Renault Clio Spark Plugs: Intervals, Fitment & Warning Signs
On the Clio, a genuinely overlooked cause worth checking if coils and plugs haven't fixed a misfire: poor earth leads.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: confirm via engine code — aftermarket NGK 91432 / Bosch 0 242 129 510
| Petrol engines in this generation | 0.9 TCe 90 HP (BHNF), 0.9 TCe 76 HP (BHNP), 1.2 16V 73 HP, 1.2 16V 75 HP (BHA1, BHAK, BHMG, BHMK), 1.2 TCe 118 HP (BHAU), 1.2 TCe 120 HP (BHM0), 1.6 RS 200 HP (BHJ4, BHJ6, BHMM), 1.6 RS Trophy 220 HP (BHJ4, BHJ6); LPG 0.9 TCe 90 HP, 1.2 LPG 72 HP (BHMG), 1.2 LPG 16V 73 HP |
|---|---|
| Spark plugs (aftermarket) | NGK 91432 (iridium, 14 mm hex, M12x1.25); NGK 91121 (iridium, 14 mm hex, M12x1.25); NGK 91215 (iridium, 28.5 mm reach); NGK 5942 (nickel, 14 mm hex, M12x1.25); Bosch 0 242 129 510 (0.9 mm gap, 14 mm hex); Bosch 0 242 140 557 (0.6 mm gap); Bosch 0 242 135 517 (0.7 mm gap); Denso IXEH22FTT and IXEH20TT (iridium, platinum earth, M12x1.25) |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | Denso EC22HPR-D7 cross-references 90919-01295; Kamoka 7100015 cross-references 22401-00Q0K; Kamoka 7090530 cross-references 224014378R; Denso XE20HR-U9 cross-references 8200662185 |
| Fitment notes | The turbo 0.9 TCe and 1.2 TCe engines suit iridium plugs at about 0.6 to 0.7 mm gap, while the naturally aspirated 1.2 16V can use nickel or copper plugs at 0.9 mm gap; all are M12x1.25 with a 14 mm hex, but reach varies from 26 to 28.5 mm. No change interval is shown. |
A Genuinely Overlooked Cause Worth Checking: Earth Leads — Renault Clio Spark Plugs
If you've already replaced coils, plugs, and leads without success, this is genuinely worth knowing: an experienced mechanic's account describes having to replace earth leads on numerous Renaults over the years, causing a genuinely wide range of seemingly unrelated symptoms — lights dimming, the engine not starting first time, running badly, or randomly cutting out, in addition to misfiring. A genuinely simple, practical test worth trying: temporarily attaching a jump lead directly from the engine block to the battery's negative terminal can rule earth issues in or out — if this resolves or noticeably improves the symptoms, a poor factory earth connection is genuinely worth investigating rather than continuing to chase ignition components.
It's also worth knowing that oil seeping past the rocker cover onto the spark plug wells or coil connections, then combining with rainwater, is a genuinely common and specific cause of intermittent misfiring that worsens in wet weather — worth checking and cleaning this area thoroughly, and addressing any underlying rocker cover gasket leak, rather than assuming water ingress alone explains a weather-related misfire.
Renault Clio Spark Plugs: A Cheap Part That Causes Expensive-Feeling Problems
The Renault Clio's spark plugs rarely fail dramatically; they just quietly degrade, showing up as a rougher idle or slightly blunted acceleration that gets blamed on other things. The part costs next to nothing, which paradoxically makes it one of the most commonly neglected items under the bonnet.
Renault Clio Spark Plugs: Watch: Replacing It
Clio Mk4 spark plug change
Renault Clio Spark Plugs: What They Do
On the Renault Clio, the compressed fuel-air mixture in each cylinder is ignited by the spark plugs, and their condition feeds directly into combustion efficiency, fuel economy and how smoothly the engine runs. Only petrol engines use them; diesels rely on compression alone.
Renault Clio Spark Plugs: Generations, Engines & Spark Plug Count
| Diesel variants (dCi) | Not applicable — diesel engines use compression ignition and have no spark plugs at all |
|---|---|
| 0.9/1.0 TCe/SCe (standard petrol trims) | Genuinely only 3 spark plugs — this small turbocharged engine (co-developed with Nissan) is shared across Renault, Dacia and even some Smart models, not a four-cylinder |
| 1.3 TCe (higher trims, RS Line and similar) | Genuinely 4 spark plugs — this larger engine (co-developed with Mercedes-Benz) is a completely different unit from the smaller 3-cylinder TCe, despite both sharing the "TCe" badge; confirm your exact engine before ordering |
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Renault Clio Spark Plugs: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Spark Plugs Guide for symptoms of worn plugs, why matching your exact plug specification matters, and trusted brands to buy from.
More Renault Spark Plugs
The same part, covered across other Renault models.