Spark plug heat ranges

[doitmyself]

Why would a spark plug manufacturer recommend a different heat range than the vehicle manufacturer?

My Dodge mini van lists a Champion or NGK copper plug on the engine compartment decal.

BOTH Champion and NGK's website list plugs one range hotter than the decal.

I e-mailed NGK to explain the different recommendations and they replied: "NGK recommends a hotter plug for this application. Follow the manufacturers recommendation."

Does NGK/Champion think they know whats better than the engine manufacturer??

 

[mechtech]

If your stock plugs are not fouling under the conditions that you drive, I'd stick with the factory spec'd plugs.
You can look at the insulator tip [pull a plug after various driving conditions] and see if it is ever too dark.
An old rule of thumb is that if it is very light to various shades of a regular piece of toast, it is OK.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

what year and engine?

 

[doitmyself]

Oops,

This is a 2005 (actually produced in late spring of 2004)and is the 2.4L engine (not the new joint Mitsubishi/Chrysler one, I think, but not sure).

The engine sticker also says it meets some ???? California standards.

Could this be a "California" bound vehicle and have different plug recommendations. Or, do all the engine stickers say that.

And... Chryslers traditionally came with Champion plugs OEM. Can anyone offer an opinion that the "slick marketing" V power NGK copper plug is better than the traditional Champion?

Thanks

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

What does your owners manual say about sparkplugs?
I was under the impression that all current mopars came with double plats. My 2000 GC 3.3 did. I replaced them at 75 K miles, just because.

Just out of curousity, what plugs are in the motor now? Are they the same as listed on the underhood sticker? I haven't seen one of those engines so don't have any hands on experiance wih them.

It is my understanding that they are a variount of the Neon/Stratus 2.0/2.4 SOHC/DOHC engine.

OBTW: Look here for more info.

 

[doitmyself]

Thanks

I just pulled the original plug. It is a Champion RE14MCC5, same as the decal. A copper plug - hard to believe in this day and age of 100,000 mile plats. My maintenance schedule is for 30K.

Think I'll try the NGK just for fun - it's on the decal also, so still OEM recommended.


EDIT: JUST FIGURED OUT THE RECOMMENDATION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PLUG MANUFACTURERS AND MY DECAL. IT MUST BE A MODEL YEAR CHANGEOVER THING. THE CHAMPION/NGK SITE FOR '04 CORRESPONDS WITH MY VAN -MADE IN '04, MARKETED AS '05. THEY MUST HAVE MADE A CHANGE SOMETIME IN '05. LESSON: FOLLOW THE ENGINE STICKER. THANKS ALL.

[ January 11, 2006, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: doitmyself ]

 

[1 FMF]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Classic example of how information gets distorted when it passes from one group to another. Spark plugs aren't rocket science, and going one heat range either way isn't going to cause the engine to blow up. At worst you notice some pinging under heavy acceleration in which case you know you need to drive easy till you get around to changing them, or just drive easy.

 

[cousincletus]

If your engine pings, go with a colder plug. If it runs ok now, stick with the same plug. If it doesn't ping and has lots of carbon on the plug, go with a hotter plug. FWIW for 30K intervals Autolite and Champion plugs work just fine. No need to spend lots of bucks on fancy imported sparkplugs.

 

[mechtech]

If your engine pings, check your ignition timing and fuel mixture.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Shouldn't ping. That engine is a DOHC 16V with knock sensor, and distributorless ignition.
More info here