Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Difference between RE8C-L and RE7C-L spark plugs

Thread Tools
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 02:54 PM
  #1  
mrgnex's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
Difference between RE8C-L and RE7C-L spark plugs

I bought some replacement spark plugs to accompany my D585 coil upgrade. Today upon installing I pulled out a spark plug. I checked it against the one I bought and found out they are not the same.
In my car are the RE8C-L plugs but apparently I bought the RE7C-L plugs. I searched around a bit and couldn't find any answer if it would hurt using the other ones.
It seems that the RE7C-L plugs are for the R3. Probably some emission thing. I just want my car to perform the best it can.
Do I need to buy different plugs or can I install the ones I bought?
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 03:52 PM
  #2  
dannobre's Avatar
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,720
Likes: 345
From: Smallville
Originally Posted by mrgnex
I bought some replacement spark plugs to accompany my D585 coil upgrade. Today upon installing I pulled out a spark plug. I checked it against the one I bought and found out they are not the same.
In my car are the RE8C-L plugs but apparently I bought the RE7C-L plugs. I searched around a bit and couldn't find any answer if it would hurt using the other ones.
It seems that the RE7C-L plugs are for the R3. Probably some emission thing. I just want my car to perform the best it can.
Do I need to buy different plugs or can I install the ones I bought?
The 7 series plugs are one heat range hotter. They were the plug they went to in some places in Canada and colder climate areas... they will be fine if you don't track drive your car or drive it really hard for long periods of time. It will be better for daily driving and lower load driving though. It should be an issue at all
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 04:35 PM
  #3  
Loki's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,394
Likes: 1,111
From: Montreal
All RX8s take 2 RE7CL (in the leading position) and 2 RE9BT (trailing position).
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 04:36 PM
  #4  
dannobre's Avatar
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,720
Likes: 345
From: Smallville
Originally Posted by Loki
All RX8s take 2 RE7CL (in the leading position) and 2 RE9BT (trailing position).
LOL.. OK

I guess it was the 6 range they went to here when they had fouling problems 😎
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 04:38 PM
  #5  
Loki's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,394
Likes: 1,111
From: Montreal
Wait were there different spark plug recommendations by region? That seems weird, even Canada gets warm in the summer...
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 04:43 PM
  #6  
dannobre's Avatar
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,720
Likes: 345
From: Smallville
Originally Posted by Loki
Wait were there different spark plug recommendations by region? That seems weird, even Canada gets warm in the summer...

Ya... in 2004 they tried changing the plugs here to help the fouling. Not sure if it did much really. It has been so long since I ran stock plugs I forgot what stock was. For some reason I thought they were 8L and 9T....

I never had an issue with the stock plugs even at the track NA.... they sure burnt everything off...but never had them burn up or anything.

Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 05:06 PM
  #7  
mrgnex's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
I found here that NGK USA recommends RE7C-L and NGK UK recommends RE8C-L. I live in the Netherlands and would like to drive my car without worries. That also means maybe a couple of trackdays. Shoud I swap them for RE8C-L's? Or is it better/fine to run the 7's?
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 05:13 PM
  #8  
dannobre's Avatar
Modulated Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,720
Likes: 345
From: Smallville
I doubt that you would notice the difference.

If you run a track day pull them after to check to see if you get any blistering in the insulator near the tip.

Reply
Old Feb 24, 2019 | 02:10 PM
  #9  
mrgnex's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 3
Thank you very much for your help. I will just install them then
Reply
Old Feb 24, 2019 | 02:11 PM
  #10  
UnknownJinX's Avatar
Smoking turbo yay
 
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 674
From: BC, Canada
In North America, it's always been RE7C-L for the leading. There is also the dealer-only RE6C-L for people who drive it like Grandma's Corolla and people who have problems with hot starts.

Some people here(including me for now) are also using Denso plugs, which is equivalent of NGK 9 heat range for leading and 10 for trailing. If you drive it spiritedly it should be fine. Denso spark plugs also have finer centre electrodes than NGK ones. This reduces the amount of voltage to jump the gap(so less stress on the coils) and also reduces spark quenching(so hotter spark, a little more power, slightly better fuel economy). They are more expensive than NGK ones, though.

You can try RE8C-L on a track. It's better to have fouled plugs than broken seals from detonation.

Last edited by UnknownJinX; Feb 24, 2019 at 02:14 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2020 | 09:55 PM
  #11  
Kamal.Deep@hotmail.com's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Question Qetween RE7C-L and RE8C-L

Originally Posted by dannobre
The 7 series plugs are one heat range hotter. They were the plug they went to in some places in Canada and colder climate areas... they will be fine if you don't track drive your car or drive it really hard for long periods of time. It will be better for daily driving and lower load driving though. It should be an issue at all

Between RE7C-L and RE8C-L, what would be the best spark plug to use in Queensland, Australia? Its tropical and warm country, always warm (Celsius30, Fahrenheit86).
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2020 | 09:11 AM
  #12  
slidey's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: BOLTON UK
Here in the uk my RX8 came with RE8C-L's and 12k oil changes! apparently set up for the fleet market, Mazda Uk then revised to RE7C-L's Like the US market, but still kept the 12k oil changes! and you wonder why so many dies in the UK
Mine did run better with the 7's , the 8's were always dark in colour, with the 7's they went light tan.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2021 | 06:43 PM
  #13  
motodenta's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 310
Likes: 52
From: UK, Essex
Experimentalis RE8C-L Vs. RE7C-L

Back in the summer, I did some experiments with RE8C on the front rotor and RE7C on the back rotor.
Daily drive, motorway, city, few redlines every start but no WOT/ full load for an extended period.
According to the UK mythology, RE8C is OG for Renesis whereas RE7C is for R3.









Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
rarbogast21
RX-8 Discussion
7
Nov 18, 2009 05:57 PM
goofydragon
Series I Tech Garage
10
Jan 18, 2008 08:11 AM
Dookie_Rx-8
Series I Tech Garage
23
Jan 18, 2005 06:08 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:16 AM.