MBDriver

So I'm going to be changing spark plugs on my 01 E320 this week. I'm unclear about one part of the job as I've seen different info online and on YouTube. What grease should I use on the wire boot and how should i apply it? One video I saw just used "silicone spray" and was sprayed all inside. Another video the guy used electrical grease and used an old spark plug to apply it to the sides. And another website listed dielectric grease. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
MBDriver

01BlackE320

A little dab of dielectric grease wouldn't hurt, otherwise nothing

MBDriver

Thanks for the reply. My question is exactly how to apply it. I've read a couple different ways to do it and I'm not clear which way is correct. Some people just put a bunch on the boot and it would smear the terminal when you go to put the wire back on. Another method says just apply a little around the walls of the boot with a q tip and shouldn't come in contact with the terminal. Would either method be ok?

Also one other question. I bought the Bosch double platinum plugs which have a 1.1 mm gap but the car manual says 1.0 mm. The guy at auto zone said these are already pre gapped for the car. Should I re gap them? Sorry for the basic questions and thanks again for your help.

MBDriver

Plutoe

The idea is to have the two(plug and boot) metal contact surfaces lightly coated, I am sure that with your experiance you can figure out how to meet that challange.

Regap your plugs to MB specs!!

01BlackE320

rHold on. You may not be able to regap those without damaging them. if they have fine point electrode then don't touch. Do you have the Mercedes tool for popping the wires off? It's a huge pain without that

01BlackE320

I confirmed and those plugs are specifically stated "pre gapped - do not gap" Which plug number did you get? I put Bosch dbl plat in at 100k, have 155 now, no problems.

Note that most comments from Plutoe are rediculous and he's been banned from other sites.

MBDriver

I have the Bosch double platinum FR8DPP33X. I had bought the regular platinum ones which were pre-gapped to 1.0mm but swapped em out. These are them right here:

http://www.autozone.com/external-eng...59871_70135_0/

The box says 1.1mm/.044in and says do not gap but my user manual lists 1.0mm/.039in.
If I need to re gap them, what tool should I use (the wire tool style guage?)? I'm not terribly set on re gapping, if it will work fine as is then great. I just want to do it right.

Ive already purchased the tool to remove the wires.

01BlackE320

They are fine out of the box and not designed to be re gaped. In fact You will probably damage them if you try. Those are the right plugs and the one I've used . A dab of dielectric grease on the tip once installed and the wires will click right in.

MBDriver

Thanks for chiming in. You are spot on with not re gapping these. Thanks again!!

01BlackE320

Did you do them yet? Take your time and the job is pretty straight forward. You'll be amazed how helpful that wire remover tool is.

MBDriver

Not yet, the wrench tool was delayed in shipping and I'm waiting on it. I've done other repairs but its the first time changing plugs for me. I popped off the engine cover to take a look and the valve covers have me worried. There's a lot of caked on oil and basically I'm already looking into my second project.

01BlackE320

I've read that valve cover don't often leak on these engines although mine do. I don't really see it and never any oil on the ground but I smell a slight oil burn once warmed up so I thing a few drips leak and find its way to the exhaust manifold. A mechanic showed me a slight leak 50k miles ago. I can live with that

MBDriver

Sorry for the absence but I was on vacation and a few other things came up. Just wanted to say thanks for all the help. I changed out the plugs two weeks ago and all the advice was really helpful. These were WAY overdue for a change.