new spark plugs?
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: San Francisco CA
new spark plugs?
Hi all
I have a 18 year old 2000 C5 with 31K mi. Runs great. No problems. Original platinum plugs I believe. Manual says don't need to be replaced until 100k! Seems like a very long interval. Especially given age of mine and low mi.
Can anyone recommend a good replacement spark plug for general use (not tracking) but of course looking for best performance.
I've read that Platinum plugs are one of the least efficient (conductive? probably using wrong term here) but longest lasting and copper is good and silver is best but needs replacement more often which is OK by me. Changing more often (25-30K) with a little anti sieze on the threads might make doing so a bit easier.
Concerned that leaving original plugs in for that long that they will be a bear to get out and performance will decline And might not be best plug choice given 18 years worth of potential spark plug technology improvements.
Any thoughts? Personal experience?
Thanks!
PS
Other side of the coin is, if it ain't broke don't fix it!
I have a 18 year old 2000 C5 with 31K mi. Runs great. No problems. Original platinum plugs I believe. Manual says don't need to be replaced until 100k! Seems like a very long interval. Especially given age of mine and low mi.
Can anyone recommend a good replacement spark plug for general use (not tracking) but of course looking for best performance.
I've read that Platinum plugs are one of the least efficient (conductive? probably using wrong term here) but longest lasting and copper is good and silver is best but needs replacement more often which is OK by me. Changing more often (25-30K) with a little anti sieze on the threads might make doing so a bit easier.
Concerned that leaving original plugs in for that long that they will be a bear to get out and performance will decline And might not be best plug choice given 18 years worth of potential spark plug technology improvements.
Any thoughts? Personal experience?
Thanks!
PS
Other side of the coin is, if it ain't broke don't fix it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
The AC Delco replacement plugs are now upgraded to irridium plugs.. I "think" the part is 41-100..
Just check with your local parts store ..
You will NEED new plug wires when you do this.. After 18 years, You will be hard pressed to remove
the wires cleanly intact.. Plus, they break down over TIME... TIME is just as hard on regular maint items as is Mileage
Just check with your local parts store ..
You will NEED new plug wires when you do this.. After 18 years, You will be hard pressed to remove
the wires cleanly intact.. Plus, they break down over TIME... TIME is just as hard on regular maint items as is Mileage
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: San Francisco CA
The AC Delco replacement plugs are now upgraded to irridium plugs.. I "think" the part is 41-100..
Just check with your local parts store ..
You will NEED new plug wires when you do this.. After 18 years, You will be hard pressed to remove
the wires cleanly intact.. Plus, they break down over TIME... TIME is just as hard on regular maint items as is Mileage
Just check with your local parts store ..
You will NEED new plug wires when you do this.. After 18 years, You will be hard pressed to remove
the wires cleanly intact.. Plus, they break down over TIME... TIME is just as hard on regular maint items as is Mileage
Jeez now "irridium" .
Makes sense to do new wires and some dielectric grease in boots if i"m there anyway, Any thoughts on good plug wires? I always kind of lean towards not trying to out think the GM engineers and just go with the AC Delco recommended. But only had vette a couple years and still learning.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 938
From: Orlando Florida
Your plugs may be just fine. The only issue with age - in this case - is that the double platinum plugs of that vintage have a tendency for the ground end platinum pad to disappear. On my '99, 5 out of 8 were MIA.
Lots and lots and lots of recommendations here for General Motors GMPP Red Performance Wires, 12495519. They fit the original heat shields, have low resistance, and, obviously, look sufficiently cool under the hood. To those wires I'll add my recommendation for Lisle 51410 plug wire pliers. Old, old plug boots are likely to be stuck good. The Lisle's have a ring nose at an angle to help break the boots loose. I also recommend the GearWrench 80546 plug socket. It has an attached 3 inch wobble extension, and uses magnets instead of a rubber insert.
Lots and lots and lots of recommendations here for General Motors GMPP Red Performance Wires, 12495519. They fit the original heat shields, have low resistance, and, obviously, look sufficiently cool under the hood. To those wires I'll add my recommendation for Lisle 51410 plug wire pliers. Old, old plug boots are likely to be stuck good. The Lisle's have a ring nose at an angle to help break the boots loose. I also recommend the GearWrench 80546 plug socket. It has an attached 3 inch wobble extension, and uses magnets instead of a rubber insert.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: San Francisco CA
Your plugs may be just fine. The only issue with age - in this case - is that the double platinum plugs of that vintage have a tendency for the ground end platinum pad to disappear. On my '99, 5 out of 8 were MIA.
Lots and lots and lots of recommendations here for General Motors GMPP Red Performance Wires, 12495519. They fit the original heat shields, have low resistance, and, obviously, look sufficiently cool under the hood. To those wires I'll add my recommendation for Lisle 51410 plug wire pliers. Old, old plug boots are likely to be stuck good. The Lisle's have a ring nose at an angle to help break the boots loose. I also recommend the GearWrench 80546 plug socket. It has an attached 3 inch wobble extension, and uses magnets instead of a rubber insert.
Lots and lots and lots of recommendations here for General Motors GMPP Red Performance Wires, 12495519. They fit the original heat shields, have low resistance, and, obviously, look sufficiently cool under the hood. To those wires I'll add my recommendation for Lisle 51410 plug wire pliers. Old, old plug boots are likely to be stuck good. The Lisle's have a ring nose at an angle to help break the boots loose. I also recommend the GearWrench 80546 plug socket. It has an attached 3 inch wobble extension, and uses magnets instead of a rubber insert.
Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 266
Likes: 59
From: Williston Florida
I found the Ac 41-110 irridium plugs at an exporter in Hong Kong for less than $70 shipping included. It took a week to get them by airmail. The irridium plugs are the original factory plugs for the C5, AC Delco changed THEIR catalogs to show the cheaper platinum plugs as the recommended plug because the irridiums never wear out, you can't sell replacement plugs if no one needs them.
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From: Hickory NC
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I use the NGK TR6 plus in my lightly modded engine. I believe others are recommending the NGK TR55 for a basically stock LS1 engine. The TR55s are about $3/each at Amazon
The ACDelco 41-110 is also a good plug. Currently they are at Amazon $37 for 8.
Shopping around you might find better prices than these, too.
Definitely agree with the others about the new plug wires and the GMPP are very good plug wires at a very reasonable price.
The ACDelco 41-110 is also a good plug. Currently they are at Amazon $37 for 8.
Shopping around you might find better prices than these, too.
Definitely agree with the others about the new plug wires and the GMPP are very good plug wires at a very reasonable price.
Last edited by Route99; Sep 17, 2018 at 08:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: San Francisco CA
I use the NGK TR6 plus in my lightly modded engine. I believe others are recommending the NGK TR55 for a basically stock LS1 engine. The TR55s are about $3/each at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HPIE0...537229126&sr=3
The ACDelco 41-110 is also a good plug. Currently they are at Amazon $37 for 8. https://www.amazon.com/Acdelco-41-11...acdelco+41+110
Shopping around you might find better prices than these, too.
Definitely agree with the others about the new plug wires and the GMPP are very good plug wires at a very reasonable price.
The ACDelco 41-110 is also a good plug. Currently they are at Amazon $37 for 8. https://www.amazon.com/Acdelco-41-11...acdelco+41+110
Shopping around you might find better prices than these, too.
Definitely agree with the others about the new plug wires and the GMPP are very good plug wires at a very reasonable price.
Found both on Amazon.
Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 938
From: Orlando Florida
Yep, easy peasy. You can find the plugs for a little less at a local big box parts store, but then you wait in line, and if you tell the counter guy the exact plug reference he will immediately ask you for year, make, and model.
And still pull the wrong plugs off the shelf...
And still pull the wrong plugs off the shelf...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: San Francisco CA
Yep, easy peasy. You can find the plugs for a little less at a local big box parts store, but then you wait in line, and if you tell the counter guy the exact plug reference he will immediately ask you for year, make, and model.
And still pull the wrong plugs off the shelf...
And still pull the wrong plugs off the shelf...
Gettin a little grumpy in my old age ;-)
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
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From: San Francisco CA
Interesting article on Amazon about plugs. Said that some newer plugs contain anti seize ingredients in the metal threads during manufacture and not to use anti seize paste on those plugs as extra un necessary lubrication can cause you to over tighten and damage threads.
no mention of weather the new AC Delcos have that. Any one ever heard of ?
no mention of weather the new AC Delcos have that. Any one ever heard of ?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,767
Likes: 938
From: Orlando Florida
Pretty much all of the manufacturer's say not to use anti-seize, including AC Delco -- although I'll be danged if I can find the AC reference anymore. NGK is very specific in saying not to. Which makes it hard to explain why I used just a tiny dab on my NGKs last time...
The explanation is that the anti-seize both acts as a lubricant -- throwing off the torque values -- and as an insulator, keeping the plugs from achieving their proper heat range.
The explanation is that the anti-seize both acts as a lubricant -- throwing off the torque values -- and as an insulator, keeping the plugs from achieving their proper heat range.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
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From: San Francisco CA
Pretty much all of the manufacturer's say not to use anti-seize, including AC Delco -- although I'll be danged if I can find the AC reference anymore. NGK is very specific in saying not to. Which makes it hard to explain why I used just a tiny dab on my NGKs last time...
The explanation is that the anti-seize both acts as a lubricant -- throwing off the torque values -- and as an insulator, keeping the plugs from achieving their proper heat range.
The explanation is that the anti-seize both acts as a lubricant -- throwing off the torque values -- and as an insulator, keeping the plugs from achieving their proper heat range.
Maybe a drop of engine oil on plug threads like i grew up doing. BTW no chance of getting torque wrench (15 lbs?) on all plugs, especially #7 against firewall diriver side. Figure get a feel for the ones I can torque and wing it on others.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
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From: San Francisco CA
Huh.
Maybe being pessimistic after first look. Have a couple of torque wrenches (needle and click type) and a few swivel head adapter things. So might work if Murphy's law doesn't rear up on me.
Weekend mechanic. Certainly no expert.
Maybe being pessimistic after first look. Have a couple of torque wrenches (needle and click type) and a few swivel head adapter things. So might work if Murphy's law doesn't rear up on me.
Weekend mechanic. Certainly no expert.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 95
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From: San Francisco CA