Spark Plug gap (kinda' long)

[Jim Griffin <JGriff@pobox.com>]

Okay, call me paranoid and a bit fanatical, but I need some insight...

I just ordered and installed some new spark plugs for my 100S (F6DTC
triple electrodes), and usually, I just install them straight out of the
box, without messing with adjusting the gap.

This time, I took out the trusty Bentley, looked up the specs, and it
said .039" +/- .004" (or 1.0 mm +/- .1 mm). I figured that I'd try
measuring and adjusting this time.

Keep in mind that the new plugs are factory set (as per the box) as .88
mm (which really is not far off from what the Audi/Bentley specs call
for...).

I decided this time to try to set them as close to the .39 (or 1.0 for
you metric fans) as possible. Well, it's pretty darn tough with these
triple electrode plugs, but I think I did fairly well with it.
Unfortunately, I've now realized that I could not have possibly set all
three electrodes equally... which is a benefit of keeping them set as-is
out of the box.

Well, after installing them, I've noticed that the car is not quite as
"perfect" as it was before. Maybe it's my imagination running wild,
but...

The questions are...

1. Should I have just left well enough alone, and not bothered? (I
pretty much have come to the conclusion "Yes"!!)

2. What impact does a wider gap have on the performance of the vehicle?
Less "performance" and better gas mileage? Does the car (i.e. computer
etc) automatically adjust for this, making this discussion a moot issue?

3. Assuming that I didn't set all three electrodes perfectly, does it
only fire from the one closest, thereby negating the benefit of having
three electrodes?

4. Should I take them out, try regapping them, or just order new ones?

The car doesn't run all that bad... it just seems a bit different. Is my
imagination running wild? Have I lost my mind? :-)

I'm currently unsubbed, so please make sure to respond "direct" or CC:
me if responding to the list.

Thanks.

--
                     Jim Griffin
                 ICQ # 1315286
               JGriff@pobox.com
           http://pobox.com/~jgriff
     http://wwp.mirabilis.com/1315286
'92 Audi 100S - '87 VW Quantum Syncro
 "Perception is often stronger than reality!"
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