2000 black c5

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!

foggy

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

2000 black c5

Thanks.
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.

redzg

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.

2000 black c5

Appreciate the recommendation and your experience with it. All makes sense. Kind of a fool to think i could just replace plugs without running into problems with old wires getting tore up in the disconnect process. Red wires sound good as will match red "corvette" lettering on fuel rail covers. Crazy to consider color but if there good wires and match, why not.

Thanks.

mhanley

The correct replacement A/C Delco spark plug part number is 41-110. I would change the plug wires as well.

Mike

FreeC5inAZ

31K miles? Go drive that poor thing.

sjhanc

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.

2000 black c5

I hear ya. Bought it with 25k a couple years ago.

Route99

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.

2000 black c5

Probably go with the AC Delco and definitely the GMPP's. Plugs are probably fine. Runs like new. Just thinking they have been in there a loooong time, and would like to get a little anti sieze on threads and dialectric grease in the boots. If their coming out might as well just go with new and not have to think about it for a long time. Same with wires that will will probably come apart when removed.
Found both on Amazon.
Thanks.

redzg

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...

2000 black c5

Yep Amazon if your VERY carefull about what you order. Can live without the 18 year old from Walmart with nose ring advising on car parts after waiting in line for 20 minutes.
Gettin a little grumpy in my old age ;-)

redzg

Hey! I resemble that remark!

2000 black c5

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 ?

redzg

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.

2000 black c5

Old habits die hard.
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!

redzg

I got an inch/ounce torque wrench on all the plugs!

2000 black c5

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.

2000 black c5

Whats the torque value for the 41-110 iridium plugs? 2000 c5.
Gap .040?
Just ordered a set.
Also $10 rebate form on new wires from AC Delco site. Ordered on amazon.