Spark plugs actually have a temperature range that they are designed to operate in. A colder spark plug doesn’t fire colder, but it does help evacuate heat from the cylinder head faster. Pressures with emissions and finding the right balance between a spark plug that will burn fuel completely even during short trips and one that can handle long hard driving is difficult.
- Helps prevent misfiring when running high-load
- Prevents spark blowout under higher boost & ethanol blends
- Improved operation at high boost levels
- May make cold start in winter with ethanol blends hard
Merecedes over time has revised spark plugs to one step colder on M278 and M157 according to Jason at OE Tuning. Who recommends the current Mercedes spark plugs with oem gapping for the M278 and M157 even when tuned. NGK and Weistec do offer spark plugs which are colder I believe and some tuners may recommend changing the gap on either setup.
When tuners started with these engines they almost all suggested one step colder plugs. Over time revisions occurred, and even official power output numbers revised. This is an important step in your pre-tune checklist.
Changing Mercedes spark plugs are a DIY job but harder than normal. With a DIY scale of 5-6. It takes time, you have to go slowly and may not finish in one go. After changing sparks you’ll notice the ECU recalibrating and after this recalibration you may want to consider flashing to a tune if you have had previous trouble.
How to Change Mercedes Spark Plugs
- Get the instructions from Mercedes Star
- Ask, Search on FB, MBworld as needed
- Note the torque and special tools suggested
- Buy generic versions of the special tools
- Undo electrics with tool
- Unscrew two bolts per coil
- Unclip any electrical from fuel rod
- Unscrew wire harness between cylinder banks
- Remove coil with special tool
- Remove Spark Plug with special tool
- Add antiseize to threads optionally
- Add dielectric boot grease to end of boot and spark plug boot area
- Put spark plug in spark plug socket, tigheten to specifications, in the case of m278 17 pound feet, approximately tight plus a quarter turn.
- Insert boot back on
- Plug in coil
- Repeat
Fuel injectors have also been revised overtime as I understand for the M278 application. Some I believe some upgrade these as well. I’ll do more research on the fuel injectors.
Common questions about one-step-colder plugs
Do colder plugs hurt fuel economy?
No. They dissipate heat faster but don’t change combustion efficiency at normal loads.
Do I need to re-gap them?
Our kits are pre-gapped for tuned setups (typically 0.027″). Always verify gap before install.
Can I run colder plugs on a stock tune?
Yes, although the benefit is often for cars boosted beyond stock levels, stock cars may feel improvement at WOT.
Replacement interval?
For tuned applications, 25k miles is typical; stock vehicles can go 60k miles.
Warranty & drivability?
They are OEM-fit NGK plugs. Drivability remains smooth when properly gapped, torqued.
I have read conflicting reports about putting die-electric grease on the spark plugs which changes the resistance and allows possible over-torquing when installing. A user on MBWorld suggested that the torque spec. by Mercedes is taking into account no grease added. Do you have any further information?