What "Sparks!" Your 4GM?!
03-19-2019, 10:19 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 451
I have the new NGK Ruthenium HX spark plugs that are supposedly the best spark plugs released by NGK. I just called them to ask what's better the Ruthenium or Iridium and they say the Ruthenium because it has more ignitability and staronger flames. Also there twin tip spark plugs for better spark.
03-19-2019, 10:32 AM
#7
Personally, I'm not a fan of leaving a spark plug in my cylinder heads for 200K miles, regardless of the material.
But then again, I'm one of those old schoolers who changes his oil every 2500-3000 miles.
But then again, I'm one of those old schoolers who changes his oil every 2500-3000 miles.
03-19-2019, 10:43 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central AR
Posts: 3,041
With engines that have over 200,000 miles, I like to read my plugs every 24,000 miles. Lets me head off big problems early on. At $1.98 per plug, I could care less about the cost.
03-19-2019, 11:30 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 675
Unused denso iridium twin tips for the 2k14 motor in my engine bay that's waiting to be fired up
But for my old VQ30s it was the NGK V-Powers (platinum probably? Idk I try to go OEM unless there's an improved design that's been released, for example twin tip technology)
But for my old VQ30s it was the NGK V-Powers (platinum probably? Idk I try to go OEM unless there's an improved design that's been released, for example twin tip technology)
03-19-2019, 12:47 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 472
Almost everyone here uses NGK plugs of some kind. I use NGK plats, but still change plugs every three to four years just to see the condition of my cylinders. I run TCW-3 in my gas with every fill up, so my plugs always look clean. It's the bloo-juice of the engine gods.
03-20-2019, 11:32 AM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: California
Posts: 68
I use NGK double platinums. Might consider changing to a different material to see if there's any significant changes since these are $12 a piece. That's more than $70 in spark plugs alone. I don't even know why I got them in the first place 3 years ago.
05-11-2019, 10:19 AM
#14
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 43
Does it matter if the engine is hot or cold when changing the spark plugs? I've got a misfire on #4, and the plugs are at 60k miles so time to change them. I started to remove #4 plug on a hot engine, and it felt really strange, low torque to turn it and constant torque (same effort) as it moved. Normally I expect there to be a high torque and then the plug breaks free and low torque or zero torque as it come out, but this felt really different like there is a problem with the threads. I'm wondering if I made a mistake by trying to remove on a hot engine.
05-11-2019, 10:41 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 675
Does it matter if the engine is hot or cold when changing the spark plugs? I've got a misfire on #4, and the plugs are at 60k miles so time to change them. I started to remove #4 plug on a hot engine, and it felt really strange, low torque to turn it and constant torque (same effort) as it moved. Normally I expect there to be a high torque and then the plug breaks free and low torque or zero torque as it come out, but this felt really different like there is a problem with the threads. I'm wondering if I made a mistake by trying to remove on a hot engine.
05-11-2019, 10:45 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 2,979
Does it matter if the engine is hot or cold when changing the spark plugs? I've got a misfire on #4, and the plugs are at 60k miles so time to change them. I started to remove #4 plug on a hot engine, and it felt really strange, low torque to turn it and constant torque (same effort) as it moved. Normally I expect there to be a high torque and then the plug breaks free and low torque or zero torque as it come out, but this felt really different like there is a problem with the threads. I'm wondering if I made a mistake by trying to remove on a hot engine.
Ive always changed plugs while the engine is cold.
I don't like to touch hot things if I don't have to.
So what is the supposed benefit of changing plugs while they are hot?
05-11-2019, 01:08 PM
#17
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 43
I've got a misfire code for #4 cylinder, so I'm going through the diagnostic tests, which means when I get to pulling the plug the engine is hot unless I take a long break.
Finished removing the plug, after I let things cool a bit, and threads look OK.
Color of the plugs looks good, tan. All look about the same.
Replace all the spark plugs with new, misfire still there. Swapped the COP from #4 to #2, misfire still there.
Finished removing the plug, after I let things cool a bit, and threads look OK.
Color of the plugs looks good, tan. All look about the same.
Replace all the spark plugs with new, misfire still there. Swapped the COP from #4 to #2, misfire still there.
05-11-2019, 01:29 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 2,979
I have an original Firestone Polonium spark plug from 1940 ish. It was kinda radioactive at one time. It's half life is 138 days. Should be about as stable as lead by now.
Just goes to show that marketing bull shirt has been around a long time.
Google them. It's interesting.
05-11-2019, 03:45 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 675
I've got a misfire code for #4 cylinder, so I'm going through the diagnostic tests, which means when I get to pulling the plug the engine is hot unless I take a long break.
Finished removing the plug, after I let things cool a bit, and threads look OK.
Color of the plugs looks good, tan. All look about the same.
Replace all the spark plugs with new, misfire still there. Swapped the COP from #4 to #2, misfire still there.
Finished removing the plug, after I let things cool a bit, and threads look OK.
Color of the plugs looks good, tan. All look about the same.
Replace all the spark plugs with new, misfire still there. Swapped the COP from #4 to #2, misfire still there.
05-11-2019, 06:31 PM
#22
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 210
NGK. BUT...
the absolute ONLY reason I would EVER install platinum, iridium, uranium, rufirmemtiwufium, or any other mega-expensive spark plug is if it was such a PITA to get to some or all of them I just didn't want to deal with the hassle except once every 7-8 years (like say, on the 5.5 gen 2002 Maxima I am driving now where you have to remove the whole damn upper intake to get to the rear bank plugs.)
This was NOT an issue on the 4th gen, therefore good old regular ol' NGK V-power copper plugs for me on those. Never ever had a problem with them and they still performed just fine after 60k miles.
the absolute ONLY reason I would EVER install platinum, iridium, uranium, rufirmemtiwufium, or any other mega-expensive spark plug is if it was such a PITA to get to some or all of them I just didn't want to deal with the hassle except once every 7-8 years (like say, on the 5.5 gen 2002 Maxima I am driving now where you have to remove the whole damn upper intake to get to the rear bank plugs.)
This was NOT an issue on the 4th gen, therefore good old regular ol' NGK V-power copper plugs for me on those. Never ever had a problem with them and they still performed just fine after 60k miles.
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