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optimistic
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 16:53
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Hey all,
My generator is working a lot. Runs anywhere from 24-48 hours a weekend. I am changing oil and spark plug religiously plus I only use premium gas with seafoam additive. My generator is over 10 years old. I bought it used! The one thing I hate changing is the spark plug. I know now days you don't change plugs on cars since the new metals can last the life of the car. I called up honda about that and they said I need to use their plugs... (which don't last that long). I wonder if anyone knows of a plug that will last a lot longer?
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 19:01
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I just gotta ask.....why is it running so long per weekend? Arent there a lot of hours where all you are running is relatively low draw devices which could be running off a small (say 300w psw) inverter on a battery and save the gen running for select times of running high draw stuff? And whenever the gen is running it can be powering a smart battery charger to be pumping some amps back into the battery.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 20:08
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Get an NGK iridium.
With that being said people love changing spark plugs for some reason. I have never changed one and fixed anything. Also my 2009 accord has 140k and I just changed the iridium plugs last month. They still worked fine.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 20:30
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Second the NGK iridiums. But they will only prevent electrode wear (eliminate it, really), not prevent fouling from oil burning or rich fuel mixture buildup.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:25 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: optimistic which don't last that long). I wonder if anyone knows of a plug that will last a lot longer?
Certainly, look to a platinum tipped plug to last twice as long, or an iridium tipped to last 4 times as long. The stock plug is an NGK BPR5ES
BPR5ES= standard
BPR5EGP= gold power platinum
BPR5EIX= iridium
Any of those numbers, if followed by -11 means gap is set wider, ie 1.1mm or about .042, probably a little wide for your gennie. Set those ar .032. On the platinum or iridium tipped plugs, gap gently, do not scrape the precious metal tips.
Now this is just a plug that will maintain its gap longer, if you are seeing deposits from oil; consumption, these plugs wont help.
Taking the BPR5ES out and just closing the gap after its work is acceptable and I dont find taking the plug out tough at all. I just sold my first Hone EU2000i, bought new in 02, changed the plug maybe twice and not because it was worn, just because I felt guilty for leaving it in for so long.
Platinum last 2X as long but cost 2X as much, iridium 4X as long, cost 4X as much, no savings, just less plug changing, same cost otherwise.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:29 - Edited by: ICC
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I see toyota_mdt_tech made a post as I typed. I do not know the difference between the BPR and the CR plugs, but my Honda engines came with the CR. They may both be fine. Without a search I have no idea of the difference.
Iridium plugs are superb, but the price may come as a surprise if not expecting to pay a premium price for a premium plug. The NGK CR5HIX Iridium IX is the one I use. But you need to buy the screw on terminal end separately.
No need to ever change once you have one. As paul said they still may need cleaning if the mixture is rich or the plug gets oil fouled. They seem to smooth out the idle on the EU2000i.... I would have a surging idle sometimes even with a newish std. plug Not any more 
I keep a spare for every small engine I have just in case. Many of them are not new but are used plugs that have been cleaned, inspected, gapped and tested, then bagged and boxed with a desiccant pack for storage.
Re the use of premium fuel. IMO, that may be a waste UNLESS the premium fuel has NO ethanol. Ethanol in any small engine fuel can be a problem or lead to a problem. Search on www.pure-gas.org to see if they list a source near your location. In Canada I believe Shell has a premium 91 octane with no ethanol everywhere. At least they used to. In the US it can be a crap shoot.
There is no benefit at all to using premium fuel in an engine that does not need it according to the manufacturer. Honda just specs unleaded regular fuel with no more than 10% ethanol. But as stated, the ethanol can be an eventual problem.
As for seafoam or stabil, I believe they are very good for fuel storage. If fuel is used up within a month or two or even three, IMO, that too may be a waste of money.
FYI and FWIW genuine Honda plugs are simply retagged and repackaged NGK plugs sold at a higher price for Honda profits. Even though engine oil was not mentioned, don't bother with genuine Honda motor oil, even though some Honda dealers may push it. Just use an oil that meets or exceeds the API service category SJ or later. That is the whole idea behind standards.
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optimistic
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:40 - Edited by: optimistic
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Excellent info here!
Thank you all!
Any chance for an amazon link to the right plug you guys are talking about? I will get one asap.
next change it will go in and stay in.
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optimistic
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:47
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ICC - I once saw a video of a guy burning sea foam to clean his car. it was wild the smoke that came out of his car and how it ran after. So it supposed to clean the carb a little it...
Also it is hard to keep track of the fuel age. since I have two tanks that I rotate. so better safe than sorry. It isn't that expensive when you buy the gallon. I bought mine last year and ad 1 oz per gallon. I am still like half full from last year.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:51 - Edited by: paulz
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Quoting: ICC I see toyota_mdt_tech made a post as I typed. I do not know the difference between the BPR and the CR plugs, but my Honda engines came with the CR. They may both be fine. Without a search I have no idea of the difference.
B is 14mm thread, C is 12 if memory serves.
P is projected tip, good but may hit piston
R is resistor
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:52
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A Note: when I said I have spares that are used but cleaned plugs I do NOT mean sandblastong or wire bruch cleaning when I have a platinum or iridium plug. I mean soft nylon brush with some solvent if needed. I have a couple of very high hour engines that burn a little oil but do clean up with TLC and a tooth brush after soaking in some solvent. I just use standard plugs in one engine as it uses oil like a 2 stoke does. Time to replace or rebuild that one. OOOOld!
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:56
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Quoting: paulz B is 14mm thread, C is 12 if memory serves.
Probably something like that. IIRC the EU2000i plug looks smaller than 1/2", so maybe a C is a 10mm. ??? It has been a while since I had one of those out, but my OneNote app has a CR5HIX indicated as what I have in the EU2000i. I think the "5" is the heat range.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 21:59
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Quoting: optimistic ICC - I once saw a video of a guy burning sea foam to clean his car. it was wild the smoke that came out of his car and how it ran after. So it supposed to clean the carb a little it...
Maybe, but I can get smoke by dribbling just about any petroleum oil product in a carburetor and that doesn't mean the engine is being cleaned internally.
Hmmm.... I don't have many vehicles with carbs on them anymore.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2021 06:04
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Quoting: ICC Maybe, but I can get smoke by dribbling just about any petroleum oil product in a carburetor and that doesn't mean the engine is being cleaned internally. Hmmm.... I don't have many vehicles with carbs on them anymore.
Water down the intake can also have smoke come out the tail pipe. There was a time Honda vehicles had some carbon in the intake problems and that was how to fix it.
I have yet to have sea foam fix any running issues. I have it in my lawnmower right now. The idle surges.
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optimistic
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2021 08:30
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Is this a correct spark plug for it?
https://www.amazon.com/NGK-BPR5EIX-Iridium-Spark-Plug/dp/B000F0DXRW/
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2021 09:04 - Edited by: ICC
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The BPR plugs are used for some of the larger Honda engines as used in the EU3000 series generators.
Look in your user manual for the recommended plug. Mine shows an NGK CR5HSB is to be used. That is a regular plug.
NGK has an online plug finder tool. It only finds the regular plug but I had heard there was an iridium that would work in the EU2000i.
If you want an iridium plug you look for an NGK plug with all the letters and numbers the same except for the last 2 letters after the H. Replace the SB with IX for the iridium. Hence we would want a CR5HIX.
However, as I stated, my experience has been that the CR5HIX does not have the same slip on terminal end. The CR5HIX I have bought come with the threaded top and I have bought the screw on fitting from my local parts store where I buy the plugs.
NGK identifying charts
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2021 09:32
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Are you changing the spark plug every 200hrs or before? I wouldnt hesitate to let even the normal NGK plug go double that. If you have running issues I would put a spare in or if you do anual maintenance on the machine I would check/clean it then. Spark plugs do last a long time if clean and properly gapped.
Either way I would defenatly have a spare plug on hand just incase. It's not something I would check every oil change even if it's running 48hrs a weekend. Useing a quality oil and changing the oil regularly is way more important than doing anything with the plug.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 7 Aug 2021 10:40
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NGK plug numbering chart
https://www.ngk.com/ngk-spark-plug-numbering-systems
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2021 11:31 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: optimistic Any chance for an amazon link to the right plug you guys are talking about? I will get one asap.
Amazon Iridium
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curious
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2021 18:19
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Um. My Eu2000i uses the CR5HSB plug as standard and I am using the iridium CR5HIEX at present. I think all the EU2000 variants should take the same CR5-series size plugs as I believe they all use the Honda GX100 engines. Not the BPR plugs. Those have a larger diameter thread. Check that out before ordering, though Amazon is easy for returns. Look in your user manual and see if Honda lists a CR or a BPR plug for what you got.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2021 20:11
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Quoting: curious Um. My Eu2000i uses the CR5HSB plug as standard and I am using the iridium CR5HIEX at present. I think all the EU2000 variants should take the same CR5-series size plugs as I believe they all use the Honda GX100 engines.
ICC said the same thing, I have 2 EU2000i's, one is a companion and just sold an EU2000i and they all 3 take the BPR5ES plug, same as my buddies EU3000is and even my Honda walk behind mower also uses that same plug.
But doing a parts search with the OE Honda, I do see the CR plugs, so OP, check your plug to see which one you have or look it up with the serial number.
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2021 20:22
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Well, how about that. Good to know. I guess that is why they ask for the serial number on many parts sites, and at the dealer because they have used two sizes of plugs. I wonder what else might be different. I wish mine used a BPR plug as I have other Honda powered units that use the BPR plugs. It would cut down on the number of spares.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 8 Aug 2021 20:35
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Well, ummm, gee, I guess I'll just throw this out there...
I have a simple MTD lawn 'tractor'/mower that I bought new in '09. I have no idea how many hours are on it but its quite a bunch.
I have the original plug in it. Maybe I pulled it and re-gapped somewhere in there. Maybe.
Pull the gen plug, look it over, if it doesnt look bad check/reset the gap and put it back in.
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optimistic
Member
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# Posted: 9 Aug 2021 18:41
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Thank you Toyota. I ordered one
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