spark plugs

[Anonymous]

A am in the process of upgrading my ignition system (ignitor II, 8mm wires, Flame Thrower coil,) I was going to purchase a set of performance plugs, either Splitfires or Bosch Platinum +2 or +4's. The tech at Pep Boy's told me that the plugs were not worth it and to stick with the stock Autolite plugs. Anybody use the plugs and are they worth it?

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Pony66:

There are no miracles when it come to spark plugs. Only better materials, improved design and marketing. If you intend to put in a set of plugs and forget about them, the Bosch premium plugs have some merit. In a clean running engine they will last longer. They will not do any better in a worn out engine due to carbon and/or oil fouling.

SplitFire offers a unique design, and possibly some advantage because of it, but they have also compromised heat range conversions. Their conversion charts will recommend a hotter plug in comparison to everybody elses standard. That is what helps them to run cleaner in a worn or rich engine.

If you know for sure, through experience, what heat range plugs your engine needs, and you don't want to change plugs again for 5 years or 50,000 miles. then the premium plugs may be worth the extra money.

But, with the low cost of standard Autolite and Champion plugs and the need to tune and retune due to changes/modifications/improvements to find the optimum heat range, I'd rather put the extra $s into other things.

Adios, David

 

[CobraSix]

I second the above opinion.

I ran split fires in my old explorer...I'll never use them again. No noticable effect...too expensive. I feel the same way about bosch +2 and +4. They look cool, I'm sure they work well but the thing that concerns me is that my engine is old and leaves deposits, so I clean them every now and then and the +2, +4s don't seem easy to clean or gap.

Slade

 

[MustangSix]

Spark plug technology has improved over the last twenty years, mostly in response to emmisions requirements, but that has also helped power and economy. A platinum plug in a modern fuelie engine can go 100,000 miles without any service or degradation in performance.

I have been sold on platinum plugs for a long time. They seem to hold tune better than old style plugs for much longer. They also seem to provide a better economy and smoother idle.

But as David said, there are no miracle plugs. Any plug will foul and fail if installed in a head with bad rings and leaky guides or seals. The deposits will build and the plug will become "crudded up".

I use Bosch Platinums in the Crossflows and was using Autolite Platinums in the log head. Both worked well for me. Keep in mind, too, that I use a high output electronic ignition on everything. A platinum plug may may no difference on a car with points and a stock output coil.

I am currently using Bosch +4's on the Jag. On the 24V pent roof head, they seem to be the ticket, as my gas mileage has improved and the engine seems smoother than with the previous single electrode plugs that were in the car. They may or may not have the same effect on a Ford six.

I've never used Splitfires, but for the price, I would pick a Bosch or Autolite platinum.

 

[Anonymous]

slade : the bosh +2 and +4s don`t need gapped

 

[rbohm]

8) i run either autolite platinum, or double platinum, or bosch platinum plugs. i dont like the split fires, way too much money for a plug with a split electrode, or any of the other multiple ground electrode plugs. you need a good spark kernel to light the fire in the cylinders, and for the most part you dont get that with the multiground plugs as the extra electrodes block the spark kernel.

 

[CobraSix]

So you can't adjust the gap of the +2s and +4s? That would suck. I open mine up some since I run a hotter ignition.

I run autolite platinums in my 99 mustang and volvo (Bosch makes them I think) platinums in my 98 Volvo. Both are more tuned then my 65 and I've never had a fouling problem.

I just haven't run platinums in my 65 due to the fact that they seem to foul (as jack said, mostly due to engine problems) and I stopped paying to platinums and I just keep cleaning my coppers.

Slade

 

[MustangSix]

There's no need to adjust the gap of the +2 or +4 plugs because of the design. They present a spark that's open to the chamber and the quality of ignition is not as dependent on the size of the spark.

 

[60FALCON]

Having worked at GM when AC DELCO introduced the Splitfire Plug I can tell you that the performane increase is small given the cost. I would go the Platinum route.

Chris in Central Florida

 

[Anonymous]

I would Not go the splitfire route either - neither would I use autolite though! You can use the Bosch Plat + (which ARE pregapped and they "present a spark that's open to the chamber and the quality of ignition is not as dependent on the size of the spark.") and forget about them! Plus they are not as bad on the wallet. Other thing is to get a good set of V8 racing plugs and gap them yourself (wont last as long, but will see a slight - VERY slight - increase in performance).

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Like CZLN6 and MustangSix said...

If you're unfortunate enough to be stuck with a stock points-type ignition, here is a little help, gleaned from many years of racing with them:
1. The Splitfire plugs have a slightly longer reach and 1/2 step hotter heat range than the stock recommended plug. Both of these are old hot-rodder tricks from those of us who REMEMBER the '60s.. ...and they do help, slightly.
2. They work more noticeably better, though, if you can get a high-voltage coil (60,000 volts is plenty, J.C. Whitney's work fine) to replace the original FoMoCo units.
3. Select your points carefully. If you can get Blue Streak brand, jump on them in a heartbeat. If not, look for points that have a hole in the ground electrode - this lets air get out of the way above 2500 RPM - and look for the rubbing block (the part that goes against the points cam) to be made of phenolic or black Delrin - NOT white plastic. Also look for a strong support where the points pivot mounts to the backplate and for stronger spring action. Look also for LARGE contact surface on the points - they come in all sorts of sizes. Drive them 100 miles, then reset the dwell and timing (this is VERY important) so it will last longer.
4. Use a condensor that has a heavy gauge wire or copper strip.
5. Finally, find a distributor rotor that has the extra-wide tip (sort of a 'T' shape) and find a distributor cap for it that has small contacts to keep that new extra-high voltage from leaking away.

One last thing - make sure the tips of the electrodes on the spark plugs are filed flat. This makes the voltage build up higher, then jump from the sharp edges to the ground electrode more quickly.

Like many things with ignitions, it's the sum of all the parts that makes the difference. Do ALL these things and you WILL notice a difference. Do just 1 or 2 and it will be money wasted.

Good luck!

 

[DaGr8Tim]

Well...I'm gonna jump up on the

and give my 2 cents.

I used to run regular Motorcrafts in both of my fords. Recentally I dropped regular Autolites into the Tempo and noticed a fair difference over the Motorcrafts. When it came time to change the plugs in the Topaz, I went with an Autolite single Plat plug. I noticed a very nice change in the car.

The motorcrafts were still in very good shape when they came out of the Topaz, but I was trying to nail down an intermittant miss and loss of power I didn't want to take any chances.

Anyways...new plugs, wires, cleaning the throttle body, and a new crankcase breather made a huge difference.

 

[Anonymous]

The most common problem I've had with Motorcraft and Autolites has to do with the retailer handling them roughly. Their ceramics are very brittle and they seem to crack easily, This can cause the 'intermittent miss' type of problem - usually on a humid day.

The Champions an AC don't seem so sensitive to the 'dropping' problem, but I've never come up with good performance from them in Fords on the street. On the track, sure - but not on the street.

 

[Anonymous]

i just bought a set of autolite platinum plugs and i used to run regualr bosch super plugs and so far i notice a nice difference...has anyone had any experiance with these plugs...so far i like them and they are the only available plugs in driving distance without special ordering or ordering elsewhere...does anyone have a suggestion for another plug??? i could use another set when time comes to clean the set inside my car now...=)
gary