Bosch Platinum Plus Spark Plugs

[mycnam]

They should be in the car at least 4 years (since I owned the car) but not too many miles. They look quite eroded. The tiny electrodes at the center are actually receded into the insulator. I don't understand how they can use such a design. I think they are discontinued? Replaced with NGK Laser Iridium.

Did this contribute to my failed ignition coil/distributor before?

 

[dparm]

Plugs wear out -- the electrode erodes. How is this a bad design? It's how every plug works.

 

[bvance554]

Yea they don't look that bad. And it looks as though they have worked as designed. I'm not sure what you were expecting.

 

[mycnam]

The center electrodes look so tiny comparing to other long life platinum/iridium designs.

 

[pcoxe]

The center electrodes are probably made tiny so they act like reverse lightning rods. The platinum erodes slowly so it doesn't need to be as thick as on older plug designs.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Just look like any high mile plug to me.

 

[DB_Cooper]

Back when I worked for and serviced a lot of Porsche 911s..I saw many 3.2 engines with the original factory installed Bosch Platinum plugs removed at about 15k miles that looked exactly like yours. The thinking at the time was the energy of the coil was too much for the thin center electrode on the spark plug. Using NGK spark plugs with a standard nickle center electrode worked best for longevity and serviceability.

In hindsight..the Bosch platinum spark plugs are just not very durable in a performance engine. I think having a huge 2/3mm spark plug gap would put some strain on your ignition components..most certainly your cap/rotor/wires and coil.

In my 3.2 911 I went to NGK BP6et from the Bosch spark plugs and have very good results and long service. I like the multi-ground ground electrodes and the nickle center electrode wears down very slowly. The 911 has a strong ignition system that suits the NGK spark plugs.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
In hindsight..the Bosch platinum spark plugs are just not very durable in a performance engine. I think having a huge 2/3mm spark plug gap would put some strain on your ignition components..most certainly your cap/rotor/wires and coil.

In much the same vein, Bosch recommended only the conventional style plugs for my old Audi 200 Turbo. They did list other plugs, but the OEM style were strongly recommended.

 

[charbaby]

Originally Posted By: mycnam
The center electrodes look so tiny comparing to other long life platinum/iridium designs.


That's the typical Bosch Platinum design. I have used them before in an old Honda(supposedly, not recomended) but, they worked fine for my Honda

 

[mycnam]

Anyhow, I am glad I went to NGK now, which is supposedly OEM. The old Bosch plugs had 20k miles on me, mostly short trips. But who knows how long they were used before me.

 

[Hootbro]

I never had any problem with Bosh Platinum plugs.

The main thing to watch with them when installing is if the gap has to be adjusted. Do not leverage against the center electrode to adjust the outer lateral electrode for the gap. That stresses the center electrode insulator and is what usually cracks them.

 

[antiqueshell]

I've used Bosch Platinum +2 in my VWs for some time now and they have always performed as well or a bit better than the OEM Bosch Silver plugs.

The important part is that you use the right application, and these plugs should never have the gap adjusted by the consumer, if the application is correct they are pre-gapped at the correct setting.

 

[antonmnster]

I'm not so sure about these plugs. I just replaced a set after 4 years but only 25,000 miles. They were so worn that I was getting a bad miss and CEL.