Spark plug wires

[Jimmy9190]

I'm doing a tune up this weekend with new plugs, distributor cap, rotor and was planning on getting a new set of plug wires too. That's the way I usually do it but am just curious how long you guys use a set of plug wires? I tune up once a year at about 20,000 miles. The wires I have now have about 20k on them now. I use the premium Belden set from Napa. Just wondering if they can stand another 20K?

Thanks.

 

[XS650]

I have run over 100k on factory plug wires with no problems, no drop in fuel economy and very low emission test numbers.

It depends lot on the car and the ignition system.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Yeah I was going to say, 20K miles or once a year seems really soon to be changing plug wires, especially if they are high quality ones to begin with.

To me that's like changing your oil every 500 miles!

 

[MK2]

I change them every 50K, that 6-7 years on my case.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Thanks, I appreciate the help. The Belden wires are very good quality and I think they should be OK. I guess this will be a low budget tune up since I am using some spark plugs I bought last year too. It's a long story but I have a set of NGK's I used for just a few hundred miles when I was trying to get rid of a pinging problem. I guess as long as I don't damage the wires in the process I'll save $40.00 and use this same set for another year.

I'm trying to save money now every way I can, same as a lot of other folks. I'll call this my "bad economy tune up special"...

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[XS650]

My approach to plug wires is to not change them unless there is some indication of a problem such as a drop in fuel economy, a miss, bad emission test results. And even them, not unless there is some reason to believe the wires are the problem.

Put a little silicone grease in the boots when you install the wires and it's easier to remove them from the plugs without damaging them when you change plugs. I think more plug wires die from abuse than use or age.

 

[mechtech2]

Factory plug wires are pretty good nowadays. Figure at least 50,000 miles .
20,000 is far too soon, and is really hasty. Unless of course there is a known problem - not likely.
Also, changing spark plug heat ranges in a stock engine is not a good idea. It's not good for more reasons than being a bad method of eliminating pinging.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I always use a good amount of dielectric grease in the boots for the plug and at the distributor too. I use anti-sieze on the plugs. A couple of mine are a little hard to reach. But I can always tell when my truck is due for a tune up. It starts and runs fine, just has a little loss of power and I use a plain copper core plug that needs changed every 20K or so. I use a cap and rotor with brass contacts and I change those out too with the plugs.

Even though $40.00 is not that much money, it makes good sense to use the wires as long as they are in good shape.

Funny how it always works out I do the tune up right around the time we get our first cool snap here in Florida....

Thanks for the help.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Whether to use anti-seize on plugs or not can be its own thread. Some shop manuals discourage the use of anti-seize and I do think anti-seize does it make it possible to overtighten the plugs. YMMV though.

 

[getnpsi]

if the wires are sitting on top of the exhaust, or get splashed with chemicals, they will not live a long life. My srt-4 wires get changed yearly, the other cars...um LOL bad maintenance.

 

[Jimmy9190]

After the effort it took to remove the factory plugs, I always use a little anti-sieze on the new ones. I broke 2 of the OE plugs in half getting them out. It hasn't caused any problems on my truck, or any other plugs I have replaced for friends.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
I always use a good amount of dielectric grease in the boots for the plug and at the distributor too. I use anti-sieze on the plugs. A couple of mine are a little hard to reach. But I can always tell when my truck is due for a tune up. It starts and runs fine, just has a little loss of power and I use a plain copper core plug that needs changed every 20K or so. I use a cap and rotor with brass contacts and I change those out too with the plugs.

Even though $40.00 is not that much money, it makes good sense to use the wires as long as they are in good shape.



Funny how it always works out I do the tune up right around the time we get our first cool snap here in Florida....

Thanks for the help.


Ever consider using a platinum or double platinum plug? They will last much longer.

 

[Eddie]

I usually go the half life. If I plan on keeping the vehicle to 140,000 miles (typical for me), I change the wires out at ~ 70,000 assumining they will need it before 140 K. I save the old wires for emergency purposes.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Platinum plugs cost too much and don't provide any real benefit in my engine. It's a Dodge Dakota with the 3.9 V6. Copper based plugs like the Autolite 3923 or NGK FR5F have provided the best performance for a lot of people who have the 3.9. I have not really found a good explanation for it but 3923's have run very well for me and many other Dakota owners, and the NGK should do the same or maybe even a little better. In the 3.9 there is some unknown benefit in the combustion chamber from the reaction of a copper plug. I don't mind changing the plugs out once a year or so. The condition of the plugs will give me a good idea how my engine is doing internally and I really enjoy doing the work. I keep my old wires too in case I need one. I save most of my old parts in case I might need or use them later, like these NGK's I have in my tool box from last year.

Thanks for the help here.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Strangely, my 08 Corolla uses Denso Iridium plugs. I didn't realize some manufacturers were making the switch from Platinum to Iridium.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I think a lot of car companies are using the platinum/iridium/plutonium/kryptonite or whatever precious metal plugs because they do last longer and must be more durable for their advertised 100,000 mile tune up intervals. Maybe they perform better too, but I have no experience with them. It's just a personal opinion but I don't put much faith in anyone's claim that a maintenance item like a spark plug will last that long without needing replacement. My truck runs just fine and gets great MPG with a plain old copper plug.

Even though my truck is only 8 years old, I think there is a big difference both in operation and design between it and modern day trucks and cars. I really like that aspect of my Dakota. I don't need an oscilliscope and a degree from MIT to work on it and it is not nearly so heavily regulated with electronics as modern vehicles. Just my 2 cents' worth.

 

[mstrjon32]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Even though my truck is only 8 years old, I think there is a big difference both in operation and design between it and modern day trucks and cars. I really like that aspect of my Dakota. I don't need an oscilliscope and a degree from MIT to work on it and it is not nearly so heavily regulated with electronics as modern vehicles. Just my 2 cents' worth.


No joke. That's my favorite thing about my Cherokee. I can work on it in my driveway with some hand tools and actually diagnose and fix problems. I felt the same way about my old '97 Monte Carlo, but to a lesser extent than with the seriously old-tech Cherokee. My '06 Monte requires a Tech II for just about every little thing, sometimes I think about it and it makes me want to almost sell it.

As for the plugs, I wouldn't put platinum or some other fancy plug in a car with an ignition system designed for plain old copper plugs. In my experience the ignition system isn't designed for the added resistance and in some cars they just don't work as well.

 

[andyd]

I got about 250k miles out of the original plug wires in my 528e, 70 k miles from the siver Bosches that are OEM . I learned the hard way about boot grease on my Jeeps.

 

[1sttruck]

"My truck runs just fine and gets great MPG with a plain old copper plug."

I Like double platinum plugs in the cars as they seem to last longer. I ran copper plugs in the bikes as the NGKs seemed to provide better power, but I also filed the tips and regapped every 2500 miles and replaced then every 5000 miles.

I still can't replacement plugs from the dealer for my Cummins, so I guess those are the best ones as they evidently never need replacing.

:^)

 

[gnet158]

I used a set of Taylor wires and AC Delco Uridum plugs when I changed them last year on my 02 GMC Sierra. That was at 85,000 and I could definitely feel the difference. Ordered everything from Summit Racing for $100 shipped. Which was $300 less then the shop wanted to charge me (what a rip).

Changing them at 20k is a waste of money no matter how cheap the wires are. Unless your having problems.

But it's good practice.