I'm getting crappy gas mileage and need to change out my Spark plugs. I have a 98 Miaxima with 120k miles. I heard the NGK plAtinums are the best for the Maxima. Any other opinions or experience would be appreciated, Thanks in advance.

Greg

 

copper tipped i heard are good

 

ok bro...check it....this is very important to know...IMPLANT it in your head.....and theres no other alternative.....you must use NGK plugs for your max.....ive heard many-a-stories from people who put in bosch plugs and screw up the way there engine runs and performs....its very important that you use NGK plugs....next..PLATINUM is oem and the car will run the best with these plugs...you can use copper NGKS as well....both are fine....platinums will get you 60K and copper will last 30K......just go to the dealer and ask for plugs-they are pre-gapped...no worries..I use platinum and I have peace of mind....you can use copper as well-its also a lot cheaper....but I like platinum

 

I agree I had myh plugs changed two days ago. And they reccomended me only NGK's. So I got factory plugs and got them in. The guy I bought my car from never changed them so when the plugs came out... they were all rusted. NGK's will run you 60k. USE NGK.

 

Thanks for your help guys. That was my first choice, but I just needed some input to make sure is was the right choice. Thanks again.

 

im running ngk iridiums, working perfectly for me

 

Bosch do not run well in maximas like luvs2speed said, go w/ the stock plug for best results ngk platinum

 

NGK Plats are what the manufacturer puts in the car. If you look at any manual for the max, they all say NGK Plats for replacement. Anything less would be uncivilized ha!

 

INDEEEED!!!!

 

NGK seems fairly good thats what I have noticed alot of ppl using but im sure there are other brands out there that are really good also I doubt u HAVE TO USE those.

 

I have had Bosch Platinum 4+ in for more than 10k now and it runs perfect. Very good mpg and performance wise no problems at all. bought it online for 28 bucks.

 

I'm running ngk iridiums, noticeable power increase, but I feel increases after oil changes too.

 

So which are best: Platinums, Iridiums, Copper - ignoring cost considerations.

 

Iridiums, Plat, Copper

 

I'm running NGK Iridium IXs as well. Nice plugs, paid ~$37 shipped on eBay for all 6.

 

bkr5e.......

 

I dont stick my **** in anything without a condom....I wouldnt put plugs in my max unless they were NGK PLATINUMS.... PERIOD....no bosch, no nothing....anything else in time will damage your engine internals....questwest your crazy for running bosch man-I cant believe you dont have any probs...call the dealer and tell them what your using, see what they say

 

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaSparkPlugs

Go with NGK coppers. BKR5E-11 if stock or bolts ons. Make sure they are gapped to .0433in or 1.1mm because sometimes they can be gapped wrong out of the box.

Iridiums are the best performance, then Coppers, and then platinums. Platinums last longer but are much more expensive than coppers. Iridiums are mainly for boosted or nitrous people. They are the only people that would notice anything really different performance wise over coppers.

Once again NGK ONLY!!!!

 

Ive heard horror stories from several mechanics saying bosch +4 causes the oem coilpack to spike and fail prematurely. ...no worth it for me

 

ditto with the iridiums... also, if your gas milage has gone down, clean or change your air filter depending what setup you have. I noticed when my milage went down, I changed the plugs, oil, and feul filter, it was still not getting as much milage as before, but it was running smooth though, and when I cleaned filter, voila..

 

speaking of cleaning air filters, i have an air filter that i baught my car with, and it has the rubber around it colored orange and has a metal grill on the filter itself, is this is a fram? and is it reuasble, as in washable or reoilable?

 

i run the denso iridiums. they do just fine.

 

i just replaced mine to NGK vpower copper. got 6 for $10 at advance.

friend and i did them under an hour. he was really disappointed cause he wanted a challenge. anywayz, car runs great.

 

Okay... I have to ask....

What the heck is the big deal with never using anything but NGK plugs? What makes them so special?

There are laws about merchantability that state that you can't sell something if it causes unreasonable harm... I could see how Bosch and Denso plugs might theoretically not work as well, but how the heck could they cause damage to your engine?

 

Why don't you put them in and find out? If a friend told you not to jump off a cliff because you might kill yourself, would you do it just to find out, lol?

 

Heh, that's what I thought. I've been running Denso Iridiums for almost 6.5k miles and they've treated me nicely so far.

But.... there has to be a reason why everyone kicks and screams about NGK plugs. If there isn't, I'd love to expose the false rumor....

 

Then you might as well run 87 octane and the crappiest oil you can find because after 6,500 miles you might not notice any problems either!

 

when I bought my max, I changed my spark plugs to NGK plats, there were denso plats in there... How are denso's?

 

doodfood...the reason why you have to use NGK...bosch and all the other plugs are bad for your coil packs....the other brands create the wrong kind of spark needed for your nissan maxima...your coil packs will fail faster with the use of bosch and etc...do you know how much coil packs cost??.....use NGK plat or copper....how can you debate the FACTORY OEM NISSAN PLUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i ahd a bosch platinum break in the cylinder head of my 91 SE.....the electorde broke off and shot into one of my injectors.....never again will i use anythign but NGK Plats.....

 

Good point. But the thing is, I can tell you exactly why those things are bad:

87 octane fuel:
- Increases the chance of knocking because it's easier to ignite
- May lower fuel economy because you get less energy from burning it

Crappy oil:
- Doesn't lubricate as well in general, causing more wear
- Doesn't maintain its characteristics well over a range of operating conditions


These things are common knowledge. On the topic of spark plugs, though, I just haven't heard actual explanations of exactly what it is about Denso and Bosch plugs that makes them unsuitable.... just a bunch of claims that it will bust your engine.



Same reason people debate the factory intake, flywheel, exhaust, clutch, etc.... because if I can, I want to make it better.

 

What are the part #s for
1. NGK Plats
2. NGK Irrodiums
3. NGK Copper

Thanks,

 

what are the oem part #s for NGK, Plats, Irro, Copper?
Thanks

 

HA! Tough question, eh? Seems there might be a misconception here... Maybe it's time to start a thread and see what people say...

EDIT: referring to my spark plug question, not the part # questions.

 

i don't care what the dealer is going to say (unless they sell bosch plugs they will say that anything but factory approved plugs will ruine your engine) my car got 180k on it and i bought for almost free (traded some services with one on of my friends) and if anything breaks i'll fix it by myself. i have fully equiped garage the only thing i don't have is a lift.
i had this car for 2 years now and i drive it every day like i stole it, unless it snows like crazy then i'll drive my ML. i went thru 2 sets of tires already on my third now. as far as the mods go i have very little done: ACT stage 1, brembo rotors cross drilled, ss lines for brakes and clutch are coming, stillen sts, exhaust tech muffler, K&N air filter, 17" OZ superleggera w Kumho Exsta 712.
in 96 i bought brand new Infiniti I30t and used bocsh plugs as well that car had 50k in 99 when i traded it in. it was pearl white with biege interior, 17" racing seneka wheels pirelli supersport 7000 and remus muffler. and i also use bocsh oil filters.

NGK makes some very good plugs like Iridium IX, but i like the idea of having 4 contacts instead of one.

 

for a slightly modded max... not boosted or nitrous... denso iridiums are bad? i just bought the denso iridiums off custommaxima.com. i figured they wouldnt do me wrong...

 

Custom Maxima/enterprises sells a lot of things that are . They never cease to amaze me.

Questwest, I don't mean to insult but we don't need your life story. Having four contact points is a gimmick.

The NGK part numbers for stock heat range is
copper: BKR5E-11
Iridium: BKR5EIX-11
platinum: PFR5G-11

I am not sure about the Nissan part numbers if that is what you are talking about but any nissan dealer should be able to tell you

Nissan claims you are supposed to use NGK. It might be a gimmick that they came up with to get more money to NGK but then again I would rather just spend a few more cents to put a little trust into nissan.

 

Fair point. Honestly, for anyone who isn't as much of a skeptic about "what they say you should do" as I am, there's little reason to take a chance.

On the flipside, I just can't imagine that anyone would put out a spark plug that they would damage an engine. I can see how a Bosch 4-tip platinum plug would have quality issues because it's so cheap, but Denso (and NGK for that matter) is much better quality.


This just says "other brands", and it doesn't talk about Denso Iridiums or Bosch Platinum +4's specifically (which is what most people use instead of NGKs). Maybe they're talking about no-name brand plugs or something... you can't tell. From what it says, it could even just be the experience of one or two unlucky guys who got dud plugs or had some other failure that they wrongly diagnosed.

I repeat.... what exactly is so special about NGK?? Does Nissan have a reason for insisting on them, or is it just marketing hype?

 

The OEM Nissan part number for copper BKR5E-11 is 22401 - 50Y05.

Here is a 3 page thread about this same subject. I hope that starts to help clear things up. I don't have any substantial evidence such as a Nissan document stating why NGK Platinums are to be used only (since they don't even like us to use copper), but from every post I have seen on the org there are some horror stories that were solved by switching back to NGK.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=344876

 

Alright, checked that other thread... After sorting through the flame war, here are the only facts I've seen that actually had real evidence, science, or professional opinion backing them up:

1. Copper plugs generate a slightly hotter spark than platinum for a given voltage (copper has a higher electrical conductivity).
2. Copper plugs wear out faster than platinum plugs, and their performance deteriorates with age while platinum plugs do not (copper is softer and has a lower melting point than platinum).
3. From a link in the forum:

This may explain some of the Bosch power loss/engine damage stories. Also...

The specified gap for the Denso Iridiums is the same as for the NGK Platinums; therefore, the Densos require less voltage.

This leads to a neat explanation:

1. Copper and iridium plugs make a better spark with less strain on the ignition system. This is why some people swear by them.

2. Copper plugs wear out fairly quickly, and as they wear out, performance is degraded and there is a greater chance of misfire or other problems. Maybe some people didn't catch this happening, and blew something up. This may explain the horror stories.

3. Bosch 4-tip plugs are really cheap, which probably means that they have loose quality control. You can't gap them to make up for it, and they may create gas flow problems in our ignition chambers. Some of these plugs will be good and others will be bad.


Conclusion: The STEALERSHIP lives up to its name, NGKs are just really high quality plugs and nothing more, Denso and NGK iridium plugs are great, NGK copper plugs are great but be careful with them, and don't use no-name brand plugs.

Now, someone argue with me. Let's rock.