Spark plugs are a group of small but very important functional elements designed to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the chamber of an internal combustion engine. Their main function is to apply the high voltage generated by the ignition coil to the combustion chamber and then ignite the combustible mixture. The smooth operation of the engine, its normal start-up and traction intensity during movement largely depend on the serviceability of the spark plugs.

Nissan Qashqai cars are factory-equipped with a branded set of candles with the article 22401CK81B from NGK. A direct analogue of products from the same brand is PLZKAR6A-11 or NGK 5118.

Spark plugs for Nissan Qashqai do not have fundamental differences depending on the engine size or generation of the car. For Nissan Qashqai 1.6 and 2.0 cars, these elements of the ignition system have such parameters as:

• thread length and diameter - 26.5 and 12 mm, respectively;
• heat number - 6;
• key size - 14 mm;
• the material of the central electrode and the working surface of the side electrode is platinum.

Practice shows that in recent years, cases of fake spark plugs for Nissan have become more frequent. Original PLZKAR6A-11 products must meet the following characteristics:

• flat electrodes;
• the distance between the central and side electrode is 1.1 mm;
• non-removable sealing ring;
• a small platinum soldering on the side electrode (opposite the central one);
• slightly beige insulator;
• original NGK coating between ceramic and metal.

In addition to products with a platinum electrode, branded iridium candles are produced for Nissan Qashqai. Their article is 22401JD01B, manufacturer Denso. The direct iridium analogue of the product from the same manufacturer is sold under the number FXE20HR11.

The recommended standard for replacing ignition elements on Nissan Qashqai 1.6 cars is 40 thousand kilometers, on Nissan Qashqai 2.0 - from 30 to 35 thousand kilometers. It is noteworthy that these figures apply to spark plugs with platinum electrodes, which have a higher service life. For standard, conventional candles, the recommended standard is 15 thousand kilometers. The same interval is recommended for regular checking of the performance of candles.

In practice, the real resource of iridium and platinum products reaches 90 and even 100 thousand kilometers. But even with this advantage, you should not neglect checking the elements of the ignition system.

Alternatives

If it is not possible to purchase and install original elements of the ignition system, products from other brands can be considered as an alternative. So, spark plugs of the following brands have gained popularity among the owners of Nissan Qashqai:

• Bosch double platinum 0242135524;
• Beru Z325;
• CHAMPION OE207.

Many car enthusiasts successfully use Denso Iridium Tough products with the article VFXEH20 on their cars.

These devices have a very thin center electrode (0.4 mm) with an iridium overlay and a platinum brazed ground electrode. According to the manufacturer, the use of two technologies in these products improves flammability and significantly extends the service life - up to 100 thousand kilometers.

Signs of need for replacement

The following signs indicate that Nissan Qashqai spark plugs will soon need to be replaced:

• problems with starting the engine (the engine stalls or starts reluctantly);
• engine malfunctions;
• dull sounds in the motor;
• "triple" - shaking and twitching of the engine when driving and at idle;
• increase in fuel consumption;
• increase in CO emissions;
• reduction or loss of engine dynamics, reduction of its power.

Ignoring these signs can lead to unpleasant consequences - up to engine failure. One of the disappointing scenarios involves the detonation (self-ignition) of the combustible mixture in the combustion chamber. This process entails an increase in loads on the engine, which undergoes significant thermal and mechanical effects.

Thus, Nissan Qashqai spark plugs must be regularly tested for performance and replaced within the stipulated time. Long-term operation of the car with a rare replacement of these parts is acceptable if high-quality iridium and platinum products are used.

Replacing candles: stages of the procedure

Before proceeding with the replacement of old and faulty elements, you will need to prepare a set of tools. It includes: wrenches for 8 and 10 mm, a special wrench for candles for 14 mm, a flat screwdriver and a torque wrench. The last tool is necessary for the correct distribution of forces when tightening products.

Sequence of actions:

1. dismantle the pipe located between the throttle valve and the filter (to do this, detach the ventilation system hose from the head of the block and loosen 2 clamps);
2. unscrew the bolts holding the manifold (5 in front of the engine, 1 on the left side of the manifold, 1 behind the damper);
3. to unscrew the bolt behind the throttle, it is dismantled (to do this, remove the connector from the absorber purge valve and unscrew the bolts around the perimeter of the damper);
4. having unscrewed all the bolts from the collector, it is raised higher and fixed;
5. remove the oil dipstick to the side;
6. having gained access to the candles, cover the inlets of the block head (a piece of clean, dry cloth will do);
7. remove the connectors from the coils of the candles, making sure that nothing gets into the candle wells;
8. remove the ignition coil and remove the old candle from it with a special key (by 14).

Next, install a new element, twist it by hand, and then tighten it with a torque wrench with a force of no more than 19 Nm. Excessive efforts threaten the formation of cracks on the candle thread. Similarly, install the remaining elements and proceed to assemble the parts in the reverse order.

Useful video

Usually, even for novice drivers, replacing Nissan Qashqai candles does not take more than 1.5-2 hours. In order not to lose sight of a single detail and not get confused during the replacement process, experienced motorists recommend using a camera at every stage. When assembling, the shots taken will tell you the right direction and the correct location of all elements.

The replacement of spark plugs in Qashqai is carried out every 25-30 thousand kilometers. There are candles that go for 40 and even 45 thousand, but the manufacturer recommends not delaying the replacement. On this car, everything is not as simple as we would like, so if you have never done anything like this, then for the first time it makes sense to enlist the help of an experienced person.

You may need an additional tool - a torque wrench, which will help you rationally distribute efforts when twisting candles. You will also need a special candle key.

The procedure for replacing spark plugs on the Qashqai engine is performed “cold” - this is a standard requirement.
If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to document each step of the replacement algorithm, for example, using a phone camera. This way it will be much easier for you to navigate during assembly.

1. Open the hood and see the engine itself. It will be necessary to carry out a few additional steps before getting to the candles themselves. First of all, we disconnect the pipe, which is located between the filter and the throttle valve. To do this, disconnect the ventilation system hose from the block head and loosen a pair of clamps.

2. Carefully disconnect the vacuum hose. It is important to carefully handle the collector, which is made of a fairly fragile material - there is a chance of damaging the plastic, which will entail expensive repairs. Next, we remove the connector from the absorber purge valve and unscrew the fastening of the bracket from the head of the block with a key of 8. We release the hose from the fasteners and remove the bracket, which is under the throttle.

3. Now we have access to the last bolt, which is unscrewed last. We unscrew 5 more bolts and remove the collector. Raise it and the throttle to access the spark plugs directly.

4. Check the reliability of fastening the collector to the body and start working with candles. We remove dirt and dust, make sure that no foreign objects get inside the inlet openings. It is better to immediately close these holes with a cloth and only then begin to remove the spark plug coils.

5. After the coils are removed, we begin to unscrew the candles. Here you just need a torque wrench. Once again, we recall that the candles are unscrewed only from a cold engine.

6. We put new spark plugs evenly, that is, so that the thread goes confidently and easily. Previously, their threaded part can be lubricated with a special sealant. The force on the key is 22-25 Nm. The entire assembly process is carried out in reverse order.

Candles Champion OE207, Denso FXE20HR11 or Bosch 0 242 135 524 are suitable for this car. The general recommendation is not to buy cheap Chinese fakes, which in our country rarely even travel 10,000 kilometers. The originals will serve you longer and will work more confidently, without failures.

Here is a video showing the process of replacing candles:

Any car without exception needs regular maintenance. As a rule, this concept means the replacement of engine oil and filters. However, this is not a complete list of activities that are carried out during TO. A very important operation is the replacement of spark plugs.

Serviceable candles directly affect the stability of the engine, as well as power and fuel consumption. In today's article, we will look at how to replace such elements on the Japanese Nissan Qashqai crossover.

Replacement interval

How often are spark plugs replaced on the Nissan Qashqai? In the countries of Western Europe, the following interval is indicated - 60 thousand kilometers. However, such a period of operation is relevant only in the case of installing platinum candles.

As for Russia, here the interval is somewhat different. This characteristic is due to more severe operating conditions and lower fuel quality. So, according to the service manual, the replacement of spark plugs on the Nissan Qashqai 1.6 and 2.0 should be done every 15 thousand kilometers. But in reality, the resource of candles quite reaches 30-40 thousand kilometers. Therefore, most owners adhere to the following interval. The replacement of candles on the Nissan Qashqai 2.0 and 1.6 is carried out every 30 thousand kilometers.

Also, such an operation must be performed after buying a car in the secondary market, if the former owner cannot provide evidence of how long ago the replacement was made.

signs

It happens that the candle turned out to be of poor quality or defective. In such a situation, its resource will be many times less. How to determine that the candle is faulty? In the event of a malfunction, it will periodically skip a spark. In fact, the driver may notice the following signs:

• Reduced engine power (because one or even several cylinders are not working).
• Increase in fuel consumption. The mixture that has entered the chamber does not burn out due to the lack of a spark, but simply flies out into the pipe.
• Long engine start (both cold and hot).
• Dips with a sharp press on the accelerator pedal.
• Unstable operation of the engine at idle, "triple".

If at least one of these signs is observed, this is already a reason to think about the serviceability of the spark plug. But we also note that similar symptoms may be due to the ignition coil. To make sure that the candle is working, you need to unscrew it, connect the wire and lean it against the metal part of the engine (for example, the valve cover). Next, you should ask the assistant to twist the starter. If there is no spark, this indicates a malfunction of the candle. They need to be replaced as a complete set.

What to choose?

Today on the shelves of automotive stores you can see a variety of spark plugs. The dealer recommends using original products. This is NGK PLZKAR6A-11. It is worth noting that the original model has specific characteristics - a long skirt and a small hexagon size (14 millimeters).

The cost of the original kit is high, so many install analogues. These include platinum candles "Bosch", "Champion", and also "Denso". Is it possible to use iridium candles on the Nissan Qashqai? Experts note that such elements work absolutely adequately on a Japanese engine. Among these, it is worth noting the FXE20HR11 products from Denso.

Can spark plugs without platinum or iridium coating be used? Unfortunately, in the case of the Nissan Qashqai, savings will not work. The fact is that ordinary candles simply will not fit into the engine, as they have a different size.

note

When replacing candles on the Nissan Qashqai 1.6 and 2.0, you must also prepare the intake manifold and throttle gasket. During the replacement, these elements will be dismantled. And it is impossible to install them on an old gasket, since the previous tightness will not be ensured.

Tools

Since such an operation involves the dismantling of the throttle and intake manifold, we need a set of heads for 8-10 with an extension and a ratchet. You will also need a spark plug wrench for 14 (preferably with a magnet) and a torque wrench.

You will also need a minus screwdriver. By the way, you can make a candle key with your own hands. This will require a tubular wrench for 14. A long bolt is welded to its end. And then the key can be rotated with a conventional head with a ratchet wrench.

Getting Started

On a Nissan-Qashqai car, do-it-yourself replacement of candles must be done after the engine has cooled down. So, open the hood and remove the decorative engine cover. It is held on by two bolts that can be found along the edges of the emblem.

Then access to the collector and other elements will open. But you need to start by dismantling the rubber pipe, which is located between the throttle valve and the air filter housing. How is the replacement of candles carried out on the Nissan Qashqai? Then the collector itself is removed. It is held on by several bolts.

The first five attach the manifold at the very bottom to the cylinder head. And the sixth bolt connects the manifold to the valve cover. It can be found near the oil filler neck. The seventh screw is located under the throttle assembly. Previously, such a node is recommended to be removed. How is the throttle fixed? It is mounted on four bolts.

Having unscrewed them, carefully separate the gasket of the throttle assembly. Then you can safely unscrew the last manifold bolt.

When replacing spark plugs on the Nissan Qashqai 2.0 and 1.6, it is recommended to inspect the condition of the throttle. If it is dirty, then it is better to clean it. To do this, you need a carburetor cleaner. Before re-installation, thoroughly clean the remaining deposits and dry the damper.

What then?

So, all the manifold bolts are unscrewed. Now you can get it out by first removing the oil dipstick. Then we will see the ignition coils. From them you need to remove the connectors and unscrew the fixing bolts. It is necessary to dismantle the ignition coils in order.

Then we pick up the candle head at 14. We unscrew the candles themselves. If the key is not magnetic, you can get them with a rubber seal from the ignition coil. New candles are screwed in place of the old ones. Pay attention to tightening torque. You can not turn candles by force. The carving in the head is very delicate. To accurately calculate the moment, it is necessary to tighten with a torque wrench. The force should be about 19-20 Nm. If there is no special key, you need to twist it with one hand. There is no need to use force here.

It also happens that the candle bites at the beginning. In such a situation, it must be unscrewed. Otherwise, you can damage the threads in the cylinder block, and in the worst case, part of the chips will enter the combustion chamber. After installing the candles, the assembly of the nodes is carried out in the reverse order.

Install the manifold only after the gasket surface has been thoroughly cleaned. Tightening must be done from the center to the edges in turn. Also, do not forget to install the gasket on the throttle assembly, connect the coils. On this, the replacement of candles on the Nissan Qashqai has been successfully completed.

After assembly, you need to make a test run. If the car refuses to start, most likely the coils were connected incorrectly. They need to be swapped. With the correct replacement of candles, the Nissan Qashqai should start with a half turn. At idle, work should be stable, under load (on the go) there should be no jerking.

Is there a difference between a 1.6 liter and a 2 liter engine?

Such power units belong to the same series, therefore they have an identical design. Accordingly, there is no difference between the algorithm for replacing candles on a 1.6 and 2.0 engine. The above instructions are suitable for both Nissan Qashqai engines.

Conclusion

So, we examined how the spark plugs are replaced on a Nissan Qashqai car. As you can see, such an operation can be done by hand. However, it is important to carefully tighten the candles, observing all tightening torques. Timely replacement of candles on the Nissan Qashqai is the key to stable engine operation.

Nissan Qashqai, one of the main ones is the replacement of the candles of its power unit. Periodic performance of such a procedure ensures the normal operation of the engine and ignition system. However, for the Qashqai model, changing spark plugs with your own hands is not so easy without some experience. An inexperienced motorist, at a minimum, will need a good instruction for performing such work.

Replacement frequency

The technical documentation for the crossover reports that for 1.6 and 2.0 liter engines, the candles change at the same frequency, which is approximately 30,000 km. It is recommended to perform the same actions every two years, even if the car has not traveled a sufficient distance. Original products are able to serve not 25-30, but 45-60 thousand km, however, in this case, uninterrupted operation of the motor is not guaranteed.

To determine the replacement period, you can focus not only on the timing and mileage, but also on the condition of the car. It is possible to determine that it is time to change the candles by the unstable operation of the power unit, its difficult start-up and the decrease in the dynamic characteristics of the car. It is worth paying attention to fuel consumption - if it is increased, replacement is also necessary.

Choice of spark plugs

To replace the candles, you should choose the appropriate option. The original product NGK PLZKAR6A11 will cost from 550 to 600 rubles. Its analogues can be purchased both more expensive and cheaper. For example, candles BOSCH 242135524 and BERU Z 325 cost about 400 rubles, and Denso FXE20HR11 - from 900 rubles. Champion OE207 can be found in online stores for 390 rubles.

The main recommendation for those who choose a suitable analogue for themselves is not to buy cheap Chinese products. You can save on such a purchase - but it will last no more than 10-15 thousand kilometers. Because of this, the car owner will have to buy candles more often and replace them.

Instructions for replacing spark plugs on Nissan Qashqai

The process of removing old and installing new SZs on the Qashqai model is in many ways similar to the same steps for other Nissan cars - Note and. It looks like a replacement, first of all, by the fact that it is hard to get to the candles. To get the job done, you will need to do the following:

Open the hood, disconnect the pipe located between the throttle valve and the filter.

Disconnect the vacuum hose.

Remove the connector from the absorber purge valve and unscrew the bracket fastening under the throttle.

Release the hose and remove the bracket.

Remove the manifold by unscrewing a few bolts. Raise it together with the throttle to access the NW.

Check the fastening of the collector to the body, remove the coils, unscrew the candles.

Install new products, after lubricating their threads with sealant.

In order to avoid problems during assembly by replacing the spark plugs with the Nissan Qashqai, it is worth fixing your actions. For example, take a photo or shoot a video of the process. This will make it easier and faster to put everything back together.

Today we will change the spark plugs on a Nissan Qashqai with a 2 liter engine.
The 2.0 liter 16-valve Nissan MR20DE engine has been produced since 2005 in Japan, at the company's largest engine plant in Yokohama. In Russia, the unit is known for such popular models as X-Trail and Qashqai (2007-2014)

Note! Replacing candles with a Nissan Qashqai 1.6 or 2.0 liter is carried out in the same way. The procedure requires some experience, since getting to the candle is not so easy.

Many parameters of gasoline engines depend on the correct operation of spark plugs. Serviceability control and their timely replacement is a condition for the correct operation of the vehicle.

Causes of their natural and premature wear

The spark plug works in extremely extreme conditions: high temperature in the working cylinder; aggressive environment in the form of a mixture of fuel, air and oil; high pressure during ignition; high voltage and temperature of electric spark. The simultaneous action of these factors leads to an increase in the processes of their natural wear. This process can be greatly accelerated in the following cases:

• Compression reduction
• Wear of valve stem seals due to oil entering the working volume
• Incorrect installation of the ignition angle, leading to the formation of increased soot;
• Selection of candles that do not correspond to the brand of the engine;
• Misfires in cylinders;
• Incorrect gasoline / air ratio in case of malfunctions of the flow meter, lambda probe, air leakage;
• Incorrect operation of injectors.

Qashqai spark plug replacement schedule:

As prescribed by the maintenance regulations, the replacement of Nissan Qashqai spark plugs should be done after 30,000 km or after 24 months, whichever comes first.
Many consider candles to be consumables and change every MOT.

The main sign of the need to replace candles is misfiring (triple). This is not always due to problems with candles. In order to finally decide on the need for their mandatory replacement, the easiest way is to install a known-good one instead of a problematic candle. It is easiest to determine a possibly faulty spark plug with the engine running. To do this, it is necessary to sequentially disconnect the high-voltage wires (or the connector of an individual ignition coil) from each of them. The non-working cylinder will be the one, when disconnected from which the nature of the engine operation does not change.

• visual malfunction (contamination, soot in the gap area, change in the normally gray color of soot, its moistening, mechanical chips on the insulator);
• unstable engine speed;
• increased opacity of exhaust gases;
• engine detonation;
• message of the control lamp "CHECK ENGINE" or on-board computer.
• increased fuel consumption

You should not rely on memory and try to remember the original front of the work. As a rule, only large nodes are remembered. To protect yourself from unnecessary worries about the correctness of the newly assembled structure, use your phone and take a photo.

1. Open the hood, unscrew the engine cover, which is held on by two 10 head bolts:

2. Now we need to remove the intake manifold, unscrew the 5 bolts of its fastening to the head.

The manifold holds 7 bolts! We unscrew the first 5 in front of the engine.

1 more bolt is at the manifold on the left

3. To get to the 7th bolt, you need to unscrew the throttle! To do this, remove the connector from the absorber purge valve.

4. We take out the probe, loosen the clamps on the duct pipe. We take it off.

5. We take out the connector from the throttle: it is held by 4 bolts around the perimeter of the damper. We have two hoses going to the throttle, Remove the clamps from them and plug them with bolts so that the antifreeze does not run away. Bolts of 10 are ideal for these purposes. After removing the throttle, I recommend cleaning it at the same time, this can be done with a carburetor cleaner. Disconnect all hoses and remove the intake manifold.

Attention: do not allow dust and dirt to enter the inlet windows, it is necessary to remove it and close the windows so that nothing falls into them during work.

6. Remove the ignition coils by simply pressing their latches. We unscrew the mounting bolts, with a head of 10.

7. If possible, blow out the candle wells with compressed air so that when the candles are unscrewed, debris does not get into the engine (you can change one candle at a time so as not to shake debris into the candle wells). Candle wrench for 14 or a similar magnetic head (it is better to use a special candle wrench for Nissan Qashqai). We unscrew the candles.

Denso (left) new, NGK (right) old

Tighten the candles very carefully, otherwise if you overtighten, you can get to replace the internal combustion engine. The design of these heads is such that a coolant jacket passes around all the candle threads ... and thin-walled metal in these places ... It is worth pulling and a crack forms along the candle thread.

Original candles, their article 22401-CK81B according to NGK PLZKAR6A-11.
After installing the candles by hand and making sure that they are level, tighten them with a torque wrench 22-24Nm or 2.3-2.5 kg / m. With gentle movements, lower and tighten first the coils of candles, then the connectors on them