NGK Iridiums
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 191
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From: Dallas, TX
Re: NGK Iridiums [quote]Originally posted by VX SS:
<strong>Anybody used these yet TR55 Iridiums, and how did they perform.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Iridium is an element found near meteor and asteroid strikes around the the earth. It is an extremly hard and durable element. Better than platinum.
Copper is the best conductor of electricity (well silver beats it by a negligble amound but cant be used obviously due to being too soft). The problem is copper relative to platinum or iridium is soft and when the electrons fire from electrode to electrode they slowly erode away the metal or nickel plated copper in the case of a copper plug.
Platium isnt the greatest conductor in the world, but satifies most all street applications, and has the best longevity.
Iridium on the other hand is so hard its center electrode can be made to be very thin at the end. This allows for a much more violent spark as it rushes out the smaller end. Iridium minimizes erosion due to its strength.
Its a comprimise, and iridium actually lasts less as long as platinum in this configuration, but provides similar performance to copper, but much greater longevity.
For the absolute best results stay with a copper plug. One of the best features of a copper plug is its excellent ability to disapate heat efficiently. The sacrifice is the need to change them out more often.
<strong>Anybody used these yet TR55 Iridiums, and how did they perform.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Iridium is an element found near meteor and asteroid strikes around the the earth. It is an extremly hard and durable element. Better than platinum.
Copper is the best conductor of electricity (well silver beats it by a negligble amound but cant be used obviously due to being too soft). The problem is copper relative to platinum or iridium is soft and when the electrons fire from electrode to electrode they slowly erode away the metal or nickel plated copper in the case of a copper plug.
Platium isnt the greatest conductor in the world, but satifies most all street applications, and has the best longevity.
Iridium on the other hand is so hard its center electrode can be made to be very thin at the end. This allows for a much more violent spark as it rushes out the smaller end. Iridium minimizes erosion due to its strength.
Its a comprimise, and iridium actually lasts less as long as platinum in this configuration, but provides similar performance to copper, but much greater longevity.
For the absolute best results stay with a copper plug. One of the best features of a copper plug is its excellent ability to disapate heat efficiently. The sacrifice is the need to change them out more often.
TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,207
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From: College Station, Tx
Re: NGK Iridiums I remember this topic on another board <img src="images/icons/smile.gif" border="0"> (not Ls1.com!)
Anyway kewlbrewz covered most of it - I would just say from a performance standpoint you should be pulling/checking your plugs often enough that you don't even wear out copper. I would stick with copper plugs for the price and the extra hot-spotting resistance. When picking a plug electrical considerations really take a back seat to thermal (resistance air gap >>> resistance of plug).
For long life, etc. iridium is much superior to Pt (in all respects). I really wouldn't reccomend a Pt plug - only Cu or Ir depending on your priorities/budget.
Chris
Anyway kewlbrewz covered most of it - I would just say from a performance standpoint you should be pulling/checking your plugs often enough that you don't even wear out copper. I would stick with copper plugs for the price and the extra hot-spotting resistance. When picking a plug electrical considerations really take a back seat to thermal (resistance air gap >>> resistance of plug).
For long life, etc. iridium is much superior to Pt (in all respects). I really wouldn't reccomend a Pt plug - only Cu or Ir depending on your priorities/budget.
Chris
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Re: NGK Iridiums At $9 each you are better off sticking with the copper plugs at $2 each and changing them twice as often, you'll still save money and copper is less likely to produce detonation than iridium or platinum.
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2
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From: Grand Prairie(Dallas), TX
Re: NGK Iridiums This is what I found on Iridium from BCIT. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[Burnout]" />
Iridium, discovered in 1804, was named after the Latin word iris, meaning rainbow. It was so named because of its colourful salts. Iridium is known as a "platinum metal" because it is found in natural deposits of platinum and along with osmium, its twin element. So, the three elements, osmium, iridium, and platinum are found together, both in nature and on the periodic table of the elements.
Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant of all known metals. It can even withstand attack with hot aqua regia and can be used routinely at temperatures up to 2000 oC. Because it is extremely hard, it is very difficult to machine into useful shapes. Where other metals become less brittle after annealing (a process of heating and slowly cooling), iridium becomes brittle and completely unworkable.
Iridium's most common application is as an alloying agent for hardening platinum. Its alloys make bars used as standard weights and measures. The international "standard meter" is platinium-iridium.
[ November 17, 2001: Message edited by: MY LSS1 ]</p>
Iridium, discovered in 1804, was named after the Latin word iris, meaning rainbow. It was so named because of its colourful salts. Iridium is known as a "platinum metal" because it is found in natural deposits of platinum and along with osmium, its twin element. So, the three elements, osmium, iridium, and platinum are found together, both in nature and on the periodic table of the elements.
Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant of all known metals. It can even withstand attack with hot aqua regia and can be used routinely at temperatures up to 2000 oC. Because it is extremely hard, it is very difficult to machine into useful shapes. Where other metals become less brittle after annealing (a process of heating and slowly cooling), iridium becomes brittle and completely unworkable.
Iridium's most common application is as an alloying agent for hardening platinum. Its alloys make bars used as standard weights and measures. The international "standard meter" is platinium-iridium.
[ November 17, 2001: Message edited by: MY LSS1 ]</p>
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TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,234
Likes: 1
From: Mississauga, Ontario
Re: NGK Iridiums [quote]Originally posted by Acer:
<strong>Which copper plugs are best for the LS1 engine?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Most people like the NGK TR55s the best, or even the TR6s if they want a colder plug. I ran both and they work great, but the TR6s need changing more often (you should change them every 10k cuz they'll foul very quickly)
<strong>Which copper plugs are best for the LS1 engine?</strong><hr></blockquote>
Most people like the NGK TR55s the best, or even the TR6s if they want a colder plug. I ran both and they work great, but the TR6s need changing more often (you should change them every 10k cuz they'll foul very quickly)
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 553
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From: Dallas TX
Re: NGK Iridiums So, the Iridiums look better than the Platinums for those of us who want a longer spark plug change interval?
Guess I'll give them a shot, Spark plugs are on my list of things to do over the Christmas break.
Guess I'll give them a shot, Spark plugs are on my list of things to do over the Christmas break.