Well I just read a few posts on here, and looked about the 'Net and saw that yes indeedy, George, lots of Scoobyfolk replace the stock Champion (or whatever) plugs with NGK.

Now.... these are copper replacements, I'll assume? Anyone know the model number?

Now I know I've got a plug ratchet in my house somewhere. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

-S2-

I just put in the Bosch +4 platinum plugs in friday

I've got them right here in front of me.

NGK VX (Platinum)
Part# BKR6EVX-11
Stock No. 3540

If you'd like I'll sell them to you, since I changed my mind of changing my spark plugs.

Siper2,
If your stock Champions were RC10YC4 (as mine were), then the NGK equivalent is BKR5E-11.
Ed.

Okay guys so there's more than one platinum plug that'll work? Oh great, how wonderfully confusing. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/redface.gif I figured y'all would be going to copper plugs...

Thanks for the offer to buy them, but I'll just get them up here whenever I make up my mind. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif Not sure yet, so...

Why the switch, I mean do the stock ones suck or what?

-S2-

I believe our cars already come with platinum plugs. My dad just convinced me not to change them yet... that's why I offered to sell them to you.
BTW I'm pretty sure these are the right plugs for MY00 RS.

[This message has been edited by george (edited October 15, 2000).]

Siper2,

For the record, my stock Champions were copper. My posted NGK equivalent is also copper. The copper plugs, which are low cost, will work as well as the platinum ones, but they will not last as long.

If you are interested in only the platinums, then go for the NGK BKR5EVX-11. NGK also make double platinums (last even longer) at a relatively high cost.

Check your heat range. If the Champions are 10, then get the NGK 5. For a 9, get the NGK 6.

Ed.

[This message has been edited by edekker (edited October 15, 2000).]

Copper conducts better than platinum, but doesn't last nearly as long. But that's not that big an issue since copper plugs are so cheap & they're easy to swap.

Some MY98's came with platinum NGK's, everything else had copper Chumpions.

The equivalent NGK plugs are listed in the owner's manual.

Personal opinion ...
Copper, platinum, iridium alloy, whatever - the electrode will conduct way-the-hell better than the spark plug's built-in resistor. Don't worry about the metal's conductivity when choosing your spark plug.

Ed.

So is this going to be any kind of a worthwhile swap? I haven't checked to see what's in my car yet, probably do it tomorrow. I don't have a torque wrench or anything, so "in tight" is as good as the plugs'll get. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

-S2-

Siper2,

Don't change the plugs unless you can do it properly.

Your comment worries me and tells me you've had little experience or have been misinformed about installing spark plugs. Install them too loosely and you'll get gas blow-by. Install them too tightly and you risk stripping the threads, or damaging the ceramic insulator and the glass-to-metal seals, compromising heat extraction capabilities and the spark plug's overall integrity.

Install the plugs first by hand – making sure you are not cross-threading them. Get a torque wrench, if you're serious about this. The plugs need to be torqued 18 to 22 ft-lbs.

You are not really going to see an improvement in performance unless the old plugs had been worn down. If your plugs are fine, leave them alone. But if you want to extend the service life, get the platinums. If you think switching to platinums will get you more power, you will be disappointed, placebo effect notwithstanding.

Ed.

i didn't believe it when i read the box... but it said gas mileage will be improved with the DENSO IRIDIUM plugs... but i put them in anyhow, and i did notice a greater increase in gas mileage... from 280 to 377 miles on a full tank... i'd recommend them.

A 100 extra miles just by changing your plugs? That's crazy! How 'bad' where the plugs you pulled out? <----I don't really know how u can answer this but I thought I'd ask.

edekker,

Much experience? No. But I know how to use common sense. No insult to you, I just think you're misjudging.

Obviously one can't cross-thread a plug. Years of riding '80s snowmobiles taught me how to take a plug in and out. Many times.
http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif

As for putting them in too loosely, I know about blowout. Had it happen on an old car of mine. Not that it matters, but it wasn't me who installed them.

-S2-

sanders,

Denso doesn't tell you the conditions under which the improvement is realized.
If you're starting out with worn plugs, the improvement will be realized with new plugs – any plugs.
If you're ignition system is weak; an improvement may be realized with the Denso since the center electrode diameter is so small and pointy. For a given gap, one with a pointy electrode will require a lower high-tension voltage to initiate a spark. If you see an improvement with the Denso then I would question the health of the ignition system.

Just my opinion,
Ed.

Oh one more thing... No I'm not looking for more horsepower. But this seems to be a common modification, and if it makes the engine happier, I'll do it. I was asking if it's copper vs. platinum because most folks prefer copper. Platinum has a longer life, but copper's spark seems to agree with the performance crowd.

-S2-

wassup?

i also added an apexi safc... and i've been playing around with it... i'm not too much of a tech... but i know... i got a crap load more miles on a full tank!

edited part: as for my stock plugs... 24K miles with them... they were brownish/black... hehehe...

--chad--rs

[This message has been edited by sanders (edited October 16, 2000).]

I replaced the stock Chumpians with copper NGK's last week (at 13K miles on a MY00). I'm skeptical, but my putt-putt OBS seemed to have gained more gumption than can be accounted for by just the ECU reset that I did concurrently (I've reset the ECU before). I didn't think plugs could make that much of a difference, but my butt-dyno says otherwise.

There was a great thread on the practical parts of changing plugs a week or two ago.

I hear ya.. there's nothing quite like new plugs.. mmmm.. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif... well, I guess a new turbo would suffice. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/wink.gif

Hello,

Scoobie Newbie wrote "Bosch plugs in anything European, AC's in anything American".

While that makes sense, I've noticed that NGKs work just great in american cars, too http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif They're just special order part numbers for everyone since, as one grease monkey said "thems for jap cars." http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif We stuck 'em in, used 'em for 10k miles, and pulled 'em out and they seemed to have retained their gap distance better and the car ran perfectly happy with them... The ACs wore out faster (gap widened more, more carbon buildup, etc.).

Joel