In 1976, I put a new set of Champions in my model A ford that I drove from Tempe Arizona, to the new owner in Minnesota. They worked OK till I got to Flagstaff and they started dropping out. I kept the old Edison take apart spark plugs with me. I put them back in and finished the trip with them. That motor was balanced very well when it was rebuilt and would run 55 all day. That was the speed limit then. As recall I got 25 mpg on it. Loved the sound of those motors.
Why the hate for Champion plugs?
- Thread starter Chris142
- Start date
When they're in-tune...you bet!
The only way to improve it would be to add a K&N air filter. (jk)
I'm in the camp of success with brands of plugs depend on the application.
The only applications that I have had decent luck with Champions have been on Chryslers and OPE.
On the many Ford products that I have owned, Motorcraft and Autolite are the only two that I have had positive results with.
In regard to Hondas, Denso and NGK are the only two brands that I have had success with.
In the couple of GM products that I have owned, I only ever used AC's.
However, I've never felt the need to spend the time or waste the emotion to hate on Champion plugs.
It's all about the proper product for the job.
The only applications that I have had decent luck with Champions have been on Chryslers and OPE.
On the many Ford products that I have owned, Motorcraft and Autolite are the only two that I have had positive results with.
In regard to Hondas, Denso and NGK are the only two brands that I have had success with.
In the couple of GM products that I have owned, I only ever used AC's.
However, I've never felt the need to spend the time or waste the emotion to hate on Champion plugs.
It's all about the proper product for the job.
I have never had an issue with Champions or Autolites. Always in Fords, and always made in USA. Don't know where Champions are made now.
India
This is assuming everyone has a newer vehicle. All of mine came with regular old Champion Copper plugs and have a 30K-mile change interval.
Fouling. Not 100% the plugs fault as it was an old car that used some oil. But no other brand fouled. I do have a set of Autolites for my jeep I am going to try.
I don't think it actually really matters. Occasionally people return spark plugs at work but I suspect the majority of the returns for "defective" plugs are because something else is wrong with the vehicle.
That said, very few people ask for Champion or Autolite plugs. People either shop based on what's OEM for their vehicle or they specifically want NGK or Denso or they just want the cheapest option. For many modern vehicles the cheapest iridiums in stock are Autolite so they sell well.
That said, very few people ask for Champion or Autolite plugs. People either shop based on what's OEM for their vehicle or they specifically want NGK or Denso or they just want the cheapest option. For many modern vehicles the cheapest iridiums in stock are Autolite so they sell well.
Last edited:
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
@D60 , I posted in the comments section of his video a indepth comment of how the Champion plug was the key to solving the misfire. The truck has been at a Ford dealer for six weeks prior, the dealer's only answer was to replace the computer at $2k USD. Instead, the Champion plug at $6 USD solved the problem and the truck ran for many years afterwards hauling loaded enclosed trailers across the U.S.
The team I was working with this weekend went through 96 Champion Spark plugs. Out in 2nd round eliminations. No issues with them.
Making it to the final round would be 128 spark plugs, except for the Big Go, where it would be 144 spark plugs. They have a good track record with the team.
Making it to the final round would be 128 spark plugs, except for the Big Go, where it would be 144 spark plugs. They have a good track record with the team.
Last edited:
I already have my favorites in NGK/NTK/Denso, I won't change unless I have to- certainly not for Champion.
This is the Champion plug that came out of my 1997 Craftsman chainsaw recently during a fuel system refresh. Sorry for the bad angle and focus, me no photog. Probably ran for <100 hours total over several years. The saw always started and ran good on this plug and probably would have continued to do so, but I replaced it with an NGK after throwing out the cheap Chinese plug that came with the tune-up kit.
As a teenager, I was taught the above: use whatever brand and heat range that came from the factory. Today, more than 60 years later, that still seems to be the recommendation that many folks follow. And many stories and experiences from many people later, it seems to generally be good advice. There will always be outliers and unique situations, but staying with the original plugs in unmodified engines seems to be good advice.Hate ? I've found the different brands, at least in the old days, worked good with the brand engine they were associated with, like Autolites work good in Ford products, AC in GM, Bosch in German junk, NGK in Datsun's and or what ever Japan made.
Champion made okay aircraft spark plugs and for lawn mowers and chain saws. Some times they worked okay in some cars and trucks and sometimes not. Was there ever a Mopar plug? Maybe the Champs work okay in them?
I don't know why that seems to hold true, or if it really does, but many techs and DIYers follow that approach with good results. Maybe the heat range for "equivalent" plugs is slightly different, or the design of one electrode vs another is not identical ... I couldn't say with any certainty. However, it's certainly a good rule of thumb.
My old Buick LeSabre came with AC iridium plugs from the factory, and when we inspected them at 120,000 miles it was clear that they still had plenty of life left in them.
My old Datsun 510, original, then rebuilt engine, then 1800 engine hated Champion plugs. Misfires, fouling, etc. Ran perfect on NGKs.
Years go by, put new Champion plugs in one of our Volvos. Misfires, fouling, no starts, etc. Put Bosch plugs in, ran perfectly.
2 stroke bikes, whackers, saws, Champion fouled much sooner than NGKs.
Just sour on them. No hate, but time and $ are sorta important to me.
Years go by, put new Champion plugs in one of our Volvos. Misfires, fouling, no starts, etc. Put Bosch plugs in, ran perfectly.
2 stroke bikes, whackers, saws, Champion fouled much sooner than NGKs.
Just sour on them. No hate, but time and $ are sorta important to me.
My experiences with Champion spark plugs are very similar to those of Pablo.
I used to drive a VW Dasher, and bought Champion plugs for a tune-up. After install, the engine ran rough and lacked power. I took the Champion plugs out and put the used Bosch plugs back in, and the car ran great.
Many years later, I put a Champion plug in the B&S on a mower. Very similar outcome. The mower ran poorly. Replaced the Champion with a new NGK, and the engine ran great.
In both cases I used the recommended plug, with the mower Owner's Manual listing the recommended Champion plug.
The mower incident was probably 20 years ago, and I haven't ever bought another Champion plug since, so I can't speak to what Champion plugs are like now.
I used to drive a VW Dasher, and bought Champion plugs for a tune-up. After install, the engine ran rough and lacked power. I took the Champion plugs out and put the used Bosch plugs back in, and the car ran great.
Many years later, I put a Champion plug in the B&S on a mower. Very similar outcome. The mower ran poorly. Replaced the Champion with a new NGK, and the engine ran great.
In both cases I used the recommended plug, with the mower Owner's Manual listing the recommended Champion plug.
The mower incident was probably 20 years ago, and I haven't ever bought another Champion plug since, so I can't speak to what Champion plugs are like now.
Bud_One
Site Donor 2025
I've only used Champion plugs on OPE .
I've not really had any major issues per say , but when changing out to NGK the OPE all seemed to run a little better and start easier.
Maybe a placebo effect
I've not really had any major issues per say , but when changing out to NGK the OPE all seemed to run a little better and start easier.
Maybe a placebo effect
We had Bosch plugs bring an 89 FI accord to a point it would barely idle. Returned to NGK and it was fine. Being a fan of Bosch plugs, I enjoyed Volvo ownership.
Never had a problem with champions in OPE. I prefer NGK, denso, and Bosch in the right application.
Never had a problem with champions in OPE. I prefer NGK, denso, and Bosch in the right application.
I've gone through hundreds of Champion RC12YC and similar plugs at work and I found a shocking amount of off-center electrodes, maybe 50%? Never had that issue with NGK that I can recall. It put me off Champion plugs for good.
