A sparkplug's life?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 26
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From: Minneapolis MN
A sparkplug's life?
I see sparkplug manufacturers making claims about their (usually "platinum") plugs lasting 60k to 100k miles. Is this true? Can I just forget about them for the next five years or so? How do I know when they really NEED to be replaced?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis MN
Re: A sparkplug's life? (Red Rage)
Okay, so I guess noboby has had a problem with sparkplugs going bad due to old age. That's a good thing. Maybe everyone just replaces them when the owner's manual tells them to.
I assume that symptoms of a bad plug are something like a rough idle, a drop in power and mpg, and maybe gassy smelling exhaust even after the engine has warmed up.
Any thoughts, anyone? :confused:
[Modified by Red Rage, 9:27 AM 11/30/2001]
I assume that symptoms of a bad plug are something like a rough idle, a drop in power and mpg, and maybe gassy smelling exhaust even after the engine has warmed up.
Any thoughts, anyone? :confused:
[Modified by Red Rage, 9:27 AM 11/30/2001]
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 3,891
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From: Houston, TX
Re: A sparkplug's life? (Red Rage)
Well, I would scrap the Platinum plugs considering performance was not in mind when they put them in there but longevity! Get some copper plugs, like the NGK TR55's. A good guideline for me is to change them with every third oil change. I also use my trip odometer to monitor the performance of my engine. If I usually get xxx amount of miles on a tank and all of a sudden it starts to drop, I probably need a tuneup! :)
Hope this helps,
Hope this helps,
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Fort Worth Texas
Cruise-In II Veteran
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Re: A sparkplug's life? (Red Rage)
In general:
Relative to: change interval - spark delivery, and smooth efficient heat dissapation.
Platinum = longest longevity - good performance
Iridium = moderate longevity - great performance
Copper = short longevity - excellent performance
Relative to: change interval - spark delivery, and smooth efficient heat dissapation.
Platinum = longest longevity - good performance
Iridium = moderate longevity - great performance
Copper = short longevity - excellent performance
