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.
>
>



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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.