General Maxima Discussion This a general area for Maxima discussions for all years. For more specific questions, visit one of the generation-specific forums.

Talk me out of NGK V power.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-22-2010, 07:48 PM
  #1  
Gram Lights addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
QT1 5MT AE's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 1,529
Talk me out of NGK V power.

V Powers are copper and copper has the best conductivity. Yes the NGK Irridium and Platinum last 100k but Im not planning to keep my 5th gen anywhere near that long after plug swap. maybe just another 30k which is good for 3 years and the life of the copper v powers.

so tell me again why i should spend $60+ on Irridum/Platinum instead of $15 on V powers.......... Irridum IX is a close second choice...
QT1 5MT AE is offline  
Old 06-22-2010, 07:58 PM
  #2  
Jesus was a Zombie.
iTrader: (7)
 
BenStoked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OKC, OK
Posts: 3,965
get the coppers.
less$$$ (I think it was $15 when I got mine?)

the better plugs do perform better, but you wouldn't care to drop the money if you were aiming for that.
BenStoked is offline  
Old 06-22-2010, 09:04 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Froggmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,888
Got them in mine and no problems so far. The way I see it I'll likely be in there every 30-35K just to keep an eye on things anyway.
Froggmann is offline  
Old 06-23-2010, 05:32 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
cashoit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 4,011
I put some AZ cheapo platinum plugs in mine and no issues.

NGK Platinums last longer but coppers will work jus fine. 30k is 2 yrs jus about.
cashoit is offline  
Old 06-23-2010, 06:27 AM
  #5  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Maxtank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Shippensburg, PA
Posts: 1,781
Cheap enough to replace every year, (my car sits a lot, so they go bad faster) and they perform well. You wont see a performance difference vs platinums/iridiums/whatever
Maxtank is offline  
Old 06-23-2010, 06:08 PM
  #6  
Gram Lights addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
QT1 5MT AE's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 1,529
So i went ahead and bought the V powers @ 2.09 each. All 6 costed less than a single platinum/iridium.

At this price, I dont even mind tossing them out once a year for fresh ones. that would be 10k on a set.
QT1 5MT AE is offline  
Old 06-24-2010, 09:33 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Froggmann's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Vacaville, Ca
Posts: 1,888
Originally Posted by QT1 5MT AE
So i went ahead and bought the V powers @ 2.09 each. All 6 costed less than a single platinum/iridium.

At this price, I dont even mind tossing them out once a year for fresh ones. that would be 10k on a set.
Overkill, but it's your ride.
Froggmann is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 04:50 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
 
nalc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ / Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 1,325
Not really sure why people make such a big fuss about how long spark plugs last for. They are not that difficult to change (at least not on the 4th gen). It's as labor intensive as an oil change, so I really don't see why you would spend more money to only have to do it every five years instead of every two years. Either way, it's less than an hour job.
nalc is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 06:14 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
cashoit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 4,011
Originally Posted by nalc
Either way, it's less than an hour job.
I dont understand how ppl are saying that. THis is like the third time someone has sd this. On a 4 cylinder, i can see plugs taking a hr. But on the max, its gonna take at least 1.5 hrs. The firewall side plugs are a pain.
cashoit is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 08:03 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Rhyno02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 0
Originally Posted by QT1 5MT AE
So i went ahead and bought the V powers @ 2.09 each. All 6 costed less than a single platinum/iridium.

At this price, I dont even mind tossing them out once a year for fresh ones. that would be 10k on a set.
Not trying to stir the pot but my ngk iridium's were not $12/each. I got 6 shipped for $52. That's like $8 and change a piece. I understand that's still 4x the cost of yours but they'll be the last set of plugs I buy for at least 5-7 years mileage wise, so I don't see that as a huge investment.
Rhyno02 is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 08:58 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (11)
 
nalc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ / Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 1,325
Originally Posted by cashoit
I dont understand how ppl are saying that. THis is like the third time someone has sd this. On a 4 cylinder, i can see plugs taking a hr. But on the max, its gonna take at least 1.5 hrs. The firewall side plugs are a pain.
Erm? You have to reach a little farther to get at them, but otherwise they're the same as the front. Unclip the coilpacks, undo the two screws on each coilpack, then take the plug out. Just need a spark plug socket (with the rubber grommet in it) and some extension, and it's easy. The hardest part for me was when I dropped one of the coil pack screws, and had to go hunting for it under the UIM with needlenose pliers.
nalc is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 10:27 AM
  #12  
Jesus was a Zombie.
iTrader: (7)
 
BenStoked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OKC, OK
Posts: 3,965
Originally Posted by Rhyno02
Not trying to stir the pot but my ngk iridium's were not $12/each. I got 6 shipped for $52. That's like $8 and change a piece. I understand that's still 4x the cost of yours but they'll be the last set of plugs I buy for at least 5-7 years mileage wise, so I don't see that as a huge investment.
you stirred it
I changed my coppers out a couple of months ago. they were about two and a half years old. They were also perfectly fine.
so, for 1/4 the price (as you say), mine will last approx 1/2 to 1/3 as long, based on your est.
copper sounds like the better bargain, again.
BenStoked is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 11:40 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Bobo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,190
The plugs on my 95SE were replaced 2-1/4 years ago after 12.5 years and 67,000 miles with OEM NGK laser platinum plugs. For my money, I couldn't be bothered with copper plugs. The existing plugs will probably be in place for at least another 10 years.
Bobo is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 01:18 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Rhyno02's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 0
Originally Posted by BenStoked
you stirred it
I changed my coppers out a couple of months ago. they were about two and a half years old. They were also perfectly fine.
so, for 1/4 the price (as you say), mine will last approx 1/2 to 1/3 as long, based on your est.
copper sounds like the better bargain, again.
That "guess-timation" was based on the fact that I drive 15-20K/year so obvously theyll last longer (time-wise) for someone who drives less. If I spend $52 for 100K and you spend $12 for 50K (to go on the high side and make the math easy), so you'll be spending $24, saving $28 per your 100K vs. my 100K. That's over the course of what 5-7 years? Woop-tee-doo...

I mean if youre excited about saving $5/year. Have at it. I'll spend the extra money and do it half as often.

Last edited by Rhyno02; 06-25-2010 at 01:27 PM.
Rhyno02 is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 04:00 PM
  #15  
Gram Lights addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
QT1 5MT AE's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 1,529
again everyone missed the key point in this thread....

i will have the car for no more than 30,000....
QT1 5MT AE is offline  
Old 06-25-2010, 04:36 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
SteveB123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ottawa Ontario
Posts: 1,023
Originally Posted by QT1 5MT AE
maybe just another 30k which is good for 3 years and the life of the copper v powers.
That's why.
The last year driving will be at the very end of the life of the plugs.
SteveB123 is offline  
Old 07-07-2010, 05:18 PM
  #17  
Junior Member
 
cdmapro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 79
it is good practice to inspect your plugs once a year to head off any potential engine problems (blown head gasket, sticky fuel injector, bad O2 sensor, etc). as long as you have the plugs out you might as well replace them with coppers. this advice may not apply to those who can't access their back bank plugs (5th gens?). mine is an easy access 4th gen.
cdmapro is offline  
Old 07-07-2010, 10:11 PM
  #18  
SuPeRmOd
iTrader: (6)
 
NismoMax80's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 6,377
Originally Posted by nalc
Not really sure why people make such a big fuss about how long spark plugs last for. They are not that difficult to change (at least not on the 4th gen). It's as labor intensive as an oil change, so I really don't see why you would spend more money to only have to do it every five years instead of every two years. Either way, it's less than an hour job.
you do not own a 3.5
NismoMax80 is offline  
Old 07-07-2010, 11:16 PM
  #19  
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (30)
 
MrGone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: 127.0.0.1
Posts: 40,646
Use the coppers
MrGone is offline  
Old 07-11-2010, 10:48 AM
  #20  
Junior Member
 
dan.worts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 81
Originally Posted by QT1 5MT AE
again everyone missed the key point in this thread....

i will have the car for no more than 30,000....
which means this thread is done, right everyone?

........

if you are putting plugs in your car that you expect to drive for awhile, these are imo the best option

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...GRPTUNEAMS____

dan.worts is offline  
Old 07-14-2010, 07:27 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
cashoit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Worcester, MA
Posts: 4,011
Originally Posted by nalc
Erm? You have to reach a little farther to get at them, but otherwise they're the same as the front. Unclip the coilpacks, undo the two screws on each coilpack, then take the plug out. Just need a spark plug socket (with the rubber grommet in it) and some extension, and it's easy. The hardest part for me was when I dropped one of the coil pack screws, and had to go hunting for it under the UIM with needlenose pliers.

thats what it is!!!!

I dont have a socket head with the rubber grommet. Ok makes sense now.
cashoit is offline  
Old 07-19-2010, 10:06 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Gemner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hayward, CA
Posts: 1,393
Originally Posted by NismoMax80
you do not own a 3.5
only takes me a half hour to change my plugs
Gemner is offline  
Old 07-20-2010, 05:20 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
twiggy144's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Montreal
Posts: 742
Originally Posted by Gemner
only takes me a half hour to change my plugs
really ? with a 3.5 engine ? while taking part if the intake off ? You do it in a very good time !
twiggy144 is offline  
Old 07-20-2010, 11:08 AM
  #24  
dot dot dot ...
iTrader: (22)
 
NmexMAX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 34,588
A few of us that wrench regularly can remove the 5.5 gen IM in 15 minutes, but that's because we don't leave all the gagetry on there that need not be on there, and we've done it a few times.

For clarification on the subject, the 5.5 gens difference in spark plugs (Ir/Pt/Cu) price is negligible. For the 5.5 gen, there is like a 1 or 2 dollar difference from Cu to Ir. So I went with Ir because of that, and also the Cu's were still 7$ a pop.

The 3.0, that's a different story. They range from like $1.98 for Cu to 15$ for Ir or even Pt sometimes. I've always used Cu for my VQ30 because 6 plugs went for like 12$ total.
NmexMAX is offline  
Old 07-28-2010, 03:31 PM
  #25  
Gram Lights addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
QT1 5MT AE's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 1,529
Finally got around to changing the plugs last night......

Here are the Laser Plats....... Im no expert in analzying used plugs but they seem pretty clean to me and the tips still seem to be in the same sharpness thanks to laser cutting.

Do they look like they have 83k on them??

For what its worth....... this is after a full tank with 16oz chevron techron followed by a full tank with a full 16oz bottle of sea foam....



QT1 5MT AE is offline  
Old 08-15-2010, 03:08 PM
  #26  
Senior Member
 
sascuderi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 1,329
Are the treads supposed to be coated in oil?
sascuderi is offline  
Old 08-15-2010, 04:27 PM
  #27  
Gram Lights addict
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
QT1 5MT AE's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CA
Posts: 1,529
hmmmm Perhaps i need new valve cover gasket...... there is def a drop or two of oil on each plug.... cant be rings on all 6 now...
QT1 5MT AE is offline  
Old 02-27-2014, 08:20 PM
  #28  
Junior Member
 
chrisconley1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Quincy, MA
Posts: 44
Originally Posted by cashoit
I dont understand how ppl are saying that. THis is like the third time someone has sd this. On a 4 cylinder, i can see plugs taking a hr. But on the max, its gonna take at least 1.5 hrs. The firewall side plugs are a pain.
spark plugs on a 4 cyl should take no longer than 10-15 minutes.

I recently did spark plugs, transmission fluid drain and fill, coolant drain and fill, cabin filter, engine filter, engine oil and filter change on a 2008 hyundai elantra 4 cyl in 45 minutes total for everything on rhino ramps with a basic socket set. first i pulled the coolant pepcock, while that was draining i replaced the spark plugs, then changed the air filters, then crawled under and closed the pepcock, drained the oil from the engine and trans, changed the oil filter. back up top and filled the coolant, trans, and oil. ran the engine, shifted through the gears to cycle the trans fluid and fill the oil filter and burp the coolant. topped everything off and done.
chrisconley1 is offline  
Old 02-27-2014, 08:22 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
george__'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Earth
Posts: 4,227
Just get whatever is OEM grade
george__ is offline  
Old 02-27-2014, 09:26 PM
  #30  
Administrator
iTrader: (43)
 
The Wizard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Southern California
Posts: 16,637
Originally Posted by chrisconley1
spark plugs on a 4 cyl should take no longer than 10-15 minutes.

I recently did spark plugs, transmission fluid drain and fill, coolant drain and fill, cabin filter, engine filter, engine oil and filter change on a 2008 hyundai elantra 4 cyl in 45 minutes total for everything on rhino ramps with a basic socket set. first i pulled the coolant pepcock, while that was draining i replaced the spark plugs, then changed the air filters, then crawled under and closed the pepcock, drained the oil from the engine and trans, changed the oil filter. back up top and filled the coolant, trans, and oil. ran the engine, shifted through the gears to cycle the trans fluid and fill the oil filter and burp the coolant. topped everything off and done.
And the reason you bumped a thread from 2010 is because?...

And your response has nothing to do with the original question asked...

And your rambling on about maintenance on a 4 banger Hyundai...

Triple FAIL
The Wizard is offline  
Old 02-28-2014, 12:09 PM
  #31  
Senior Member
 
FanaticMadMax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: NM
Posts: 2,145
This Post is overkill. Iridium is beneficial on three things, they last long as Platinum 100k miles also unlike Platinum there no gap errosion, as Platinum and copper would do and lastly Iridium has more powerful spark. It would save you time if you don't like to change out copper frequently as per life of it every 10k-15k miles vs 100K miles on Platinum and Irdium. Currently on my car I had my plugs changed at 60k, went from OEM Platinum to Iridium Plustar plugs, worth every money and seen some gain on MPG by 1-2miles cleaner burn.
FanaticMadMax is offline  
Old 02-28-2014, 02:50 PM
  #32  
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
 
njmaxseltd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,033
njmaxseltd is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Excalibur23
Maximas for Sale / Wanted
5
10-13-2015 04:33 PM
jchronis2552
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
09-21-2015 05:52 AM
pears
5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003)
15
09-18-2015 05:25 AM



Quick Reply: Talk me out of NGK V power.



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:34 PM.