NGK Iridium spark plugs

[omgjacki]

How do you guys feel about these? I looked on a few forums ('cause you know, everyone knows everything on teh webz) and a few Nissan guys recommended them. I just payed $30 for these damn things, they better be worth it.

Discuss.

[MuddyREX]

I keep hearing copper is better. Don't know why though.

[lownslow95]

Never used them, but when I worked @ AAP thats what every one bought, so they must be good.

[240sxDann]

I run basic BKR7E's. Here at work, even though its a different application, I suggest all of my customers run copper plugs and not the platinum's that come in their vehicles stock.

[240sxDann]

Originally Posted by lownslow95

Never used them, but when I worked @ AAP thats what every one bought, so they must be good.

That's just good marketing my friend. Everybody assumes more expensive = better. NOT always the case.

[turboman808]

I prefer iridium myself. They put them in every new sports car for a reason.

They work just as good as copper but last alot longer. My classic porsche seems to foul it's plugs alot and finally switching from copper to iridium seems to have solved the problem. My car runs rich under 3000 rpms with the air filters in place. The computer is an older haltek. Tuning this is not possible. Gonna have to replace it at some point. Problem is it's gonna cost me $4000 to do. So for now the iridium spark plugs seem to do the trick.

[3rdGenMr2Girl]

I run basic BKR7E's in my mr2 as well.

[lownslow95]

Originally Posted by 240sxDann

That's just good marketing my friend. Everybody assumes more expensive = better. NOT always the case.

True. I really didn't care what they put in their vehicle. Its their money, not mine.

[99SL2_Modder]

My old SL2 ran only NGKs. (Factory).

BKR5E's. However, most of the guys have swapped to the iridiums in the S's, and swear by them.

[omgjacki]

As far as I know, the only difference between the copper and the platinum is that the coppers don't last as long but I don't know from my own experience yet, that's why I asked.

[240sxDann]

Different cars react differently. In mustangs, with a custom tune and platinum plugs, sometimes the motor pings like mad. Keep the tune and switch to coppers, completely goes away. Idk. Its weird.

[turboman808]

Well now we are talking platinum plugs. They are not very good for high performance motors. They just last a very long time. Iridium is the best of both worlds. Last a long time and gives great performance.

God forbid you ran a platinum plug in a high compression or a turbo motor. That would probably be the end of it.

Originally Posted by 240sxDann

Different cars react differently. In mustangs, with a custom tune and platinum plugs, sometimes the motor pings like mad. Keep the tune and switch to coppers, completely goes away. Idk. Its weird.

Well yeah they don't conduct as well and they don't make as big of spark. It's not weird or mysterious in any way. Your putting the wrong plugs in the car.

[omgjacki]

I'll probably change them tonight and see if they make a difference. I did buy the iridium, not the platinum.

[240sxDann]

Originally Posted by turboman808

Well yeah they don't conduct as well and they don't make as big of spark. It's not weird or mysterious in any way. Your putting the wrong plugs in the car.

Funny thing is that's what ford puts in them stock. But yea I was definitely confusing iridium and platinum my b.

[hondagirl]

they r really good...many ppl come to my job and buy them, and we had an altima comein for a tune up and the customer went with cheaper plugs and had to come back cus they got hammered shut (not good) and apperantly the altimas come stock with the ngk iriduims and if u use something below that they get hammered, i didnt know that but thats what i was told when it was brought back in....but anyways i like these plugs and never really used anything other, and i dont know nissan like that but i kno many nissan ppl swear by this plug, so trust its worth the money

[omgjacki]

Yeah, from what I've read, all the Nissan guys like the iridiums.

[TurboTagTeam]

I used them and saw no difference....and they were a **** ton more money than normal coppers....and the WORSE part is trying to gap them POS iridiums. I allways had to buy 5 cause one of the electrodes would break when i gapped them

They come gapped at 40 wich is wayyyyyy too big. I would bring um way down from that. I was blowing the spark out at 40.

[turboman808]

I will try and lay down some information to make it a bit clearer. I don't claim to be a expert on the subject so anyone who is can correct me at any time.



Platinum is used in most economy cars. They generally have lower compression and do get reved to 10k rpm. They just go about there business of getting you around. These are what I have in my accord. They will last over 100k miles with little to 0 maintenance. Problem is they cannot handle any kind of compression. The engine will start to ping and detonate if you put a turbo or supercharger on the car and run these plugs.

Copper plugs until recently were the choice for any type of performance car. They also have different versions of copper plugs referred to as being a hotter or colder plug. You would generally use a colder plug in a high performance car. If your pushing 700hp you may have to play with these plugs to get the proper one to work. Many engine builders will still recommend copper plugs mainly because they work and they have experimented enough to know they will work with an engine application. The higher the performance the motor the quicker it ruins copper plugs. You run a high spark system and a high compression motor and you will have to change plugs as much as every 6 months.

Iridium plugs have cryogenically treated alloy tips that are very fine but do not wear like a copper plug. Copper is a better conductor but iridium outshines the copper by producing a very fine intense spark across it's point. They therefore out performs copper but without the wear involved with copper. If you made a copper point as narrow as iridium it would disintegrate within 20 miles. I use iridium in both my performance cars. One comes stock with them the other I just mentioned above that I switched with great results.


So will you see horse power gains by switching plugs. Not really. The reason to switch plugs is to fix issues with your motor and it's spark system. No spark plug is going to magically give you an extra 20 hp. Just doesn't happen. Either a motor is running right or it's not.


So back to the original poster. Are iridium worth it? Well they last alot longer then copper so to me it's worth it so I can just plug them in and not worry about them for a few years. If your car is not a performance car then you could have just put in platinum and save your money and got the same results. I don't know your particular application. If your running 9-1 compression and putting down 140 hp chances are you wasted your money.

[omgjacki]

Originally Posted by TurboTagTeam

I used them and saw no difference....and they were a **** ton more money than normal coppers....and the WORSE part is trying to gap them POS iridiums. I allways had to buy 5 cause one of the electrodes would break when i gapped them

They come gapped at 40 wich is wayyyyyy too big. I would bring um way down from that. I was blowing the spark out at 40.

I'm pretty sure they're supposed to be at .044

[omgjacki]

Originally Posted by turboman808

So back to the original poster. Are iridium worth it? Well they last alot longer then copper so to me it's worth it so I can just plug them in and not worry about them for a few years. If your car is not a performance car then you could have just put in platinum and save your money and got the same results. I don't know your particular application. If your running 9-1 compression and putting down 140 hp chances are you wasted your money.

I spent the extra few dollars because I knew they would last longer. I plan to beat on my car once in a while, but I needed to get a few things taken care of before it even happens, the spark plugs being one of them. If they do the job, I'll know it was worth it.