Question Platium Spark Plugs

I visited the Honda Parts Department and asked the person behind the
counter to give me the price of Platium Spark Plugs that would fit in my
vehicle. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.). He told me the part
number of the plugs that I needed:
PZFR5F-11
He told me that the price per plug was $21.30 and the price for 4 plugs
was $85.20. I thought this was too much money to pay for spark plugs. I
called a auto store and they told me they charged about the same price for
those same plugs but could sell me other platium spark plugs made by
another company that cost less than $5.00 per plug. Why do the platium
spark plugs mentioned above cost so much more than other platium plugs?
Are they special made for Honda vehicles?

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Jason wrote:
> I visited the Honda Parts Department and asked the person behind the
> counter to give me the price of Platium Spark Plugs that would fit in my
> vehicle. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.). He told me the part
> number of the plugs that I needed:
> PZFR5F-11
> He told me that the price per plug was $21.30 and the price for 4 plugs
> was $85.20. I thought this was too much money to pay for spark plugs. I
> called a auto store and they told me they charged about the same price for
> those same plugs but could sell me other platium spark plugs made by
> another company that cost less than $5.00 per plug. Why do the platium
> spark plugs mentioned above cost so much more than other platium plugs?
> Are they special made for Honda vehicles?
>
http://sparkplugs.com/results_cross....F-11&x=33&y=10

sure you can find cheaper if you shop around.

I think the Honda Parts Dept just try to screw you. Last year I wanted to
replace the air filter on my 2002 CRV at 30,000. Honda Dealer tried to
sell one to me for $28 and I got it at NAPA for $13. I can't believe the
Honda filter was any better than the Napa one for the money.
"Jason" > wrote in message
...
>
> I visited the Honda Parts Department and asked the person behind the
> counter to give me the price of Platium Spark Plugs that would fit in my
> vehicle. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.). He told me the part
> number of the plugs that I needed:
> PZFR5F-11
> He told me that the price per plug was $21.30 and the price for 4 plugs
> was $85.20. I thought this was too much money to pay for spark plugs. I
> called a auto store and they told me they charged about the same price for
> those same plugs but could sell me other platium spark plugs made by
> another company that cost less than $5.00 per plug. Why do the platium
> spark plugs mentioned above cost so much more than other platium plugs?
> Are they special made for Honda vehicles?
>
> --
> NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO
> We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
> We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.
>
>
>

jim beam wrote:
> Jason wrote:
>
>> I visited the Honda Parts Department and asked the person behind the
>> counter to give me the price of Platium Spark Plugs that would fit in my
>> vehicle. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.). He told me the part
>> number of the plugs that I needed:
>> PZFR5F-11
>> He told me that the price per plug was $21.30 and the price for 4 plugs
>> was $85.20. I thought this was too much money to pay for spark plugs. I
>> called a auto store and they told me they charged about the same price
>> for
>> those same plugs but could sell me other platium spark plugs made by
>> another company that cost less than $5.00 per plug. Why do the platium
>> spark plugs mentioned above cost so much more than other platium plugs?
>> Are they special made for Honda vehicles?
>>
> http://sparkplugs.com/results_cross....F-11&x=33&y=10
>
> sure you can find cheaper if you shop around.

For your car, you might be better off with regular NGK plugs changed
every 15-30K miles. There's no performance benefit to a platinum
plug in your engine, Total cost should be about $8 for four. I'd
think the main reason for platinums is a V6 or some high-output
engines (DOHC VTEC). Changing plugs on an inline engine is a
breeze. For a V6, the long life platinum plugs are nice because
the back plugs are a PITA to change.

I don't know if regular plugs are spec'ed in your owner's manual, but
NGK lists the ZFR5F-11. Of course check your manual and/or the
applications guide.

As for your original question, NGK platinums use a lot of platinum.
There's one spot fused to the ground electrode and another fused to
the center electrode. Other plugs may only have a single platinum
spot on the center electrode. These plugs aren't really "long
life" as the ground electrode fouls up just as easily as a standard
plug. I don't trust Autolite, Champion, or Bosch. NGK or Denso
are the only way to go with a Honda engine.

I think AutoZone carries Denso plugs. Their platinum plugs are
excellent, although I really don't believe you need them.

<http://www.densoaftermarket.com/online_catalog.php?part=sprk&year=1999&make=HONDA& model=ACCORD>

On Fri, 20 May 2005 00:33:59 -0500, "Todd" >
wrote:

>I think the Honda Parts Dept just try to screw you. Last year I wanted to
>replace the air filter on my 2002 CRV at 30,000. Honda Dealer tried to
>sell one to me for $28 and I got it at NAPA for $13. I can't believe the
>Honda filter was any better than the Napa one for the money.

It might have been, but in general you're right about dealer prices.
You pay for the name. Here's a personal experience from way back when
I could afford Jaguars. The automatic transmission in my MK VII was
made by Borg Warner, since in the 1950s only the US made automatic
transmissions. I needed a part for what is essentially an American
product. The prices for the exact same part broke down as follows:
From a Mercedes Benz dealer $38
From a Jaguar dealer $32
From a Studebaker dealer $25
From an auto parts store $23

(Jason) wrote in
:

>
> I visited the Honda Parts Department and asked the person behind the
> counter to give me the price of Platium Spark Plugs that would fit in
> my vehicle. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.). He told me the
> part number of the plugs that I needed:
> PZFR5F-11
> He told me that the price per plug was $21.30 and the price for 4
> plugs was $85.20. I thought this was too much money to pay for spark
> plugs. I called a auto store and they told me they charged about the
> same price for those same plugs but could sell me other platium spark
> plugs made by another company that cost less than $5.00 per plug. Why
> do the platium spark plugs mentioned above cost so much more than
> other platium plugs? Are they special made for Honda vehicles?
>



You mean PLATINUM?

Honda dealerships put a larger markup on their parts. Don't buy stuff like
plugs from the dealer.

NGK and ND plugs are easily available through jobbers like NAPA, UAP, and
the various chain stores.

NGK and ND PLATINUM plugs last longer than the regular type and are well
worth the money.

The exception is the Bosch PLATINUM plugs with the tiny wire in the middle.
They are junk, in my experience. They are probably the $5 plugs the parts
guy suggested.

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The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
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How about gapping iridium/platinum plugs? I'm gonna swap out the OEM
iridium plugs while I do a valve adjustment soon on my Civic. Are they
truly pre-gapped and should be left alone??

"MAT" > wrote in news:K-udnWV9haCiahDfRVn-
:

> How about gapping iridium/platinum plugs? I'm gonna swap out the OEM
> iridium plugs while I do a valve adjustment soon on my Civic. Are they
> truly pre-gapped and should be left alone??
>
>
>



LEAVE THEM ALONE. They are pregapped. Attempting to gap them can scratch
the platinum coating, leading to rapid erosion.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

In article . net>, y_p_w
> wrote:

> jim beam wrote:
> > Jason wrote:
> >
> >> I visited the Honda Parts Department and asked the person behind the
> >> counter to give me the price of Platium Spark Plugs that would fit in my
> >> vehicle. I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX (4 cyld.). He told me the part
> >> number of the plugs that I needed:
> >> PZFR5F-11
> >> He told me that the price per plug was $21.30 and the price for 4 plugs
> >> was $85.20. I thought this was too much money to pay for spark plugs. I
> >> called a auto store and they told me they charged about the same price
> >> for
> >> those same plugs but could sell me other platium spark plugs made by
> >> another company that cost less than $5.00 per plug. Why do the platium
> >> spark plugs mentioned above cost so much more than other platium plugs?
> >> Are they special made for Honda vehicles?
> >>
> > http://sparkplugs.com/results_cross....F-11&x=33&y=10
> >
> > sure you can find cheaper if you shop around.
>
> For your car, you might be better off with regular NGK plugs changed
> every 15-30K miles. There's no performance benefit to a platinum
> plug in your engine, Total cost should be about $8 for four. I'd
> think the main reason for platinums is a V6 or some high-output
> engines (DOHC VTEC). Changing plugs on an inline engine is a
> breeze. For a V6, the long life platinum plugs are nice because
> the back plugs are a PITA to change.
>
> I don't know if regular plugs are spec'ed in your owner's manual, but
> NGK lists the ZFR5F-11. Of course check your manual and/or the
> applications guide.
>
> As for your original question, NGK platinums use a lot of platinum.
> There's one spot fused to the ground electrode and another fused to
> the center electrode. Other plugs may only have a single platinum
> spot on the center electrode. These plugs aren't really "long
> life" as the ground electrode fouls up just as easily as a standard
> plug. I don't trust Autolite, Champion, or Bosch. NGK or Denso
> are the only way to go with a Honda engine.
>
> I think AutoZone carries Denso plugs. Their platinum plugs are
> excellent, although I really don't believe you need them.
>
>
<http://www.densoaftermarket.com/online_catalog.php?part=sprk&year=1999&make=HONDA& model=ACCORD>

The part number for the regular NGK plugs is actually written on a label
under the hood of my Honda. I have always used the regular NGK plugs until
this year. However, I recently an article on the NGK website that stated:
"Platinum spark plugs last much longer than conventional spark plugs and
perform more consistently over the course of their service life." That's
why I wanted to try them. One poster told me that he tried them and did
not notice any difference related to power or torque when he installed the
NGK platinum plugs. I'm sure he was correct based upon the info. at the
NGK website.

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(Jason) wrote in
:

> One poster
> told me that he tried them and did not notice any difference related
> to power or torque when he installed the NGK platinum plugs. I'm sure
> he was correct based upon the info. at the NGK website.



Platinum plugs will NOT increase your power or torque. Increasing power is
NOT the reason platinum is used.

Platinum is used to increase the LONGEVITY of the plug, ensuring a more
consistent gap over a longer period of time, and thus lower emissions. Each
time a plug fires, a tiny amount of metal is vaporized from the electrodes,
eroding them. Platinum erodes more slowly than the steel otherwise used.

Auto manufacturers have a federal emissions warranty that they are
obligated by law to meet. Their use of exotic-metal plugs is one tool in
their quest to fulfill their legal obligations.
http://www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?id=8128

Other exotic metals used to improve longevity of the plug gap: Iridium
(installed in our'99 Tercel), and palladium.


--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/