New Spark Plugs-Are They Worth It?

[mistermoonpie]

Hey guys. Lately I've been reading all the mods that you guys have listed in your posts, and I notice that spark plugs seem to be ALMOST as popular as ebay intakes. I bought my car used about 4 months ago, runs great, and as far as I know has the same spark plugs since whenever they were changed last, if they ever were. I know that the only other owner of this car was like some 65 year old fart who drove like the grandpa he was, so the spark plugs would probably be cheap little things that just made the car go. ANYWAY, my point is, what benefits come with getting new "fancy tipped" spark plugs and measuring the "gap" or whatever to just the right millimeter? Just another noob question from me to you.

[2old]

As my wife puts it: "automotive jewelery".

Really, as long as you are not getting any mis-fires or hesitation on your engine you really don't gain anything by going with a fancy spark plug.

People that race usually go with good ol'fasion copper... The don't last as long but has lower resistance and less to break off.

Platinum and iridium last about the same length of time (60 000 miles). They claim to support a spark better because point concentration of charge. While this is theoretically supported by physics, it really doesn't matter for the gap/voltage we are talking about (if your spark was that marginal to begin with, you really should be fixing coils/wires and not just using a better spark plug).

Between platinum/iridium. Platinum had a higher melting point and harder (smaller plug "tip") then copper and is does not oxidize, Iridium have even a higher melting point and harder then platinum but oxidizes which is why is they have the same lifetime.

[quackmandude]

autolites baby

[Polygon]

Go with NGK or Denso. If you plan on leaving the car alone then put in Irridium plugs. If your going to mod it put in copper. They are cheaper and there is no sense in paying a lot for plugs if you could easily foul them.