Copper vs Platinum

[LaserSVT]

So I know a few times a month the question gets asked what to use for plugs. Now I always like copper. All the tuners here use copper in their modular cars. Ive always switched to copper for mine and notice running improvements as well as better responsiveness.
I tell one of our members to pick up some 764s for his Cobra and the parts store guy almost fights with him saying the car NEEDS platinum and hes worked on like 5 of them and knows. :lol:

I know the platinums last longer but thats the only advantage. Copper makes a spark easier, so what if you gotta replace them every 40k. Price difference alone makes up for the added changes.

 

[Right on the Mark]

If plugs are a B to get to I put in platinum. If I want a performance plug I put in good old coppers or frugal coppers go in.

 

[KStromberg]

the parts store guy almost fights with him saying the car NEEDS platinum

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! I voted copper.

 

[Don Pfau]

Actually I and most of the folks I know with superchargers use Iridium plugs ??

 

[95MkViii]

*runs out to his car and puts copper plugs in.

i have no idea what plugs i put in her last year. :shifty::shifty:

 

[Lownslowlsc]

It all depends on how long coppers last. I've heard 10, 15,20,25 and now 40k miles on here. I don't want to change my plugs every year, it's just not needed. Plat's are going in mine next.

With that said I noticed no difference when I switched from plats to coppers.

 

[Sapperfire]

Platinum is just not the best conductor, it also can melt under high heats.. Ive seen Plat with the electrode completely gone.. I've never seen a Copper do that... You decide for yourself

All these new plugs show up every few months claiming HP gains and better fuel Eco- well thats great, but If you're going with a plug that saves you .01% fuel, and gives 2 HP at the wheels, and that same plug only lasts 1/4 as long as a standard Copper and costs 3x's as much.... Is it REALLY worth it?

 

[Sapperfire]

Double post edit

 

[wickedwhiteVIII]

Don Pfau------>Actually I and most of the folks I know with superchargers use Iridium plugs ??

+1

 

[DLF]

Iridium

 

[Sapperfire]

A traditional iridium plug has an iridium center electrode, however the ground electrode is the traditional nickel construction. The ground electrode will wear out first. The manufacturers of Irdium plugs are saying 40,000 to 60,000 miles. But they have to temper their projections as driving conditions and motor modifications differ. Typically you can expect 60,000 to 80,000 miles on an unaltered motor.

Some NGK iridium racing plugs have iridium center and a platinum ground electrodes. If installed to a regular engine they would likely last longer than most people keep their car (barring any motor problems that can cause premature plug death). But, these usually come in heat ranges too cold for an unaltered motor, and are usually used in racing applications where all bets are off.

For the traditional automotive market, the longest lasting plugs are the NGK "IFR" series. These have iridium center and platinum tipped ground electrodes, however these are extremely limited in application as they only manufactured these in a couple of heat range configurations.

 

[kaha]

Put Autolite 764's in mine last summer, and high perf wires (the wires I pulled were almost certainly the originals from '96, yeesh).

What's the scoop on Iridiums? Last longer? Be worth it to put them in a stock Mark?

 

[kaha]

haha, simulpost! :lol:

 

[DLF]

A traditional iridium plug has an iridium center electrode, however the ground electrode is the traditional nickel construction. The ground electrode will wear out first. The manufacturers of Irdium plugs are saying 40,000 to 60,000 miles. But they have to temper their projections as driving conditions and motor modifications differ. Typically you can expect 60,000 to 80,000 miles on an unaltered motor.

Some NGK iridium racing plugs have iridium center and a platinum ground electrodes. If installed to a regular engine they would likely last longer than most people keep their car (barring any motor problems that can cause premature plug death). But, these usually come in heat ranges too cold for an unaltered motor, and are usually used in racing applications where all bets are off.

For the traditional automotive market, the longest lasting plugs are the NGK "IFR" series. These have iridium center and platinum tipped ground electrodes, however these are extremely limited in application as they only manufactured these in a couple of heat range configurations.

According to Autolite, the XP-104 plugs (stock heat range) that I use have platinum ground electrodes.

Autolite®XP Xtreme Performance®Spark Plugs

• Iridium-enhanced center electrode
• Patented, platinum sidewire technology.
• .6-mm finewire design
• Nickel-plated shell

And I only paid $24.98 shipped for the last set of 8 that I bought.

 

[Sapperfire]

Autolite XP104 Spark Plug Copper Core, Double Platinum, Fine Wire Center Electrode, Iridium Enhanced, Nickel Plated Shell, Trimmed Side Wire.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/racatalog.php?catalog=15&partnum=XP104&a=FR15-XP104-2319


Search for Part # = 'XP104' and Manufacturer = 'AUTOLITE'

Price
AUTOLITE Part # 104 {#XP104} Xtreme Performance
Category: Spark Plug

Choose:
+ Sold in packs of {x}; Price reflects cost of each individual item, not the pack
$1.09
Add Part
AUTOLITE Part # XP104 Xtreme Performance
Category: Spark Plug

$4.56

:q:q:q:q:q:q:q:q:q:q

 

[98LSC32V]

Iridium if you have the coin, copper if you don't. Simple as that. NGK's...

 

[DLF]

Autolite XP104 Spark Plug Copper Core, Double Platinum, Fine Wire Center Electrode, Iridium Enhanced, Nickel Plated Shell, Trimmed Side Wire.

Yeah, I saw that too. I wonder what "Iridium Enhanced" really means?

Regardless, they work fine.

 

[Sapperfire]

If you order a drink, and splash some alcohol in it, it's enhanced

 

[chris2523]

i have copper, they work fine, i don't mind changing them every summer or so, its no big deal.

 

[LaserSVT]

Iridium if you have the coin, copper if you don't. Simple as that. NGK's...

True, I did leave that out of the equation cause I forgot about them. Get the nice clean spark of copper and the longevity of Platinum. Also dont gap them like an idiot and break the super thin core.

 

[Sapperfire]

I would hope that most people on here are smart enough to use an actual gapping tool.

 

[LaserSVT]

I would hope that most people on here are smart enough to use an actual gapping tool.

1. Tow a 4x4 1500 miles
2. Demolition hammer to remove valve cover
3. Install a diesel.
4. Yellow Mark

 

[AndyT]

I kinda just rather go with an OEM plug. I have no problem doing plugs every summer, so I guess 764s are an option. But being a tech for Chevy, I guess I'm just programmed to naturally think OEM.

 

[vr4]

I'm running ngk copper in my cobra and agsf 22 fm in my lincoln.

 

[Sapperfire]

I kinda just rather go with an OEM plug. I have no problem doing plugs every summer, so I guess 764s are an option. But being a tech for Chevy, I guess I'm just programmed to naturally think OEM.

You gotta be sh!tting me... Most normal vehicle operators realize that OEM is the crappy stuff, especially CHEVY

Dealers use the same principle as the military, lowest quality from the lowest bidder. Why else would soooooo many of the parts attached to your car have stickers from Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea...CMON PEOPLE!

If this isn't true, then why else would there even be After market parts, if OEM stuff was so wonderful.