Spark Plug GAP

Have you been able to check for a label under the hood? Government regulations did require one.

AutoZone is open until 7PM...

Hello arne,

I could not find a Lancer with exactly your Engine spec. But, it seems that any 1600cc Lancer, in any year has a K16PRU11 Spark plug, with 1.1mm gap.

Take a screwdriver with a 1/4" wide blade. Use the tip of the blade. It will work, and you will never know the difference, nor will your car.

Hello bob c:

Good advice if you know and have tried it before.

However, it could be misunderstood that 1/4" equals 1.1 mm. (If a person is not familiar with Metric measures, and especially with tiny metric sizes) It doesn't folks! It is approximately 5.5 times less than 1/4".

I know you mean use it as a thickness gauge along the 'flat' edge?

On a 'thousandth' feeler gauge it is: 44.

1.1 mm equals~44/0000" . Or (44 thou').

My problem is that I don't have any metric screwdrivers.

You are right of coarse, I did not mention which part of the screwdriver to use. Today's electronic ignitions are so powerful that there were some factory plug gaps of .080 on the 1975 Oldsmobile V8s. The difference in engine performance with those wide gaps was a smother idle, with a shortened rotor life in the distributors.

But all of this means little I fear. Our OP has made no further comments, and has probably abandoned us.

Hello bob c:

I did not expect a reply, but it is nice to see I am the only fool to still be peeping into the site at 06:30 GMT!

I recall when I first was messing around stripping engines down, (dads Transit) in about 1965, all the GAPS were around 20/26 thou'. 80 thou' is practically 1.8". It would hardly matter if you used your screw-driver edge-on, instead of flat in that case!. I often wondered what difference the GAP would make to an engine, now I know, thanks my friend. It is a while since I went near an engine, as I cannot drive now. Do they still need 'rotors' with Electronic Ignition? Though I do follow and understand your point on the shorter life thing. It is almost like trying to control an 'Arc-Welder', well, at the 80 thou' I mean?

Funny you should mention the original poster. Maybe I am kind of 'old-fashioned' but, if I asked a question I would have been back on checking things out for replies which might help, you know? But as you say, seems we are the only ones on tonight, well, on this post at least?

I have just fallen asleep and woke and almost went to sleep again, so I am going to bed now. I often go to bed when I should be getting up! No wonder I get confused when 'what day' is mentioned.

Bye for now my friend, and I am pleased you did not take offence at my critique.