18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,064
Likes: 18
From: Arizona
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (ROJO99)
platnum plugs are good for 100k. Unless you are change to forced induction or N2O, you should be fine with stock plugs. If you want to do a mod.. then change your plugs and add some aftermark wires.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (ICULUKN-C5)
A lot of people have discovered that the stock wires are the best for trouble free performance. You probably want to leave those alone.
If you're not having any hesitation, then I would leave the stock plugs in there. When you do choose to change them, look for a good copper plug (copper is a better conductor than platinum) like the NGK TR55's.
If you're not having any hesitation, then I would leave the stock plugs in there. When you do choose to change them, look for a good copper plug (copper is a better conductor than platinum) like the NGK TR55's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 993
Likes: 5
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (ROJO99)
ROJ099,
I changed to original Delco plugs in my 1999 C5 coupe at 30,000 miles (easy, except plug #7). I used Delco plugs as the replacement and the motor seemed to idle a little smoother.
Why worry - change the plugs and be done with it.
Good luck.
I changed to original Delco plugs in my 1999 C5 coupe at 30,000 miles (easy, except plug #7). I used Delco plugs as the replacement and the motor seemed to idle a little smoother.
Why worry - change the plugs and be done with it.
Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (ROJO99)
When did you switch? and what did you use? Only Mod is a BlackWing. :flag
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (ICULUKN-C5)
platnum plugs are good for 100k. Unless you are change to forced induction or N2O, you should be fine with stock plugs. If you want to do a mod.. then change your plugs and add some aftermark wires.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (ROJO99)
I decided after four years to change the plugs in my 99 coupe. I had 50,000 miles on it... It was a total waste of time... the plugs looked brand new... I took a few pictures... # 7 plug is a little tough... I was interested in how difficult it was... took about fifteen minutes to get it out and put a new one in... the other 7 plugs took about the same amount of time total.. I was bum'd because I ruined a wire removing it and it cost 100 dollars to replace them.. So the car is running a great as it did before I changed the plugs.,.. but there was no difference in the before and after other than the 150 dollars is cost to replace the plugs and wires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 2
From: Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (Evil-Twin)
Your safe to go with the manufactures recomendations :thumbs:
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (George8211)
Your safe to go with the manufactures recomendations :thumbs:
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
Same thing with Delco plugs. I personally have not seen a set that were removed that didn't have some bottom pucks missing. I know other people on the forum have had different experiences but I would be willing to bet more sets have pucks missing than don't. I recently had a fellow club member tell me he pulled his and they all looked fine. What he didn't know was that there is supposed to be a small speck of platinum on the bottom electrode. He couldn't tell the difference because they were all missing!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (Richin Chicago)
Your safe to go with the manufactures recomendations :thumbs:
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
That is great in theory but a lot of us had leaking Delco batteries that had come out way before they were supposed to.
Same thing with Delco plugs. I personally have not seen a set that were removed that didn't have some bottom pucks missing. I know other people on the forum have had different experiences but I would be willing to bet more sets have pucks missing than don't. I recently had a fellow club member tell me he pulled his and they all looked fine. What he didn't know was that there is supposed to be a small speck of platinum on the bottom electrode. He couldn't tell the difference because they were all missing!
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
That is great in theory but a lot of us had leaking Delco batteries that had come out way before they were supposed to.
Same thing with Delco plugs. I personally have not seen a set that were removed that didn't have some bottom pucks missing. I know other people on the forum have had different experiences but I would be willing to bet more sets have pucks missing than don't. I recently had a fellow club member tell me he pulled his and they all looked fine. What he didn't know was that there is supposed to be a small speck of platinum on the bottom electrode. He couldn't tell the difference because they were all missing!
These plugs have 50,000 miles on them:
Click to enlarge
[Modified by Evil-Twin, 8:55 PM 10/6/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington NC
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (Evil-Twin)
Your safe to go with the manufactures recomendations :thumbs:
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
That is great in theory but a lot of us had leaking Delco batteries that had come out way before they were supposed to.
Same thing with Delco plugs. I personally have not seen a set that were removed that didn't have some bottom pucks missing. I know other people on the forum have had different experiences but I would be willing to bet more sets have pucks missing than don't. I recently had a fellow club member tell me he pulled his and they all looked fine. What he didn't know was that there is supposed to be a small speck of platinum on the bottom electrode. He couldn't tell the difference because they were all missing!
Those pucks are there for longevity .003 thick... to protect the electrode from burning through.. plugs gapped at .057 or .060 make little difference... that's why no one notices any problems.. like I said I noticed no difference in Idle or performance... IM still getting 32 MPG on the highway in sixth gear.. as I did before I changed plugs and wires.. the color and condition of the plugs with the pucks , where exactly like the plugs without the pucks.. there was no burn through where the pucks use to be..
These plugs have 50,000 miles on them:
Click to enlarge
[Modified by Evil-Twin, 8:55 PM 10/6/2003]
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: Do you start throwing out the food in your refridgerator when you are half way to the expiration date?? :confused: Do you through out your light bulbs, air freshioners, and asprin the same way ?? :confused:
I'm confussed :confused:
That is great in theory but a lot of us had leaking Delco batteries that had come out way before they were supposed to.
Same thing with Delco plugs. I personally have not seen a set that were removed that didn't have some bottom pucks missing. I know other people on the forum have had different experiences but I would be willing to bet more sets have pucks missing than don't. I recently had a fellow club member tell me he pulled his and they all looked fine. What he didn't know was that there is supposed to be a small speck of platinum on the bottom electrode. He couldn't tell the difference because they were all missing!
Those pucks are there for longevity .003 thick... to protect the electrode from burning through.. plugs gapped at .057 or .060 make little difference... that's why no one notices any problems.. like I said I noticed no difference in Idle or performance... IM still getting 32 MPG on the highway in sixth gear.. as I did before I changed plugs and wires.. the color and condition of the plugs with the pucks , where exactly like the plugs without the pucks.. there was no burn through where the pucks use to be..
These plugs have 50,000 miles on them:
Click to enlarge
[Modified by Evil-Twin, 8:55 PM 10/6/2003]
My car was running rougher before I changed the plugs out and I had a slight miss in 3rd gear when pulling a long back straight at Gingerman. Also I seem to remember measuring a larger gap with the missing puck plugs. Also do you think the plugs without pucks should keep their 100K rating? Finally how can Delco continue. year after year, putting out a product like this? I had the same thing on my 96 Camaro! You'd think they would come up with a better bonding process!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 6
From: Arroyo Grande CA
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (George8211)
Tell me this... why do people want to change plugs and oil so much sooner than recomended :confused: I'm confussed :confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 2
From: Fountain Inn, South Carolina
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (2KFRC5)
You are so on the money.... Heres what we do.... Purchase one of the highest quality with highest level of durability motor oils..... ever created. :lol:
Then change it at half the duration that we used to change the old mineral junk... in engines that used to leach metal shavings from the day you drove it off the lot.... :lol: :lol: :lol:
Then change it at half the duration that we used to change the old mineral junk... in engines that used to leach metal shavings from the day you drove it off the lot.... :lol: :lol: :lol:
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (Richin Chicago)
If your car came with Delco plugs there is a chance some of the platinum pucks are missing from the ground electrode causing a wide gap and shortening the life of the plug.
Ed
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,087
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (BADBLACK99)
I had a '96 Z28 with the same "Long Life" Delco plugs. I took them out around 35,000 miles and three of them lost the little pucks. I replaced them with NGK TR55's and MSD 8.5mm wires and it made a huge difference in idle quality and gas mileage. The car also picked up 2 tenths ant the track.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Spring Tx
Re: 18K On the clock, when should I switch plugs? (Dual)
I changed to the iridium at 18k, my oem plugs were fine, no missing pucks, but I wanted to try the iridiums, also put the GM hotwires a week or so later. Car still runs great, and seems to get almost 1 mpg better mileage. I consider 20 mpg good for mostly stop and go driving.