When should you replace stock plugs/wires?
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 0
From: Lexington, KY
When should you replace stock plugs/wires? I've got 33k miles on my '01 and I'm still on my stock plugs and wires. I installed my headers last summer so I don't know if that matters as far how much heat damage there might be with the stock plug wires. Anyways, the reason I ask this is because one of my friends told me that you need to replace your plugs and wires at least once a year. How much truth is there to this and should I go ahead and replace my plugs and wires?
Teching In
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
I would say it definitly needs to be done. If you still have your car manual it would tell you when it needs to be done. I know that plug wires need to be changed every 30,000 miles. Plugs might be sooner.
stock plugs/wires = as soon as you drive it off the lot
platinum plugs suck! get some good coppers and replace them every 10-15K
The stock wires are not very good either. I replaced my stockers with MSDs and with only 10K miles on them, the stockers Ohmed out to 8 times the resistance. Get some MSDs, Ohm them new (write this down somewhere), and then whenever you change plugs (again....every 10-15K) just recheck them to make sure they are not going out. If you start to notice a real change in resistance it's time to swap.
MSD wires and NGK Copper plugs
platinum plugs suck! get some good coppers and replace them every 10-15K
The stock wires are not very good either. I replaced my stockers with MSDs and with only 10K miles on them, the stockers Ohmed out to 8 times the resistance. Get some MSDs, Ohm them new (write this down somewhere), and then whenever you change plugs (again....every 10-15K) just recheck them to make sure they are not going out. If you start to notice a real change in resistance it's time to swap.
MSD wires and NGK Copper plugs
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
I would change factory platinum plugs after 20k-25k miles just to get some decent use out of them before throwing them away...once you switch to NGK TR55s (which are better performing but generally will not last even as long stock platinums) I would switch those every 10k-20k max depending on how your car is running (rich lean).
Talking mostly NA cars here, nitrous/FI cars may differ.
Wire can stay in a little longer still but even when switching them out I would still stay with factory OEM wires, I've just heard too many 'hit or miss' stories involving Taylor or MSD aftermarket ones.
Talking mostly NA cars here, nitrous/FI cars may differ.
Wire can stay in a little longer still but even when switching them out I would still stay with factory OEM wires, I've just heard too many 'hit or miss' stories involving Taylor or MSD aftermarket ones.
