When my Max hit 59K miles last year, I went down to Santa Monica Nissan to buy a set of plugs for it, having heard that OEM plugs were the thing to get. When they rang me up $70 for six plugs, I thought they meant they were putting them in for me! I'd never spent more that a couple of bucks for a spark plug and suspected that the dealer was just trying to rip me off.

So, I went to Kragen and bought 6 Autolite Platinum plugs and put them in. Engine ran fine, that is, just like it had before the new plugs. "Hah!", I said, "these $2 plugs are just as good!"

Since then I've become educated by this board (Maintenence Items FAQ, R.I.P.!!), and picked up a set of NGK plats from Courtesy Nissan and put them in over the weekend (I'm at 79k now)

WOW!! Ok, for all you disbelievers out there, take it from a former disbeliever: These plugs really do make all the difference! Worth every penny.

What it comes down to is this: Brand new $2 Autolite Platinum plugs performed just as well as a set of completely worn out NGK plugs. It took the real deal plug to get my car to run like it had back when I bought it. Don't cheap out, get the right thing!

 

Thats a good comparison to show people why they can be much better off with the "real deal" as you called it. Good report on the two. So where di you notice a pickup now?

SuDZ

 

Thanks for sharing Chuck.

 

Yes, thanks for doing this comparison. I know that OEM (in my case NGK Laser Platinums) is the way to go, but this makes it easier for me when I have to pay the big $$$!

 

I notice the change most prominently in the power available upon accelleration; both from a stop and when passing on the highway. The engine just seems to be smoother and more powerful throughout.

I used to have a 1971 Mercedes Benz 280SE that I put Bosch platinums into. It ran horribly after that! I was talking to an elderly man in a parking lot who had the same car and asked him about what plugs he used and he said the only ones worth trying in that car were $0.98 Bosch Copper plugs, and he was right. IT seems like the budget manufacturers use a very tiny amount of platinum in their plugs. If you 've seen a Bosch platinum plug, there is a little tiny spot on the end of the ceramic insulator that is your center electrode. It's like 1/32" or something. In a high mileage (300k) car like my old Benz, that little platinum spot was easily fouled. Look at the center electrode in an NGK plug. It's nice and thick and isn't completely surrounded by ceramic. That's why it's so expensive- it contains a lot more platinum than the cheapies do.

 

You're right Chuck. I have Bosch Plat +4's and there was a little drop in low end performance. Back to the NGK's my next go round.

 

Alight, your testimony was enough. I feel like changing my plugs now. Where is the cheapest place to get the stock plugs (Laser Platnums)? Will I gain if i move up to the Iidium IXs? Thanx