Spark plugs- Is there REALLY a difference??

[e-tek]

In another thread, NissaNCrawler - who I have learned to trust as a mechanic - says plugs act differently in different engines....how many of you EXPEREINCED mechanics feel the same - or not...

I can't count how many times I've replaced brand new autolites in vehicles (proper range and gap), and instantly had them run 10x better. That ranges from a '67 ford grain truck, '68 396, to a '89 nissan, and '94 mitsubishi. I put plain jane ngk's in all of them, instant smooth idle and no misses. The '67 ford had FOUR sets of autolites in it, and cut out horribly running down the road. I told dad to get ngk's, and it ran fine ever since.

Put champion plugs in our sleds, and when the engines got warm, they would foul out in less than a day. Put NGK's in, and they would go for a month.

One ancient briggs engine I had liked champions, and would miss on ngk's

 

[Dewaynep]

Yep, I've noticed that on the Chevy 4.3 and 5.7 V6 and V8s (same for the 3.1l and 3.4l transverse engines). You have to run the OEM AC/Delco plugs or they won't run for nothin'. Same with the cap and rotor on those engines, must be AC/Delco or Delphi OEM or they miss. Basically, I put in them what they came from the factory with. No problems when I've done that.

 

[Stick]

In another thread, NissaNCrawler - who I have learned to trust as a mechanic - says plugs act differently in different engines....how many of you EXPEREINCED mechanics feel the same - or not...

I've seen the same thing. Put a set of champion or autolite plugs in a chevy and it runs poorly. Yeah it runs, but. Not as well as with a set of delco plugs in it. Even if the book says that it's a direct cross, there is some subtle difference that makes it run differently.

I've also learned not to try to gap platnium or iridium plugs, if the gap is off from the factory, don't mess with trying to re-gap them just send them back. Usually if you try to re-gap them, you scratch or nick the coating and you end up with problems down the line.

 

[Ford12508]

Many people who have the 5.4L engine swear by OEM motorcraft, stating that all other plugs have problems down the line even if they run fine in the beginning. I don't know the truth to that, buy I have talked to a few people who have had trouble when they changed over to E3 or champions(I think those were the 2 anyway)

 

[PaulR]

I have an 05 F150. Enough said.


I could go on (not a mechanic).
Through 6 or 7 cars/trucks, and lots of small equipment, changing all the plugs at least once in all of them. The only problems I've ever had with bad plugs/misfires are the Champion Truck plugs and the E3's. I changed three Stihl 2 stroke motors to E3's after watching some Horspower TV or some garbage prove they provided more horsepower, all the motors ran like **** right after I put the E3's in. 02 Paul

Bosch, Autolite, NGK, etc....never a problem.

 

[caper150]

Owning an older VW Cabrio I know that if you don't put in Bosch your not going to be happy.

 

[RRmech]

My old Honda did NOT run that well, when I replaced my old NGK plugs with new Champion plugs.
When I replaced the new Champion plugs with new NGK plugs, it was a happy camper again!

Steve

 

[dlc]

I run nothing but NGK spark plugs in my Honda's and Toyota's. I've tried others but keep going back to NGK. Same thing goes for VW's and Bosch and Fords and Autolite's.

 

[tatra]

had good luck using ngk and no probs that i noticed..............couldn't pay me to run champion.........also like autolite..........

 

[NJHandyGuy]

oh yeah

i changed the plugs in my ranger with from the iridium to platinum tipped and it developped a miss i swithed to the iridium and it went away.

nissan /infinitis with e3= run like **** and engine codes

 

[Theloniousmonk]

yea... there is a difference, especially when you consider heat ranges, gaping, engine compression, electrode size, and material.

I will never, ever, put platinums or any other b/s (unless factory designated) in any car I own or service - straight copper tops, usually oem designated or actual factory plugs with the factory engineered prong design. It is a fine art to play with gaping and temp. ranges on tuned engines. I hate "cheap" plugs, unless they are bosch or beru coppers or base ngk's, but those are oem designated on alot of older cars.

I'd need 100 hands to count how many times cars come in w/ rough running conditions, after people do their own tuneups, putting in platinums or whatever the new gimick flavor is, resistor plugs when one was not originally installed at the factory, etc... throw in the actual oem/factory and the engine sings. I don't know about american manufacturers, but the euro co's didn't just arbitrarily drop some plug in an engine and say "ze guud!"... they thought about it and tested it, thus I follow the factory guidelines.

 

[cashishift]

NGK for everything for me.

 

[dankicksass]

I use ACDelco or NGK iridium plugs in everything. F platinum, F split tips, F all the gimmicks.

 

[Drdaves49]

For the 4.2 Jaguar only Champion..and I believe for the 12 cyl. too.

 

[tonydanzah]

i use ngk copper tips in everything they make a plug for, just pick the correct heat range

 

[jam0o0]

my '95 bronco likes autolight coppers. it does not like platinums.

just looking at an E3 plug makes my head hurt.

our four wheelers hate champion plugs.

 

[santagary]

I use platinum in my 2002 Lincoln town car with 110k miles and got 26.4 on a two hundred mile trip last week and I don't drive slowly either you can be sure of that.

 

[crewchief888]

i played the "this plug is better than that plug" a long time ago.

i run OEM plugs in everything. even my harley.

 

[prowler777]

My old Honda did NOT run that well, when I replaced my old NGK plugs with new Champion plugs.
When I replaced the new Champion plugs with new NGK plugs, it was a happy camper again!

Steve

I had a toyota like this.replaced the NGKs' with champion and didn't make it to the end of the driveway.pushed the car back into the garage put the old plugs back in it and ran fine.so i drove it like that until i sold it years later.

 

[dansmurf]

I worked at a Ford dealership for 8 years and agree to put Motorcraft in a ford. I have seen other plugs cause issues too many times.

 

[jay50]

I really want to encourage everyone and their friends to use the E3 and splitfire plugs and cheap Bosch ****.

I make some good, easy $s when those heaps roll into my bay and all I have to do is install the OEM specified plugs....and my bill will include diagnostics, labor, shop supplies, etc..$$$$$$$$$

 

[brassspike]

NGK'S Have done well for me also. The only brand I can't get to run in anything is a Champion. I can't figure it out, lawnmowers on up...replace the new champion with anything and they all run MUCH better???

 

[jay50]

NGK'S Have done well for me also. The only brand I can't get to run in anything is a Champion. I can't figure it out, lawnmowers on up...replace the new champion with anything and they all run MUCH better???

Champion is OEM plug for Chryslers, they run great...

 

[brassspike]

Champion is OEM plug for Chryslers, they run great...

I know that I'm going to catch heat on this one.....Never owned a big C and don't think I ever will.......I guess its the champions!

 

[spongerich]

I'll be the voice of dissent here... I put Champions in my VW VR6 and they seem to be just fine. I didn't notice any difference at all other than maybe a 1 mpg improvement which is almost definitely due to the old plugs having 35K miles on them. When I pulled the old Bosch plugs out, they looked pretty good... probably could have kept them another 10K without any problems.

 

[tatra]

i always hear to run champs in mopars but years ago when doing propane conversions on old slant sixes and 318s, we had nothing but probs..........put in autoliites and ran great............anyone with newer chryslers [ domestic, not mitsu rebadges] run other than champs have feedback, good or bad?
............

 

[Kev442]

i always hear to run champs in mopars but years ago when doing propane conversions on old slant sixes and 318s, we had nothing but probs..........put in autoliites and ran great............anyone with newer chryslers [ domestic, not mitsu rebadges] run other than champs have feedback, good or bad?
............

I can only state the other way. Took my '96 with the 3.8 in and got a tuneup. 10k later, throwing codes and shutting down. I actually had to walk one time. Took it to the dealer, all they did was put a set of OEM Champions in it and done. Said nothing else will run in them. That was 70k ago.
The '99 3.8 is still running the original plugs at 207k. Started at -8 the other day just fine. Haven't had to walk yet, fuel economy exactly the same.

 

[1redTA]

I was real happy with NGK TR55s in my old 98 Z71 and 96 TA, the best thing about them is the price, CHEAP! I would run Denso plugs in my RX7 s with half the electrodes cut off and that worked well.
Now with the 351W in the boat I run the autolite 24s does NGK have a plug that crosses?

 

[Lhorn]

I use ACDelco or NGK iridium plugs in everything. F platinum, F split tips, F all the gimmicks

I approve of this message.

 

[aar0s]

I have autolites in my 88 mustang now and im thinking that they may be the cause of my infrequent miss. When i do my spring time oil change in it im putting the motorcraft plugs back in.
gotta change the plugs in the scion and will use ngk's in it.

 

[mustangmccance]

I guess I am doing it all wrong. I have run champions in my mustang for years. runs great. I put champion iridiums in my supercharged f150 4 years ago and it is still running great. never changed the plugs in the lincoln yet it has 110000 miles on it ( I probably ought to do that soon but its the wifes car and if she's not complaining I tend to forget about it). and I just bought e-3's for my sons jeep. haven't installed them yet. I will have to see how they work. if they don't work well I guess I will go get some champions.

 

[tdkkart]

Now with the 351W in the boat I run the autolite 24s does NGK have a plug that crosses?

Sparkplugs.com will tell you most of what you need to know......

http://sparkplugs.com/results_cross.asp?pid=24&crossManID=33&mfid=&seenCrossWarning=1

 

[Big Bad Jon]

I will not put aftermarket spark plugs in a repair, unless the customer signs a waiver. Some OE spark plugs have issues, BUT they are generally designed to run in their specific applications. E3 and other ******** *****.

 

[Hybridss]

I have had great success in using NGK brand on LSX based engines. Even up to 1000 hp with the proper heat range and PN. And as someone already stated...they also happen to be one of the cheapest plugs around. I use nothing but NGK.

 

[srmofo]

I always run OE plugs. No exceptions.

 

[bmwpower]

Same deal. Copper Bosch plugs for my older BMWs, the platinums make 'em run like ****.

 

[Lugnut64052]

Engines always run better on the OEM specific spark plug. I too have removed Autolites, etc, and simply replaced them with the factory plug, and had them run completely different. The reason is that the part numbers you get of the other brands are the best approximate fit in their product line for the application. Engines really do run better on OEM plugs.

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

Yep, I've noticed that on the Chevy 4.3 and 5.7 V6 and V8s (same for the 3.1l and 3.4l transverse engines). You have to run the OEM AC/Delco plugs or they won't run for nothin'. Same with the cap and rotor on those engines, must be AC/Delco or Delphi OEM or they miss. Basically, I put in them what they came from the factory with. No problems when I've done that.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on this. My truck is a 97 S10 4.3/5-speed with 145K on it. Currently has Autolite plugs and Summit's house brand cap/rotor/wires (I think they're OEM'd by Accel) in it, and runs beautifully. I usually run .99 cent copper Autolites in everything I own. My 2000 Saturn has them and can easily knock out 42 MPG on the highway with the a/c blowing ice cold. Not bad for a 10 year old car with 128K miles on it

 

[mkbrower]

Car companies spend millions of dollars developing, testing, and tweaking thier engines to run on a specific type of plug. I have always replaced plugs with what the manufacturer recommends. It just common business sense that plug manufacturers make and market plugs to fit in a wide range of vehicles only to increase thier bottom line.

Mark

 

[z28snksknr]

AC Delco Iridiums for me. My '94 Z28 fouls out the #5 & #7 plug in less than 6 months with anything else due to a slight leak in the valve guides (since it was new). It's had the same set in it for 4 years now and it idles like a dream and runs perfect when I beat the snot out of it - 140k miles now, over 80k on the iridiums.