im not too keen on buying plugs at 8 dollars a piece for gm. What are some other good ones? i have heard some good and bad things about both the autolites and ngk's...what is yalls experience?

 

The reason the Declo's are so expensive is because they are platinums. NGK TR55's are excellent plugs cheaper because they are not platinum. Autloite 106 is also a very good plug, cheap again because it's not platinum.

Basically if you are looking for a quality non platinum plug you can't go wrong with Autolite, NGK, or AC Delco (I don't know what the delco equivelent non-platinum plug is, but I'm sure it exists)

Just stay away from the gimmick plugs, split fires, etc. Just about anything with the Bosch name on them are junk. Of course you just ruled them out when you said you didn't want to buy anything $8 each.

 

will i lose anything going with a regular plug over a platinum?

 

Some people will tell you yes, others will tell you no. I'm one who's gonna tell you no, especially in the case of the Delco's.

Delco simply takes a normal spark plug and puts an platinum puck on the end of the positve and negative electrode. They actually have a tendency to come off and end up floating around your motor.

The theory around a platinum plug is that platinum won't wear down as quickly, so the plug lasts longer. Also platinum is supposed to have a lower resistance so it takes less energy to fire the plugs. But, if you have plugs that are a plain old core with a platinum tip you really aren't doing yourself any favors in regard to resistance. So a true platinum plug that doesn't just use a platinum tip might give you a longer life and easier starting etc.

In my case I've got long tube headers and so changing the plugs is now a 30 minute job. I've also got an MSD digital 6 ignition box with an MSD coil and MSD plug wires. I KNOW it's gonna fire regardless of what plugs I have, so that's not really an issue for me. I've also heard that platinum plugs might not be the best for a performance application. Performance cars tend to run richer or will vary more than a bone stock car with the stock program. Platinum plugs I have heard (I can't verify this) will foul out much faster if the conditions are less than ideal. So if you can clean the plug you are ok, but that's a hassle. If it ruins the plug you've wasted a lot of money.

For me my plugs are very easy to change and my car is highly modified. Pulling the spark plugs are no big deal and I can use that as a diagnostic aid. I can't see any reason in spending the extra money on a set of high dollar plugs when I consider them a yearly maintanence item to maintain peak performance. If your car is stock and thus it's a PITA to change the plugs, you might consider the platinums.

For the record I currently have delco platinums in my car now (long story) I can't tell that the car runs any better or worse with these than any other plug. The only reason they are still in the car is because they cost me a fortune and I decided I was going to at least get some use out of them before I junked them.

 

I don't think you really gain anything as far as performance by getting a platinum plug..........they simply last longer than a standard plug. I guess it depends how often you feel like replacing your plugs. I like to pull mine every so often anyway to check them out so I didn't feel I really needed platinum plug.

 

I run the A/C plugs as recommended by GM and the performance shop i shop at. He builds some monsters and swears by them.

 

I put AC Rapid Fires in my 90 convertible. I think they were about $3.50 a piece from Zip Products. They made a big difference in accelleration.

 

Check out satyr7777's post in the C4 parts for sale section...$18 including shipping for brand new rapidfires... :D

 

:rolleyes: Pull your head out dude. I've used AND abused Bosch for years on everything from motorcycles to big blocks...not one single problem. :yesnod:

 

No matter what plug you have, if they are new and healthy, you won't notice a difference in day to day driving.

If you don't want to change them for another 70,000-100,000 miles go for the plats.

I use iridiums, they work well. They have a very fine tip. Do they make a difference, hell if I know.

 

I used to think it did not matter. But In my experience I would stick with the OEM. I was a tech for 10 years at a dealership (ricers though) and if someone had a drivability problem and had had the car tuned up at an aftermarket shop and they did not use the OEM plugs and wires that was the first thing we did and it usually worked. Some makes may be more succeptable then others but why take the chance.

 

Damn people. What's the deal with giving an opinion. I'm trying to save the man some time and money. My opinion which is every bit as valuable as your opinion and my experience which is every bit as valuable as your experience has been the Bosch just doesn't live up to the hype.

I've personally tried a variety of Bosch products and none of them have performed up to the claims. In fact $32 for a set of 4 Bosch +4 plugs created a blatent misfire in my old car. Within 1 day I changed the plugs to Bosch, developed a misfire, double checked all the plug wires, misfire was still there, put the Delco's back in and the misfire was gone never to return. Now luckily that was on a 4-cyl that was extremely easy to change the plugs on.

I could just as easily tell you the same thing about your head and certain other body parts, but I'm not gonna. He'll get everybody's opinion and make his own choice.

WHY DOES EVERYBODY HAVE TO MAKE EVERYTHING PERSONAL?????

 

AC rapid fires smoothed the idle and gave more crisp acceleration and easier starting. I feel they were worth the time.

 

:cheers:

 

Right on, Nathan. Let's chill out on ragging each other. :cool:

 

I've always used AC Delco Rapidfires with no problems. Better start-up at the least. :chevy

 

I have an 88 35th anniversary and use the Bosch platinum 4 + and don't have any problems with them. I go along with the others get what you like and remember , it takes a few hours to get those changed so better get top line .

 

I have had problems with bosch platinums numerous times in L98 cars that I've owned. They slowly developed a misfire all 3 times i used them. Could be just a coincidence, but i stick with stock AC plugs or AC rapidfires and never had problems. Not to bring this back up, I just had to respond to my experience with bosch plugs. I also ran NGK TR55's in my 98 and noticed a much smother idle quality over the delco platinums that were in it. They did have 70K on them when they were swapped for the NGK's, though!

 

i have used almost every plug out there. the NGKs are great. I dont use delco cuz theyre just for long life and warranty requirements. Longer lasting plugs dont mean better performance. Ever notice platinum tips are very small?? thats cuz they allow a little spark to keep them from wearing down fast.... to the tune of 100,000k miles. You gotta be joking if you want to be running fast and still have even 10k mile plugs in them. Anyhow personally, with my callaway headers.... i can change them literally in 10 minutes. And my fastest times i ever got, with any combination i tried was with ACCEL U grooves.. most of u are probably shocked right now. They are amazing. I cant say i notice an improvement... cuz its always in the mind unless plugs are bad, but these plugs were always in when i ran fast and they work great.
I even changed plugs one day at the track....

Bosch +4s 12.82 @ 110.8

Accel U groove 12.93 @ 112.7

not sure if a slower time means anything to u guys, but mph sure does. Both runs were run with the car running for 1/2 hr in the staging lanes (it runs cool with the mezziere).

Also, with an ignition system, stay away from platinum. It can only allow a certain amount of spark to be emitted because of its tiny size. I have a crane hi-6, and i swear by Accel U groove.
Bosch :boxing NGK :boxing AC delco :boxing Champion :boxing PepBoys LOL :boxing

 

i know im not a pro at the conditions at the track and all and shift points and stuff...... all runs i did before the change is represented by the best run and mph. Note.... all of the runs i did after the change gave me minimun of 1.3 mph and max of quite a bit more...

both sets of plugs were new.

ps: ACCEL was delighted to hear my test !!