gimmick plugs

[shawnxj]

so i'm used to just running regular old champion coppers but damn near everytime i turn on the powerblock or any other car performance show somebody is spouting all the benefits they get with the e3's and other gimmick plugs. horsepowertv has done 2 shows about the e3's so far so i was curious what the stroker nation thinks about them and if ya'll are still using the good ole coppers or what

[rammit11]

I expect to hear a lot of grief about this , I personally would prefer autolite or ngk plugs before champion. As for the high end plugs from past experienceand what other people I knowhave told me don't really see any advantage on stocke engines. The local autoparts place here won't sell champion because of poor quality and they don't back the plugs (champion always say failure was not caused by the manufacturer, even when they came out of the box damaged). My dad told me that he had some champions in an engine years ago that were not right and the garage actually had a machine that tested them under actuall cylinder conditions and they fired everywhere but where they were supposed to. Just my two cents.

[SilverXJ]

My 2000 liked the NGK over Champions. NGK is factory for that year and later, and possible earlier. The 4.0L does not benefit from the gimic plugs you speak of. Multiple electrodes, different shape electrode, pulse plugs, etc. However, I have been wanting to try a set of iridium plugs to see if it effects idle or anything.

[shawnxj]

i've always run platinums in my truck but unfortunately for some reason nobody makes iridiums for the vortec 350's or atleast they didn't the last time i did a tune up......which reminds me it's about that time again....i saw positive results switching from factory plugs to the platinums and a friend of mine swears by the iridiums

[IH 392]

The "gimmick" plugs just offer an additional sharp edge for the spark to jump to, nothing more and the heat ranges are often far to cold to run well.
The platinum plugs are just a band aid for a weak ignition system.
NGK can take their Iridium plugs and shove them where the sun doesn't shine!, I have a whole hand full of them that are fouled out and offered NO! gain in performance and LESS! drivability in my Yamaha, their u groves are good plugs.
Autolite's are now in question as their manufacture has moved to Mexico?, I still prefer them.
I also wouldn't run a Champion if you gave them to me!
AC's, the Federal Mougal rep told me that Champion manufactures them!??
Bosch, I haven't run any Kraut cans in years, so I'm not up on their quality?

[rammit11]

I might be wrong here but I was told the ac line is made by ngk.

[Cheromaniac]

I've tried the stock Champion copper core plugs, regular Splitfires (60k miles), and Splitfire triple-platinum (100k miles). There was nothing wrong with the Splitfires but no advantage either except for the long life of the Triple Platinum. I just use the stock Champions and change them every 2 years.

[Missourian]

I've tried the stock Champion copper core plugs, regular Splitfires (60k miles), and Splitfire triple-platinum (100k miles). There was nothing wrong with the Splitfires but no advantage either except for the long life of the Triple Platinum. I just use the stock Champions and change them every 2 years.

This has been my experience as well with the exception of having no experience with the Splitfire triple-platinum plugs. The difference in performance is not realized but the cost is significant. I will not be using the gimmick plugs... once was enough additional expense for me.

[spdrcr137]

When I first got mu ZJ and did the initial tuneup on the 148000 stock 4.0 I put in Double platimums. As soon as I started it the engine had a miss at idle. I went to jeep cherokee forum and they suggested that i go back to a regular copper core plug. I did and bam Problem fixed. Im not sure why the motor didnt like them but alot of people on that forum said the same thing.

[92tank]

i was told my by auto parts guy that was a chry.co. mech not to use anything but champions in chryslers. something about the others not lasting as long or not giving the right spark range or somthing of that nature.

[SilverXJ]

The Champion truck plug is used frequently in 4.0Ls

[racing89]

The "gimmick" plugs just offer an additional sharp edge for the spark to jump to, nothing more and the heat ranges are often far to cold to run well.
The platinum plugs are just a band aid for a weak ignition system.
NGK can take their Iridium plugs and shove them where the sun doesn't shine!, I have a whole hand full of them that are fouled out and offered NO! gain in performance and LESS! drivability in my Yamaha, their u groves are good plugs.
Autolite's are now in question as their manufacture has moved to Mexico?, I still prefer them.
I also wouldn't run a Champion if you gave them to me!
AC's, the Federal Mougal rep told me that Champion manufactures them!??
Bosch, I haven't run any Kraut cans in years, so I'm not up on their quality?

Agree on iridium opinion. Got a 680 rincon that chewed up a bunch before I put a "regular" g- power in. Otherwise, ngk goes in everything!

[gonridnu]

I'm not a spark plug junkie and have been runnin' NGK U grooves in just about everything forever but they were out when I bought the plugs for this engine so I used Champions with no ill effects.

I know I'm gonna get sued or sumthin' but DO NOT RUN SPLITFIRE plugs. The ground strap is like twice as big as a regular plug and once heated up and hanging out into the combustion chamber can exacerbate our detonation problems with these engines. And once you detonate them the split ground strap breaks and you have little pieces of splitfire running around in your motor.

People may also want to consider a slightly colder plug as well since the compression and output of the engine is altered. I used the stock Renix plug cause it's a little colder (I think 2 heat ranges) than the later model plug. Too hot of a plug will also lead to detonation so it's something to think about.

If'n you are really bored and just have to screw with your plugs buy an indexing kit and position them so they face the exhaust valves. Real world gains are reported to be 1%.