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The Truth About Spark Plugs....

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by chris4x4, Apr 20, 2011.

Page 9 of 13
  1. Jan 20, 2016 at 7:30 PM
    #161
    midewo

    #161
    midewo Member

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    yeah,
    was checking my maintenance log on my 2002 tacoma 2rz-fe (106k), and somehow 40K ago (before i was a tw member), i installed myself bosch platinum +4 (4418) plugs. i was sold them at a so cal auto parts place...kragen. but i have had no problems... my mileage is good, truck runs smooth, has never failed smog. i did have to replace my front o2 sensor 15k miles later... is that related??? the new toyota o2 is still going strong, so i am not sure the bosch caused that.

    so now what do i do???? the bosch have been installed for almost 10 years!!! i looked / verified in my om, the oem denso/ngk plugs stated earlier/above.... should i change the bosch out and use the
    $3 denso k16r-u11 denso 3120 spark plug
    denso k16r-u11 ???? should i keep using the bosch, but get new ones????

    i think i should use the oem denso's... with all the info from this great thread...but i am open to any feedback advice

    has my ecm learned the bosch characteristics? should i remove the negative bat cable while putting the densos in?
    thank you all!!!!!!!

    /midewo
     
    midewo, Jan 20, 2016
    #161
  2. Jan 24, 2016 at 4:21 PM
    #162
    TRVLR500

    #162
    TRVLR500 Well-Known Member

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    If there is only 40,000 miles on the plugs they might not need to be replaced. Pull them out and look at them and then decide.
     
    TRVLR500, Jan 24, 2016
    #162
  3. May 20, 2016 at 10:22 AM
    #163
    FishaRnekEd

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    FishaRnekEd Well-Known Member

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    I have always used NGK in my trucks, cars and bikes so im not sure about other brands.

    but fore sure, iridium lasts longer than platinum and platinum lasts longer than the cheap ones (I think nickel)

    I even ended up using several of each on my old dodge ram (the store only had a few of each left.)
    after about 20k, the cheap ones had more gap but the platinum and iridium had the proper gap still.

    if you are changing them yourself, or paying for labor, it is totally worth it to pay twice as much per plug for the iridium because they last 2-3 times longer.

    trying to get "more spark" would depend on the ENTIRE ignition system wiring, coils, computer, battery etc..., not just the plug.
     
    FishaRnekEd, May 20, 2016
    #163
  4. May 20, 2016 at 10:24 AM
    #164
    FishaRnekEd

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    FishaRnekEd Well-Known Member

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    getting into the issue of heat range is a whole nother topic relating to altitude, atmospheric temp, type of fuel, air/exhaust/fuel flow etc. Its more of an issue when dealing with carbureted engines that have been modified and jetted.
     
    FishaRnekEd, May 20, 2016
    #164
  5. May 31, 2016 at 5:32 PM
    #165
    Sicyota04

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    Sicyota04 Slowly but surely.

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    What about E-3 Diamond Fire Technology? Lol!
     
    Sicyota04, May 31, 2016
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  6. Jun 1, 2016 at 10:22 AM
    #166
    FishaRnekEd

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    FishaRnekEd Well-Known Member

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    LmfAo...


    I used to work on 4 separate fleets of motorcyles.

    I was able to figure out what maintenance things do/don't work.
     
    FishaRnekEd, Jun 1, 2016
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  7. Jun 1, 2016 at 1:35 PM
    #167
    127.0.0.1

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    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    plain old replace-every-30,000-copper plugs work better than iridium or platinum or unobtanium

    copper has the least electrical resistance of any of the other
    metals used in plugs. you cannot get a better spark than a copper plug
    point blank not gonna happen. they just sacrifice more of the metal tip for that better spark,
    hence, replacement more often.

    a plug is a plug is a plug but if your chariot is rated for copper plugs it is a fools errand to install anything else
     
    127.0.0.1, Jun 1, 2016
    #167
  8. Jun 1, 2016 at 1:41 PM
    #168
    FishaRnekEd

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    FishaRnekEd Well-Known Member

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    ALL plugs are copper core.

    we are talking about the tip. JUST THE TIP

    there is no copper tip. Lmfao, that would just disintegrate
     
    FishaRnekEd, Jun 1, 2016
    #168
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  9. Jun 1, 2016 at 1:48 PM
    #169
    127.0.0.1

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    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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    copper plugs have copper tips surrounded by nickel alloy

    still more conductive than iridium or platinum

    iridium tips and platinum tips are nickle alloy based and less conductive
    than the nickel tip of a copper plug. they just last a long time but ...produce less spark.


    my point is
    all the jimmajam about fancy plugs is to steal money from yer wallet.

    unless your engine is specified to run a specific iridium or platinum plug type,
    throw cheap copper ones in and spend your savings on blackjack and hookers
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2016
    127.0.0.1, Jun 1, 2016
    #169
  10. Jun 1, 2016 at 9:46 PM
    #170
    TRVLR500

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    TRVLR500 Well-Known Member

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    This is true. I put iridiums in my taco for one reason only. They'll last 100,000 miles. Copper is the best conductor by far. I did Iridiums because I won't be forced to take them out and go through the hassle every 30,000. I'll check them at 50,000. Iridiums are for the lazy guys like me and there was no difference in fuel mileage or perfrmance when I went from stock copper to Iridiums.
     
    TRVLR500, Jun 1, 2016
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  11. Jun 2, 2016 at 6:23 PM
    #171
    FishaRnekEd

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    FishaRnekEd Well-Known Member

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    Well, when you put it that way, my hooker funds are getting kind of low.
     
    FishaRnekEd, Jun 2, 2016
    #171
  12. Oct 18, 2016 at 8:28 PM
    #172
    Lifeofbrian

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    Lifeofbrian Longing for the far East

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    Stuff
    stupid me but i have a 08 4.0 trd, which engine do i have? lol 2TR-FE engine or 1GR-FE engine? I have never heard that terminology. Thanks!
     
    Lifeofbrian, Oct 18, 2016
    #172
  13. Oct 18, 2016 at 8:35 PM
    #173
    worthywads

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    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    worthywads, Oct 18, 2016
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  14. Oct 18, 2016 at 8:38 PM
    #174
    Lifeofbrian

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    Lifeofbrian Longing for the far East

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    funny thing, i actually did google it, but then i decided to ask because i didnt want to read into it. :notsure: long day!
     
    Lifeofbrian, Oct 18, 2016
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  15. Oct 18, 2016 at 8:40 PM
    #175
    worthywads

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    worthywads Well-Known Member

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    I can tell by glancing at the first results.
     
    worthywads, Oct 18, 2016
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  16. Oct 18, 2016 at 8:51 PM
    #176
    Benzdriver81

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    Benzdriver81 Making it fool-proof will just make a better fool

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    What about iridium plugs "not fowling?" Don't think this is a Tacoma issue, but on carbureted motorcycles, it's recommend to put in iridium plugs.
     
    Benzdriver81, Oct 18, 2016
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  17. Oct 18, 2016 at 9:00 PM
    #177
    chris4x4

    #177
    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    I really don't think any fowl will fit in an iridium plug
     
    chris4x4, Oct 18, 2016
    #177
    Stryker420, TacoCat, NAAC3TACO and 1 other person like this.
  18. Oct 19, 2016 at 6:59 AM
    #178
    Benzdriver81

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    Benzdriver81 Making it fool-proof will just make a better fool

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    Hahaha, touche. DYAC
    *fouling
     
    Benzdriver81, Oct 19, 2016
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  19. Oct 19, 2016 at 7:18 AM
    #179
    chris4x4

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    chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    To answer your questions, I think, Iridium plug aren't as conductive as the OEM Copper/Nickle plugs. Only need to use Irridium plugs to lengthen plug change duration, or if you are force inducted. The OEM plugs give the hottest spark, so switching to an iridium plug could give less performance.
     
    chris4x4, Oct 19, 2016
    #179
  20. Oct 22, 2016 at 6:51 PM
    #180
    TRVLR500

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    TRVLR500 Well-Known Member

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    You're right. Copper is a better conductor than anything else. Platinum and Iridium just last a lot longer. I have Iridiums in mine and I did it for that very reason. I didn't want to "have" to change them at 30,000 miles if i didn't want to. I did pull them after the first 30,000 just to take a look. I doubt I'll look at them again for at least 60,000 and then it will be just about time to change them anyway. I noticed absolutely no difference in fuel mileage or performance when I changed to the Iridiums.
     
    TRVLR500, Oct 22, 2016
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