Just curious if these $5.99 EACH plugs, are worthy of the hype. I would like to find a long-term plug, that can go 50K. Curious if anyone has experience with the top-of-the-line Bosch 4x4>?
Bosch 4x4 Platinum Plugs>OPINIONS?
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I'm now using Bosch +4 platinums in my B6 block and it works fine: excellent fuel economy over regular copper resistor plugs, with excellent thermal range (self cleaning) and characteristics.
I used to love Bosch coppers but I cannot get them here at a reasonable price. Acceleration using Bosch coppers are strong at the expense of short plug life and also fuel economy.
My other favourite would be NGK G-power platinums. I tried Iridium already but I detect no perceivable improvements over the platinum plugs, which is considerably cheaper than the Iridiums.
I used to love Bosch coppers but I cannot get them here at a reasonable price. Acceleration using Bosch coppers are strong at the expense of short plug life and also fuel economy.
My other favourite would be NGK G-power platinums. I tried Iridium already but I detect no perceivable improvements over the platinum plugs, which is considerably cheaper than the Iridiums.
I can't see the need for having all of those electrodes blocking the gasses/flame propagation. Only one fires at a time, anyway!
But four must be better than one?!
But four must be better than one?!
i used the bosch platium and the +2 and +4 plugs. i used them in my suzuki 2.0 litre engine. the engine does not use sparkplug wires. it has coil packs over each sparkplug. I can honestly say i couldn't see or feel a difference between the regular platinum plugs and the +2,+4. and i was thinking i might even try to go for my need sset of plugs to a NGK plug.
My experiences are excellent: 102k miles and looking pretty good. I would say that for me at least, they held up quite well.
Your results my vary!
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=45;t=000063
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Your results my vary!
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=45;t=000063
(scroll down to picture)
I have used those plugs in my 1992 Chevy plow truck for about a year, around 7000 miles. Up and until Dec of 04, I thought they were very good. I have only had this truck since 2002 and the Bosch went in right away.
But whenever the weather was cold the truck always ran bad until it warmed up. One GM tech who is a good friend asked me to let him change the plugs. H was confident they were my problem. So he installed AC Delco Rapid Fire Platinums. Thats all that was done and the engine runs perfect now and actually seems to perform much better. The Bosch +4 only had 7,000 miles on them. I would have never thought the plugs were the problem but I had added new wires, distributor/coil, 02 sensors and EGR, the engine still ran rough when cold but now runs like a new vehicle at 84,000 miles.
But whenever the weather was cold the truck always ran bad until it warmed up. One GM tech who is a good friend asked me to let him change the plugs. H was confident they were my problem. So he installed AC Delco Rapid Fire Platinums. Thats all that was done and the engine runs perfect now and actually seems to perform much better. The Bosch +4 only had 7,000 miles on them. I would have never thought the plugs were the problem but I had added new wires, distributor/coil, 02 sensors and EGR, the engine still ran rough when cold but now runs like a new vehicle at 84,000 miles.
I couldn't agree more. And other than possibly longer life, I've yet to see any of the expensive plugs give any better performance in a stock engine than the OEM fitment...
When I was thinking about putting them on, guy at pepboys said winter is coming up and I might wanna recosider putting them on, When I asked why? He said "it wouldn't work properly during extreme minnesota cold weather. There is a possibility that your car would take some efforts to start"
Folks,
I opt for Platinums for longer life and better thermal characteristics, not for marketing hype.
Unless your car uses (a) solid state ignition devices; (b) better yet, CDI (Capacitor Discharge) and (c) your ignition system can maintain a consistently high HV potential 6kV min. over the spark plug gap to overcome the turbulances during the compression stroke/ignition phase, otherwise, multi-gap spark plugs pose no benefits.
Esp. with multi-gap spark plugs: you need at least 30~50% higher potential difference (and your system is strong enough to maintain that) than that of the one that typically serves copper core/resistor+copper plug types.
Most domestic cars, some Japanese imports (esp. earlier, pre-individual step-up coils era) cannot get the most benefits out of multi-tip platinum plugs due to the lowish potential difference (averaged 3~4kV). The first European car that could take advantage of this was Saab 900 with 2-stage coils ignition system which can maintain over 6~8 (almost 10kV at during testing)kVs esp. during heavy acceleration.
Unless you are willing to convert your system to MSI module or CDI with multicoils to boost the secondary firing voltage potential, otherwise, go with G-power instead.
I opt for Platinums for longer life and better thermal characteristics, not for marketing hype.
Unless your car uses (a) solid state ignition devices; (b) better yet, CDI (Capacitor Discharge) and (c) your ignition system can maintain a consistently high HV potential 6kV min. over the spark plug gap to overcome the turbulances during the compression stroke/ignition phase, otherwise, multi-gap spark plugs pose no benefits.
Esp. with multi-gap spark plugs: you need at least 30~50% higher potential difference (and your system is strong enough to maintain that) than that of the one that typically serves copper core/resistor+copper plug types.
Most domestic cars, some Japanese imports (esp. earlier, pre-individual step-up coils era) cannot get the most benefits out of multi-tip platinum plugs due to the lowish potential difference (averaged 3~4kV). The first European car that could take advantage of this was Saab 900 with 2-stage coils ignition system which can maintain over 6~8 (almost 10kV at during testing)kVs esp. during heavy acceleration.
Unless you are willing to convert your system to MSI module or CDI with multicoils to boost the secondary firing voltage potential, otherwise, go with G-power instead.
I agree that OEM plugs are generally the best choice for a stock engine. I am sure that if a different spark plug would improve MPG, car companies would be using them as OEM since they are all trying to hit the CAFE marks.
However, for modified motors, the equation has changed, so different plugs may be needed.
However, for modified motors, the equation has changed, so different plugs may be needed.
Oh, and same goes for plug wires.
Bosch Platinum +4s = Overpriced junk! It's not as if the regular Bosch platinums are bad enough, adding 3 more ground electrodes will only make things worse.
Do a search, the multitip is mostly hype, the problem is that the pure platnium center electrode does not last on most cars. I've found AC-delco and NGK platniums will last 100k easily in most cars, although I like to change them a bt early.
-T
-T
Multi-electrode plugs are only good in engines where they are specified as OE. BMW, Mazda, Toyota and probably others do use side-gapped multi-electrode designs. This is to allow long life and to position the spark for a particular combustion chamber shape, like in the Mazda rotary.
Platinum center electrodes usually last a long time but conventional ground electrodes do not. US automakers tend to specify double platinum designs instead.
Currrently, BMW uses a four electrode plug from NGK that lasts 100,000 miles. Those that try to substitue the "universal" Bosch +4 have problems.
Platinum center electrodes usually last a long time but conventional ground electrodes do not. US automakers tend to specify double platinum designs instead.
Currrently, BMW uses a four electrode plug from NGK that lasts 100,000 miles. Those that try to substitue the "universal" Bosch +4 have problems.
NGK coppers have been excellent in my 4.6 Police Interceptor. I didn't want to show my hand at first, just to get some other opinions. But... She ran pretty poorly with Bosch +4's.
Some Mustang guys SWORE that the 4.6 and NGK's worked---nicely! I was a bit stunned. Well, they HAVE! I just wanted to try a platinum. I think it;s gonna be NGK's
Thanks to all...
Thanks to all...
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