I noticed in my Haynes Repair Manual, in the tune-up section it says a spark plug gap between 0.039 to 0.043 inch. So does that mean anywhere between those two gap measurements is fine (Of course I would try to gap them all to the same gap)? Also, it shows in the book that the spark plugs should be torqued to 156 in-lbs. How much is that in foot-pounds?

I just used a free conversion website, and it shows that 156 in-lbs is 13 ft-lbs.

1990 Honda Accord DX, 2.2 L, Manual

 

If you buy the NGK ZFR5F-11 plugs for your car they should be gapped properly out of the box. Most autoparts stores carry these. They are the copper V-power plugs.

 

I don't worry about any of this gap stuff any more. I just ask the auto parts store for plugs to fit my car and
I install them w/o checking further. No problemos with this approach.

I use Iridium plugs since I want longest life/no maintenance, but that's not your question.

 

To answer your question; yes, the gap measurement can be between 0.039 to 0.043 inches. Service manual specifications are 1.1mm (+0, -0.1) or 0.043 inches (+0, -0.004).

Torque would be 13 ft-lbs., the same as what the free conversion website stated. If you did not have a torque wrench, then you can finger tighten the plugs till they seat, then tighten 1/2 turn with a ratchet (see attached instructions from owner's manual excerpt on doing it without a torque wrench).

 

Nice, those are the kind of plugs I bought yesterday. O'Reilly said the gap should be .044 for these plugs.

The man at O'Reilly who was helping me get some of the stuff I needed to do the spark plugs, etc., tried to sell me the round gapping tool. But I read in the Haynes manual to buy a gapping tool/that is the wire type. I regret that now, because the metal part that is used to bend the spark plug electrode to get the correct gap was starting to bend. Next time I will get the round gapping tool because its more durable than that flimsy metal.

 

I bought an inch-pounds torque wrench yesterday so I could torque to 156 in-lbs, but I was wondering how to set it to 156 when It had marks for 120 in-labs and then I think 230 inch pounds. I was also trying to beat the sunset so I ended up using my Harbor Freight torque wrench, set to 13 ft-lbs. Good thing is now I have an inch-pounds torque wrench to add to my slowly growing arsenal of tools.