I searched this forum but I don't think it's been asked yet.

Can anyone please recommend spark plugs for my car and what is the correct gap for my particular model.

Thank you so much.

 

You should see a sticker on the firewall or cowling or hood stating your models spark plug gap. For most Volvo turbos its .028. As to the plug type, you will get several choices that vary by vendor (Bosch, NGK, OEM Volvo and Champion are most common) and by electrode core. My older turbos seem to run best with copper core plugs (I've used both Bosch and NGK with no visible differences) at about $3 a pop. A step up is to use the platinum plugs (about $5) and the top would be iridium (about $10). Note the more expensive plugs come pre-gapped so as to not damage the electrode by regapping. So you're really looking at a few things here 1) if you drive hard and like going into full turbo boost, you may want to opt for premium plugs 2) will you really see a difference for the extra $25-30 (if you figure that over 50,000 miles - its not a major decision factor) and 3) you want to buy from a store that can give you the exact part number specific to your engine model year. For this I'd recommend buying from a Volvo aware online parts store or a local imports store - not Walmart or a franchise parts store. Take a look at FCPEURO.COM, EUROPARTS.COM and TASCAPARTS.COM to see their recommended choices of plugs. To me, the key is getting the right plug model for your car to match size/temp range etc with the electrode type being secondary.

 

In many cases Volvo plugs have actually been rated best to use. Plugs are about the only thing I use for my 02 s60 that are actually manufactured with the Volvo brand. I am sure Bosch or similar brands probably are marginally different. More than anything its just important to do regular maintenance. As mentioned FCPeuro is a great place to buy parts. Personally I buy mostly from IPDUSA out of habit.