Which platinum plug?

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Aug 3, 2003 | 11:52 AM

flenser

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Which platinum plug?

I'm done racing my '98 TA (autocross) and I'd like to go to a low-maintenance spark plug. I removed my stock plugs at about 40,000 miles and have been using NGK copper plugs for the last 30k or so. I'd like to put in some platinum plugs so I won't have to mess with them again in the forseeable future. Any recommendations? Factory replacements? "Stock" plugs from a dealer? Some brand name?

Thanks in advance!

Aug 3, 2003 | 12:14 PM

02 SOM WS6

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Re: Which platinum plug?

I would put either the NGK TR55IX (7164) Iridium plugs or the more expensive Denso IT16 (5325)Iridium plugs instead of Platinum.

Les

Aug 3, 2003 | 05:24 PM

flenser

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Re: Which platinum plug?

Are the Iridium plugs worth the extra over the NGK TR55 platinums? www.ngk.com lists the iridium, a "double platinum" plug ($12ish each!), and a generic sounding $2.95 platinum. The iridiums are worth $6.95 each over the platinums?

Also, gapping... www.ngk.com says their plugs come at .059, but thunder racing sells their ngk plugs gapped at .05. For an essentially stock setup (good air filter, flowmaster muffler, !CAGS)
should I use .05 or what?

Thanks for any advice!

Aug 3, 2003 | 07:42 PM

02 SOM WS6

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Re: Which platinum plug?

Search around on the internet. You can get the NGK Iridium's for $7 each.

Aug 3, 2003 | 08:56 PM

99 Black Bird T/A

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Re: Which platinum plug?

I'd go with the NGK Iridium's over platinum.

Aug 4, 2003 | 02:53 AM

Screamin_Z

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Re: Which platinum plug?

platinum doesn't last that long. I'd say no more than 3-4,000 miles then the platinum is burnt off. IMO platinum is a waist of time and money.

Aug 4, 2003 | 02:18 PM

Pat-Man

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Re: Which platinum plug?

Most people run the NGK TR-55s because of their copper core. Copper is less resistive to electricity than any other metal but it doesn't last as long as Platinum or Iridium. Platinum is good, but it doesn't offer the resistive properties that copper does. I believe that Iridium is sort of the medium between the two. It offers the durability (high heat tolerances) and it also provides a good path for the spark to flow through. I just got my NGK Iridiums in and I hope they will run better than the crappy Bosch Platinum 4s I am currently running (actually I'm sure that they will). When I first ran NGK TR-55s they came gapped at .059...I just gapped them at .055 and didn't have any problems with them...the Platinum 4s on the other hand...crap in my opinion. So...if you don't mind changing plugs every 25K, get some TR-55s and gap them between .05 or .055...if you don't like changing your plugs a lot, get some Iridiums. Good luck... - Pat

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