spark plugs do matter

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custom89stang

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Dec 9, 2003

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Oct 8, 2004

#1

• Oct 8, 2004

• #1

ok, so to all you "nay-sayers" who say just use auto lites, blah blah, my mechanic actually told me to go w/ iridium plugs because he saw an ACTUAL DYNO from a STOCK Toyota MR2 that showed a 9HP increase off iridium spark plugs vs. copper/platinum. Just thought i'd let you guys in on the secret, I think w/ iridium on a 5.0 should be worth a least 10hp!

 

dstanggt50

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Sep 13, 2000

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Woodinville, WA

Oct 8, 2004

#2

• Oct 8, 2004

• #2

was it an older mr2 w/a turbo???. I thought that those plugs might give you something if its a power adder car, and have heard they don't do anything on n/a. Could be wrong though.

 

TC93

Well-Known Member

Sep 11, 2000

2,075

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57

Ellerslie GA 31807

Oct 8, 2004

#3

• Oct 8, 2004

• #3

SO,, did you put them in?? And did it increase power???

 

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custom89stang

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Dec 9, 2003

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Oct 8, 2004

#4

• Oct 8, 2004

• #4

well i havent put them in yet, car is getting rebuilt as we speak, it was a newer MR2 w/ NO turbo or supercharger, which makes it all the more amazing

 

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custom89stang

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Dec 9, 2003

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Oct 8, 2004

#5

• Oct 8, 2004

• #5

i will put them in when i get my car back....my mechanic (he has a built stroked 347+ supercharger) says he doesn't recommend anything else and he uses them on his 5.0

 

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TheUser

Active Member

Jul 25, 2003

1,859

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Springfield, MO

Oct 8, 2004

#6

• Oct 8, 2004

• #6

I believe the argument is that iridium might not last as long as conventional plugs. I had NGK Iridium plugs in my LX and I just put autolites this last time. It ran a lot better, but to be fair, the Iridium plugs did have about 18000 miles and my wires were trashed.

With the mess i've been through, I'm content if my damn car runs well enough to drive and be decently pleasurable

 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master

Apr 10, 2002

9,039

6

79

Charlotte, NC

Oct 8, 2004

#7

• Oct 8, 2004

• #7

How much you payin' for those Iridiums?

 

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custom89stang

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Dec 9, 2003

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Oct 8, 2004

#8

• Oct 8, 2004

• #8

i don't know how much they are but i do believe they ARE more EXPENSIVE....

 

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custom89stang

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Dec 9, 2003

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Oct 8, 2004

#9

• Oct 8, 2004

• #9

i haven't picked them up yet, i am going to this weekend, car should be back by monday, will post pix of my beautiful engine compartment as soon as i can

 

Legendary

Founding Member

Oct 10, 2002

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City of Angels

Oct 8, 2004

#10

• Oct 8, 2004

• #10

I've seen some that were 8-10 bucks a plug.

 

Musclecarfan88

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Dec 30, 2002

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Indianapolis, Indiana

Oct 8, 2004

#11

• Oct 8, 2004

• #11

just dont use bosch!!

 

5

5.0guy

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Apr 17, 2004

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MI

Oct 8, 2004

#12

• Oct 8, 2004

• #12

the newer 1zzge is supposed to use iridium plugs..it was designed to.

 

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Bentstang

New Member

Sep 23, 2004

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Oct 8, 2004

#13

• Oct 8, 2004

• #13

I worked for a auto parts w/d (warehouse distributor) a few years back and got a sample set for a built n/a civic. I seem to have lost power, but got a little better fuel econmy. I would say about 30% of my customers (mostly ricers) that used them had the same kind of luck and tried to return them. At $10.00 a piece you couldn't blame them. I didn't sell to many to v8 owners because of the price. The few that did buy them liked them. Most turbo guys loved them.

Overall I will not put them in any of my cars again. Besides I would have to pay for them this time and that hurts more since I dont work at a w/d anymore.
Your guess of 10 hp on a 3000+ lb car just wouldn't be worth the $80.00 to me. And I dont think it would be 10 hp on a n/a car, maybe 3 0r 4 hp?

Anyway let us know how you like them if you go with them.

 

maverick0716

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Jan 12, 2002

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Chilliwack, BC, Canada

Oct 8, 2004

#14

• Oct 8, 2004

• #14

custom89stang said:

Just thought i'd let you guys in on the secret, I think w/ iridium on a 5.0 should be worth a least 10hp!

Click to expand...

You think wrong! lol. The fact that they make more power on a high compression 4 cylinder car don't mean much. Completely different engine and ignition system. I've seen platinum plugs that make more power than copper plugs on a 4 cylinder car also.....but when you put them on a 5.0L they run like crap.

 

Michael Yount

Mustang Master

Apr 10, 2002

9,039

6

79

Charlotte, NC

Oct 8, 2004

#15

• Oct 8, 2004

• #15

Mav - how does the plug know the difference between a 4 cylinder, and two banks of 4 cylinders on a common crank?

 

88stangmangt

Active Member

Nov 25, 2003

2,332

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48

Stafford,VA

Oct 8, 2004

#16

• Oct 8, 2004

• #16

the bosch +4's run like crap on domestic cars but are awesome on imports autolites are just as bad as champion plugs IMO i think the boosted cars like the Iridiums i still dont see 10hp. maybe if the plugs were cracked and fouled up. but you would gain from champion plugs too if that was the case. I plan to use Iridiums with my combo and when you put down top$$$$$ for a motor you arnt gonna crumble your peramid with the cost of plugs.

 

maverick0716

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Jan 12, 2002

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Oct 8, 2004

#17

• Oct 8, 2004

• #17

Michael Yount said:

Mav - how does the plug know the difference between a 4 cylinder, and two banks of 4 cylinders on a common crank?

Click to expand...

I really couldn't tell you. But can you answer this? Why do imports run good on platinum plugs and domestics run bad?......You're right though, there's more to it than just added cylinders, it has to be something in the ignition system.

 

bln92cpe

New Member

Dec 15, 2003

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Los Angeles, CA

Oct 8, 2004

#18

• Oct 8, 2004

• #18

I beg to differ, I put in DENSO Iridium spark plugs at $10 a pop after I called JDM engineering who specializes in blown lightnings..I told him what I had and hes said go with this....My stang runs like a bat outt hell with near 500HP...I only want the best stuff inmy car and 80 bucks for spark plugs is really no big deal to me.

 

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custom89stang

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Dec 9, 2003

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Seattle, WA

Oct 9, 2004

#19

• Oct 9, 2004

• #19

yah, my mechanic said he paid about 100$ for his and it does add power, so besides the dyno, there u go, get iridiums

 

Trojan Horse

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Jan 7, 2001

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MO

Oct 9, 2004

#20

• Oct 9, 2004

• #20

The irridium plugs are made from a super tough alloy that can withstand a lot more heat. The center electrode therefore, is considerably smaller and able to provide a better spark than standard or platinum plugs............... At least that is what I learned from researching them. I have not bought any yet because of the high price, but I do plan on trying a set of the NGK as they are considerably cheaper. Around $6, I think.