0.002, despite what both the owners manual and the GM service manuals say.
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