untightened sparkplugs

[Phil Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

Yesterday I decided to check the sparkplugs in my recently acquired '91
200q. All 5 plugs were the Audi-specified ones and seemed in fine condition
and with the proper gap and a small am't of medium-grey deposit on
electrodes. But most of them had been installed barely beyond
finger-tightness (!!!!), and in two very loose ones there was a thick, oily
deposit around the threads and washer. However the electrodes of these
plugs appeared identical to the others. I cleaned and reinstalled all at
the specified 22 ft-lb torque--anticipating some significant improvement in
engine performance (although I had no real complaint to begin with).

A short, low-speed test drive seems to show no immediate effect of my plug
"maintenance". Might there be a fuel economy improvement, I wonder? I've
gotten 26-29 mpg in highway cruising so no complaint there, but perhaps my
short-run gas mileage will improve, since the around-town mpg has been no
higher than 17.

Is it possible that _un_torqued spark plugs will _not_ degrade engine
performance? I wonder if this will depend greatly on rpm and engine
temperature?

Phil

Phil Rose		Rochester, NY
'89 100
'91 200q		pjrose@servtech.com