spark plugs ??

[bigwaynester]

Gonna do a tune up on this 01 Impala 3.8, was pricing spark plugs, the price range was between 1.43- 10.00 each do they need the more expensive plugs? what are the advantages. This car is used to deliver mail on a 70 mile a day route, so I want good stuff, but 10 bucks a plug? And also if anybody has a recomendation on wires let me know. Thanks

[ogre73]

Oh, yeah I have a recommendation! AC Delco!

First, just so you know, I have no delusions about ACDelco being the best out there; I'm sure they aren't when you come right down to the specs like resistance, interference, etc. What I DO think is that they are the plug and wireset that the car was engineered around. In this day of computers engineering things to such tight tolerances and the computers in the cars looking for certain setups/values, I am from here on out unwilling to take the chance that I took with all of my previous cars and "upgrade" to a "better" (like platinum) set of plugs or wires. I am still convinced that the reason my wireset failed (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=354316) was because of the different properties of the platinum plugs with the delco wireset.

For what it's worth, the NGK website (Oh yeah, the ACDelco plugs ARE NGK, by the way) says about iridium "The result are spark plugs that require less voltage to spark, burns fuel more efficiently, sparks at leaner air/fuel mixtures, and delivers higher horsepower and better gas mileage." http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/product...400&country=US
This site http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/t...park_plugs.htm gives a pretty good reason to stick with the iridium that came with the car and gives some physical properties.
Here, too: http://www.machv.com/denirsparplu.html. It looks like hardness and melting point are pretty key.

By the way, you can buy the plugs with the NGK name if you want, but then they are about 40% more expensive.
Ogre

['97ventureowner]

I agree with the A C Delco recommendation (and you'll see by many of my other posts on this site, a testament to that fact ) I've bought them for over 20+ years and about 18 of the vehicles I've owned and never had a problem.Years ago when I sold auto parts, I sold a lot of A C Delco. I also sold other brands meant to be "just as good" as OEM but I also received a lot of feedback from customers and returns on those other parts. Complaints ranged from driveability issues , poor workmanship of the product,and higher cost in many cases to name a few. I figure if GM is going to spend millions of dollars in research for their products they must be good, especially since they're "tailor made to the engine and/or vehicle. Just remember the old GM advertising slogan, "Keep your GM car all GM!"

[richtazz]

Whatever you decide, DO NOT use Bosch Platinum +2, +4 plugs. They are GARBAGE!!!

[bigwaynester]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Whatever you decide, DO NOT use Bosch Platinum +2, +4 plugs. They are GARBAGE!!!

I went with the 7 bucks a plug delco.

[ogre73]

Good choice! You'll be happy.