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03-10-2002, 01:11 AM | #1 |
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Best Spark Plugs...
I know this subject has probably been covered before, I just wanted to clarify, for myself and others, what the best set of plugs are for any subaru, assuming the difference is very small between the different engines. Except the FI engines.
I was wanting to get rid of my crappions and needed a direction to go. I was thinking of platinum-4 ones, but I just liked them becuase they are cool...lol. help me out here
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03-10-2002, 01:42 AM | #2 |
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There are two bests (in my opinion) depending on what you mean by best.
1) if by "best" you mean the ones that will last the longest you should ge with any platinum plug (not sure which one because I hate platinum plugs) 2) if by best you mean anything besides which will last the longest, I would go with NGK TR 6's. Eric |
03-10-2002, 02:31 AM | #3 |
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NGK platinums or coppers.
30k maintenance interval on coppers, 60k on platinums. Platinums are worth the extra $, and are generally a better burning plug. |
03-10-2002, 03:01 AM | #4 | |
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Quote:
In a platinum plug, little pieces of platinum are "glued" onto the ground strap and electrode of a spark plug. To get a picture of this, think of a normal looking plug and then just pretend that a little circular piece of metal is glued to the ground strap side (the little thing that protudes from the end of the plug). Now, say that this plug is gapped to .045" and everything is going fine. Now, say that somewhere down the line that little piece of platinum comes off nad gets flushed out of the talepipe. All of a sudden your gap on your plugs is .070" or so! This is horrible for performance and gas milage. And honestly, on Subaru's, the plugs are very easy to change. It is a 10 minute job at the most. Corvettes (from at least 1994 to present) come with Platinum plugs and about half of the plugs I look at have blown the platinum "puck" off the ground strap. I end up changing them because a gap of .070 is actually very dangerous because it can cause the cylinder to "load up" which causes detonation and we all know that detonation is bad. Anyway, I;m done giving my monthly i-club spark plug spiel... Eric |
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03-10-2002, 03:27 AM | #5 |
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[quote]Originally posted by Imprezinator
[b] This is a huge misnomer (sp.) with spark plugs. Platinum is not a better buring plug! The reason auto manufacturers are going towards platinums is because of the life span. Platinum doesn't wear out as quick as copper so it lasts longer. Therefor, platinum plugs maintance interval is longer. This allows auto manufacturers to state "100,000 mile maintance intervals" or whatever on commercials. In a platinum plug, little pieces of platinum are "glued" onto the ground strap and electrode of a spark plug. To get a picture of this, think of a normal looking plug and he is absolutely correct Jeremy |
03-10-2002, 08:52 AM | #6 |
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Out of the below plugs I have run in my car over the last 73,000 miles I liked the NGK the best. Each plug change had an ECU reset and air filter change. And with the NGK's I did last week there is definitely a noticeable difference this time. The Bosch Plats were the worst. With the Plats I had a slight hesitation off the line. Not to sure why. All plugs were firing.
1. Champion 2. Bosch Platinum 3. Nippon Denso 4. Bosch Super 5. NGK |
03-10-2002, 01:12 PM | #7 |
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When I was asking which one was the best, I was looking for the most performance (hp/torque) gain that could be possible. I think my suby is still running the stock crappions and I need some new ones... just wondering which one would have the best performance results.
Thanks for help. |
03-10-2002, 02:17 PM | #8 |
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Honestly I don't believe you are going to feel a lot of HP/Torque from plugs. My car also used the Champions. As I said above I tried all of those and finally have found a plug that seems to provide smooth power, steady idle and run nicely. Most but not all of the people here use NGK's. My '99 requires BKR5E-11.
You could try NGK Iridium's. Kinda spendy for little to no difference. All you'll get are opinions and my opinion: NGK V-Power And I don't think anyone has done a dyno run or two to show the power difference in plugs. If they have I sure would like to see it. |
03-10-2002, 02:52 PM | #9 | |
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I also found this on automotiveforums.com:
Quote:
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03-10-2002, 07:58 PM | #10 |
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-> Platinum vs Copper NGK Spark Plugs
NGK BKR6E-11's work best for me. I tried those Bosch Platinum +4's once, but didn't like them as much as the regular copper NGK V-Power ones. |
03-11-2002, 08:58 AM | #11 |
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I just changed to the Denso's listed in the manual, K20PR-U11 I think. They work great, and are the same exact part as the NGK I have heard. Same factory, same production line. They even have the same V-groove. Just depends on what your local shops carry, both these and the NGK should average $1.50 a plug.
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03-11-2002, 11:59 AM | #12 |
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I just had my 30,000 mi maintenance. Anyway they changed the pluges and I'm afraid they put the crapions back in. The service manager was no help as to what plugs they use.
Does anyone know? I guess I can always pull one out if all else fails. |
03-11-2002, 12:29 PM | #13 |
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Didn't mean to start a huge spark plug debate....Spshultz most accurately described the pros and cons of all of the plugs.
NGK or Densos, regardless of material type are the best plugs fos Subarus. Don't think Imprezinator has changed plugs on a DOHC 2.5, usually a bit longer than a 10 minute affair. 2.2s and SOHC 2.5s are much easier to change plugs on.. |
03-11-2002, 12:38 PM | #14 |
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NGK BKR6E-11 - $1.69/ea at Pepboys
Stock wires - about $19K, includes MY01 Subaru GC8 Nice performance with an idle at about 600 rpms... Awesome! |
03-12-2002, 12:11 AM | #15 |
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NGK V-Powers. They don't last as long as platinum, but best bang for the buck. (pun intended)
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03-12-2002, 01:16 AM | #16 | |
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Quote:
Eric |
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03-12-2002, 06:24 PM | #17 | |
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Quote:
-Jason |
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03-13-2002, 08:40 PM | #18 |
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Oh the dollars I have spent over the years in the relentless pursuit of the biggest, baddest, meanist plug. I do agree that NJK makes a mighty fine plug, but I also found that an Autolite is good too. I am surprised no one mentioned this, but you can optimize ANY plug by indexing it.
http://www.automedia.com/xml/pht/pht20001001sp.xml Again, this is not going to yield NOS type horsepower, but you will be doing the right thing. Also, anyone have any advice on changing the heat range of the plugs? I used to run colder plugs in other cars. I was about ready to buy those iridium plugs from someone on eBay (NJK version). You guys (and gals... no offense meant to anyone) have made me remember my old days. |
03-15-2002, 02:32 AM | #19 |
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Wait... who said changing plugs is easy on a subaru?
It's a pain in the ass! |
03-15-2002, 04:29 AM | #20 |
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I said it. I don;t know how anyone can think it is hard. try changing plugs on an LT1 Camaro if you think changing Scooby plugs is hard!
Eric |
03-15-2002, 04:53 AM | #21 | |
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Quote:
i HATE THOSE CARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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03-15-2002, 04:37 PM | #22 |
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Imprezinator,
Wasn't trying to be sassy, have been informed of your extensive motorsports backround... Just trying to make the point that the DOHC 2.5 takes more time to change plugs on than a 2.2 or SOHC 2.5 (they are a 10 minute job). Can you at least acknowledge that fact for those that haven't changed plugs on ANY Subaru before. BTW, have changed plenty of oil in my life, glad I'm not a lube jockey for a living (gets old after a while). It's more fun for me to keep them running for a long time (requires lots of oil changes, timing belts, cv boots) and making them perform better than stock. Just looking into an LT-1 engine compartment is enough to give a Subie tech a headache! Not quite as user friendly as a Subie. |
03-15-2002, 09:28 PM | #23 | |
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Quote:
Maybe I'm doing something different than eveyone else. I do the left bank (passenger side) first. You don;t have to remove anything. Get a spark plug socket with a rubberholder in it so you don;t screw up the gap by droping it in the engine. I think I use a 3" extension and then the ratchet and they go right in and out. On the drivers side, I remove 2 philips screws move the windshield fluid reservoir out of the way. That takes literally less than a minute. From there, I just do them like I did the other side. I don;t move anything out of the way. What does everyone else do different? Have I stumbled onto an easier way to do it. Eric |
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03-16-2002, 05:07 AM | #24 |
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On the DOHC (as with most other jobs), the right tool for the job is necessary. The tool I use (on 2.2 & 2.5) is a double swivel spark plug socket with no extension. It is easy to use from above or below (if you use a lift for the DOHC) the car.
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03-16-2002, 09:15 AM | #25 | |
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[quote]Originally posted by HndaTch627
[b] Quote:
Platinum plugs actually take MORE energy to spark, and will slightly reduce the efficency of your ignition system. And regardless of what any OEM says, 100k mile plug intervals is BS. About 60k is max even for platinums. |
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