A Spark is a Spark is a Spark
I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage)
and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? Any suggestions would be appreciated.. RoB. |
Again more BS, sorry but that's what info like that is, you need plats in
that engine, the ign system will eat regular plugs in 15-20 k, stay with GM oe plats, last for 75k, and run great, look at replacing the rear bank, not a fun job every year or so. "RoB @hotmail.com>" <RoB<cheapynospamsneakers> wrote in message . .. >I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage) >and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just >put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference >except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any >performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? > Any suggestions would be appreciated.. > > > RoB. > > ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---- |
RoB wrote: > I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM > engine (high mileage) and was looking at those NGK G-Power > Plugs but a friend of mine says just put the cheapy AC > Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference except > possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there > any performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? NGK, at www.ngksparkplugs.com, thinks platinums don't help and recommends using them only if the car maker specifies them or if plug access is difficult. Considering that their platinums cost twice as much per mile as their coppers, I doubt NGK has any ulterior motives with this advice. Thanks to strict emissions laws, the EPA has virtually required stock ignition systems to be very good, so improvement is difficult and probably not worth any effort, except for racing purposes. But to avoid incompatibilities it's best to keep the nationalities of the car and plugs identical, except American plugs are more likely to work well with German Chryslers. AC Rapidfire plugs may provide a tiny bit of improvement because of their multiple sharp edges (for less misfire), clipped outer electrode (exposes spark better to combustion gases below), and center electrode core made of a better heat conductor. AC claims 2% better gas mileage, but that's impossible to verify in real life. |
RoB <RoB wrote:
> I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage) > and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just > put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference > except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any > performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? > Any suggestions would be appreciated.. > > > RoB. > > Performance? No. The idea of platinum is longer life. Actually, there could be a slight performance difference in an engine that tends to burn oil and foul plugs. It is possible with a platinum plug to run it hotter than other plugs. When you run a normal material hotter, it burns and most be replaced (or at least removed and regapped) more frequently. The hotter plug will not foul as easily. The plug must not be run so hot it contributes to preignition or detonation, however. Search out info on spark plug heat range. Your friend is right in that a spark is a spark. However, longevity of plugs is an issue, too. |
On Fri, 10 Jun 2005 21:52:48 -0400, "RoB"
> wrote: >I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage) >and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just >put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference >except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any >performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? >Any suggestions would be appreciated.. > You either have a combustion chamber configuration or compression ratio suitable for platinum plugs, or you don't. If you dont then dont run plat plugs. If the car manufactuers says run plat plugs, then you do have the CC for it and should run them. If you need to run plat plugs it is for longer life requirments of the engine ignition maker, if you dont run them copper plugs will wear too quickly sending the ignition out of normal KV working range. If you dont have the CC for plat plugs and run them, they will more likely partially fail, possibly poor idle, unless, you are running a higher compression ratio as in racing, then plat plugs are suitable, if not desirable. So its CC config (valve postion) or CR fuel that determines if you use plat plugs. If you have the CC that is configured the clean the plug tips, then use them., if you have heaps of CR then the heat will keep them clean enough such as with racing. If you dont have the CR for them, or dont have the CC for them to keep the plat plugs clean, they will most likely fouled or as we say for plat plugs, contaminated. If you have the CC config for plat plugs they are good to go at all engine temps as in standard cars that use them, if you have big CR as in racing, then you may need to use coppers to warm the engine, then swap to plats, or you may have trouble starting and dirty a new set of plats starting it. Hope that helps. |
>I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage)
>and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just >put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference >except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any >performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? > Any suggestions would be appreciated.. I agree with your friend. The platinum plugs give you a longer life. Other than that they will do very little for your car. Since you define the engine as a high mileage engine consider how many more miles you realistically plan to put on it before spending the extra money on long life plugs. Steve B. |
RoB <RoB wrote: > I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage) > and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just > put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference > except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any > performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? > Any suggestions would be appreciated.. I believe GM has used (AC relabelled) NGK double platinum plugs (AKA "Laser Platinum") as standard equipment in the 3800 Series II engine for several years. The back plugs are a PITA to replace, and the "100K mile tuneup" became a selling point. I wouldn't recommend the G-power. With only one platinum electrode, the replacement period is going to be when the ground electrode wears. I never really understood the point of a single platinum electrode. The standard NGK (V-Power) might be a good choice if reaching the back plugs isn't too much of a problem. |
>
> You either have a combustion chamber configuration or compression > ratio suitable for platinum plugs, or you don't. > If you dont then dont run plat plugs. > If the car manufactuers says run plat plugs, then you do have the CC > for it and should run them. > > If you need to run plat plugs it is for longer life requirments of the > engine ignition maker, if you dont run them copper plugs will wear too > quickly sending the ignition out of normal KV working range. > > snip... I was checking the online ac delco spark plug finder for a 98 Buick lesabre 3.8(just bought it used with 170,000km) and i find it recommend iridium.. strange ... because the old plugs i looked at are very old platinum and the gap was way out of spec.. supposed to be .060 i measured .070 some .072 .. i think they are the original spark plugs . So i checked champion site they recommend their platinum or copper plugs.. and NGK say platinum. I find it funny AC Delco would recommend iridium which is twice the price of platinum and platinum is three times of price of copper or nickel. You're right about how tuff it is to get the rear bank of spark plugs out.. barely got my arm behind the engine and stuck a couple of times.. ;-( I was talking to the parts man at UAP and he also said a few interesting things about plugs ,, he said the fine wire platinum will be hotter because the fine tip will not conduct heat away, thus may cause pre ignition where as copper or nickel is a larger base and will conduct heat away better, thus running cooler. If i was to go with platinum he recommend a plug that has what he calls a "button platinum" which is better.. ac and champion has button tip platinum.. |
Steve B. wrote: >>I am looking at replacing my spark plugs in a 3.8l GM engine (high mileage) >>and was looking at those NGK G-Power Plugs but a friend of mine says just >>put the cheapy AC Delco, because the platinum won't make any difference >>except possible quicker starts, but not worth the money... Is there any >>performance difference between copper plugs and platinum? >>Any suggestions would be appreciated.. > > > > I agree with your friend. The platinum plugs give you a longer life. > Other than that they will do very little for your car. Since you > define the engine as a high mileage engine consider how many more > miles you realistically plan to put on it before spending the extra > money on long life plugs. Not the G-Power. That plug contains a single platinum center electrode. The ground electrode fouls/erodes just like a standard plug. The double platinum "Laser Platinum" is the long-life version. I believe that's what's original equipment in his engine, or at least an AC rebranded version. |
RV wrote: > If you need to run plat plugs it is for longer life requirments of the > engine ignition maker, if you dont run them copper plugs will wear too > quickly sending the ignition out of normal KV working range. Sure. GM wanted a 100K mile "tune up". A standard plug should work fine but won't last as long. I hate the term "copper plug" since copper cores are the same in standard, platinum, or iridium plugs. The electrodes are some sort of nickel alloy. There are some applications where a platinum or iridium plug is absolutely necessary. My 1995 Acura Integra spec'ed a 1.3 mm gap and my guess is that a standard plug wouldn't last the 30K miles that they normal give for regular plugs. The platinum plug was spec'ed for 60K miles. |
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