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I changed the plugs and wires in my 2003 last summer (pita). I checked with my Chevy dealer they used my VIN and it came up with platinum plugs. I also verified this with AC Delco so that is what I installed. Car runs great
Any new rare metal plugs will make your car run better.. NEW "RARE" Plugs X, Y or Z will all provide the same improvement.
For what its worth,, The "RARE METAL" title ONLY allows the plug to survive more miles before it needs to be replaced. It does "NOT" make more performance!
TRUST ME,, If GM knew of a spark plug that made MORE HP,,,, It would ALREADLY be incorported in your engine.
The ONLY reason rare metal plugs are being used is becaused they allow you to " maintain emissions" for 80,000 miles before replacement is manditory!
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Feb 28, 2015 at 12:33 AM.
All you smart guys, I need a sanity check regarding plug change.
I have an 02 coupe, MN6, with 56k miles, all stock except a black-wing air intake. Per the discussion in this thread, I changed the plugs last week to the 41-110 and gapped them .04. I also changed the wires (broke #5 while removing it) to Taylor 409's. I did not reinstall the heat shields as they would not fit with the Taylor wires. I used silicon grease at the top of the plug wire to the coil and at the bottom of the plug wire to the plug. Also put a drop of synthetic oil on the plug threads prior to inserting. No problems during the R&R except #7 is a PITA!
Drove the car today (about 10 miles to work) and noted a slight burning smell when I shut the car off (noted no smell while driving). Had not smelled this before, so I checked the wires to ensure nothing was touching metal, and none were. Smell went away in about 3 minutes -- all gauges in the car were at normal operating temps/indications. I also checked the engine bay to ensure I did not leave anything behind. My question(s); is this smell normal after a plug change? Could the smell be coming from the silicon grease (I have never used the grease before on plugs and wires)? Perhaps the drop of oil burning off the plug threads? Could the smell be coming from the new wires (they did not feel very hot)? I also noted that the owners manual said the plug gap should be .06 but I assume that to be for the old stock plugs -- I checked the old ones as I pulled them out and they were closer to .06 than .04. If this smell is normal after a plug change, when does it stop...if its not normal, what next?
Im sure that after a few heat cool cycles, the smell should go away. If it doesnt,, look for any excessive foreign substance on your plugs or waires or the block.
I know in the past I have read that the "rare metal" plugs are more prone to fouling when used in vehicles that are only driven short distances (i.e. don't get up to operating temp on a consistent basis). Perhaps this was more of an issue on carbureted engines. Do you have any thoughts on this?
OP:
On my car, which is pretty much stock, I went with the red GM performance wires and NGK copper plugs. I know these plugs will require changing out more often than the rare earth ones, but I am OK with that.
Im sure that after a few heat cool cycles, the smell should go away. If it doesnt,, look for any excessive foreign substance on your plugs or waires or the block.
You should be fine.
BC
Thanks Bill! Drove the car again today and the smell did not seem as bad...thanks for helping with my piece of mind. By the way, I enjoy reading your posts -- looks like you have these cars just about figured out, maybe even more so than the folks that designed and built them! I suspect I will be PM'ing you in the future.