driving with wrong spark plugs

[Carguy80]

Hi everyone!

Last week i went and get the spark plugs changed to my firebird.I asked the mechanic if he needs the correct ac delco spark plug number from my 92 owners manual.He said; "i know right plugs for your car".So,later on with the new plugs in the engine, i went driving around just for fun and i nodest that engine is not running as the same as it use to be.I thought its just a feeling and i was driving around couple hours.next day i nodest power loss when i was driving around at small speeds it felt like im running out of gas. at high speeds my car was ok,but low speeds were different story.after about 3to4 days and after 300-400km,i took one of the spark plugs out to check if there is something wrong with the plugs,and the number from the plug was; they were ac delco plugs, but the number got my attention it was cr43ts

and the right spark plug number for my ride is r43tsk.I think those cr43ts plugs is ment for chevy van,with v8 engine,right??luckily,i had the old spark plugs with me and later with the help of my dad we were changing all the old spark plugs back.Now my car is working just as it use to be thanks for the right set of plugs.I just wonder could the use of driving with wrong spark plugs done any damage to my engine?

 

[johnd]

Driving with the wrong plug is not likely to hurt anything as long as the center of the tip doesn't stick out so far the piston hits it. It is just an efficiency issue.

 

[Matt_S]

You need to discuss this with the mechanic. I would expect him to make this right at no additional charge.

 

[Kestas]

If the gap was set correctly and plug resistance was correct, it shouldn't affect performance. Likewise with what John said about the electrodes sticking out too far. A plug colder or hotter than what's appropriate for your engine would only affect the life of the plug.

 

[beanoil]

CR43TS, and R43TSK are interchangeable. Both are taper seat, extended tip plugs. Both cross to a RV15YC4 Champion, or a #1 AC Rapid Fire Platinum.
http://www.acdelco.com/

 

[porcupine73]

I would think it could make a difference if the heat range of the plugs used vs. spec plugs were significantly different??

Louis

 

[Kestas]

Tontu mentioned he noticed immediate effects. A wrong heat range would either cause excessive deposit buildup (too cold) or thermal degradation of the spark plug material (too hot). These are long-term effects. It would still provide spark when new.

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

I'm surprised for 43ts and 43 tsk behave that differently. May be the gaps were off by a big margin.

 

[mechtech]

I couldn't find what the 'C' stood for in the prefix of the spark plug designation.
Cadmium plated threads?

 

[Propflux01]

i would agree with Ikeep.. Compare plug gaps..

 

[beanoil]

C is for Copper Core

 

[BlazerLT]

Have him put the right plugs in, not interpret what he thinks should go in.