overpriced exotic metal spark plugs that underperform!!

[GMBoy]

how many times have you done manifolds and bolts? water pumps door hinges sounding like grandparents mattress etc. LS vs Hemi isn’t even a comparison.

Well truth be told the manifolds were done while under warranty but so far they are still quiet. Still on the same everything else. My doors are fine but I did have a 14 Ram come to the shop for a bad driver door but he was a horse vet and used that truck hard and he hadn't had any issues with his 6.4L.We replaced the door check and off he went for $60.

I feel the HEMI/LS comparision is real. I own a few LS (trucks and Corvettes) and a Hemi 5.7 Ram. I think its hard to discuss LS vs Hemi w/o discussing how they are killing the competition with the SRT's, Hellcats etc - no LS stock for stock keep up. But then remember - I like them both BUT I KNOW each has its pros and cons. We can just agree on that for sure.

CHEERS!

 

[BrendanC]

Well truth be told the manifolds were done while under warranty but so far they are still quiet. Still on the same everything else. My doors are fine but I did have a 14 Ram come to the shop for a bad driver door but he was a horse vet and used that truck hard and he hadn't had any issues with his 6.4L.We replaced the door check and off he went for $60.

I feel the HEMI/LS comparision is real. I own a few LS (trucks and Corvettes) and a Hemi 5.7 Ram. I think its hard to discuss LS vs Hemi w/o discussing how they are killing the competition with the SRT's, Hellcats etc - no LS stock for stock keep up. But then remember - I like them both BUT I KNOW each has its pros and cons. We can just agree on that for sure.

CHEERS!

i’ve worked on both, and i see what is in commercial service down in the texas oil patches. you can keep your hemi, id jump in my 22 Y/o 237K mile cammed LS and drive across the country before driving a new stelanis hunk off the lot.

 

[GMBoy]

i’ve worked on both, and i see what is in commercial service down in the texas oil patches. you can keep your hemi, id jump in my 22 Y/o 237K mile cammed LS and drive across the country before driving a new stelanis hunk off the lot.

Hey now you are not being fair! Every one knows the 800 series are the best GM has ever built - I own 2.....an 05 Yukon SLT 4x4 5.3L and a 06 Sierra Denali AWD 6.0L......they are better then the 14 Sierra Denali by a mile! I sold that to my son its a POS

But if I were to buy a new truck....its RAM all the way.

 

[Dinoburner]

Before I would put copper plugs in I`d clean and gap the originals. But hey that's just me.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

my 07 Ram Hemi specifies copper plugs at 30K for all 16 plugs. i pilled a couple at 30K and they still looked new and gap was .002 too large. L haven't changed them yet.

How many miles do you have now?

 

[BrendanC]

Hey now you are not being fair! Every one knows the 800 series are the best GM has ever built - I own 2.....an 05 Yukon SLT 4x4 5.3L and a 06 Sierra Denali AWD 6.0L......they are better then the 14 Sierra Denali by a mile! I sold that to my son its a POS

But if I were to buy a new truck....it’s RAM all the way.

the 01-02 800’s were the best trucks ever built period. modern enough to diagnose and have comfort, analog enough to work on without a snap on computer. if i had to buy a new truck today (i wouldn’t, i like my old stuff), 2022 silverado 250”HD 6.6L gas with the 6L90e. they are rock solid and amazing on fuel/power. never have to rev them out to go anywhere and can get 20mpg on the highway

 

[04silverado6.0]

I have seen a couple dyno studies where copper plugs picked up around 3 ft-lb in the mid range over some expensive plugs. What is a little extra labor for 3 ft-lb? Changing my v power in the silverado every 10-15k.

 

[BrendanC]

I have seen a couple dyno studies where copper plugs picked up around 3 ft-lb in the mid range over some expensive plugs. What is a little extra labor for 3 ft-lb? Changing my v power in the silverado every 10-15k.

i’d be interested to see that. finer electrode on iridium that should lean towards are more consistent spark.

 

[IndyIan]

I have seen a couple dyno studies where copper plugs picked up around 3 ft-lb in the mid range over some expensive plugs. What is a little extra labor for 3 ft-lb? Changing my v power in the silverado every 10-15k.

Yeah, that is the what I read on the Focus forums too, so back when I was autocrossing my old Focus, I put them in, because racecar! If it was 3ft-lb improvement I probably would've felt it, as it was easy feel the difference between 3/4 tank and and 1/4 tank of fuel which was ~2% weight difference, so I'm sure it was much less, but that car did run noticeably stronger than my current Focus, so maybe that was one of the factors?
They are dead easy to change, so I did that for years, but now I just need something to last several years to the end of the car.

 

[dubber09]

There is actually another angle to look at it, if anything goes iffy with the car after you changed the plugs your GF won't be too happy, stress and extra work rectifying potential issues is a loss of time, nerves and money.

 

[kschachn]

Plus the fact that there aren't "copper" plugs. The cheapest plugs generally use nickel as the electrode material. And it is generally true that the rest of the plug construction is similar if not identical to a precious metal electrode plug.

So much misinformation and misunderstanding on this subject. Precious metal plugs get you longevity and precious little else. Not a bad thing but that's the advantage.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Plus the fact that there aren't "copper" plugs. The cheapest plugs generally use nickel as the electrode material. And it is generally true that the rest of the plug construction is similar if not identical to a precious metal electrode plug.

So much misinformation and misunderstanding on this subject. Precious metal plugs get you longevity and precious little else. Not a bad thing but that's the advantage.

The iridium plugs have a finer electrode, which requires less voltage. Fine wire nickel exists (NGK V-Power), but they have a very short lifespan. Turbo and DI can be very hard on plugs, which is why many formerly-100k iridium are now only good for 60k in some of those engines. If iridium only lasts 60k there, how long do you think nickel will last?

Denso has a Nickel TT, but they're not sold in the US. The diameter of that electrode is 1.5mm, but still not as fine as the Iridium TT (0.4mm).

 

[4WD]

that’s a job i will never do again, spark plugs on a tick machine. what an absolute waste of time and spark plugs. i can do an LS in the time it takes to do the two rear passenger cylinders on a hemi.

 

[OVERKILL]

5.7L hemi.

Usually it's just the exhaust manifolds though. That was the case on every single one of them at work, and my wife's '19. And of course Ford and Toyota, and I believe to a lesser extent GM, have had the same problem.

 

[4WD]

Usually it's just the exhaust manifolds though. That was the case on every single one of them at work, and my wife's '19. And of course Ford and Toyota, and I believe to a lesser extent GM, have had the same problem.

Especially those who tow heavy - smart owners swap them new and never look back …

 

[camrydriver111]

On thr subject of overpriced.

At my local Mazda dealer plug are $50 for one plug.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Old Ruthenium "Fingernail Electrode" plugs I pulled from a used 13 year old Subaru Outback I purchased about 3 years ago.

Pulled them out - scoped the cyls - back in they went.
These are pricey buggers.

Benefits? Ultra Low misfire counts and easy to multi-spark with COP ignition

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Come on guys. @benjy is our resident "It's not a real synthetic unless it's PAO" guy. He must be trolling us when he says he used cheapo spark plugs. The guys drives a late model Audi TT after all. lol

 

[benjy]

my 2001 TT gets similar plugs!! its just MARKETING for more profits as the harder thin wire plugs are POOR conductors!! as i noted EZE changes, i am older + slow but i installed plugs in the Kia this morning, about 30 min at a slo pace EZE PEAZY!! your choice your $$$$. the OE plugs did NOT look good!! on that note changing girlfriends plugs in her traded 2001 Passat netted better MPGS + smoother running + imo these "lifetime" things are just MORE MARKETING!!!

 

[kschachn]

my 2001 TT gets similar plugs!! its just MARKETING for more profits as the harder thin wire plugs are POOR conductors!! as i noted EZE changes, i am older + slow but i installed plugs in the Kia this morning, about 30 min at a slo pace EZE PEAZY!! your choice your $$$

The "harder thin wire plugs" are not POOR conductors. Please learn about how a plug conducts electricity.

And the precious metal tips last far longer than cheap nickel ones and as such are not just MARKETING.

But as it seems for many of your posts I doubt any of that will make a bit of difference.