Hey what kind of performance upgrade would i see from getting new plugs, if no performace how will it help the car in the long run?

 

-- start diatribe --

I, for one, am still waiting for a dyno of a new (or rather new Platimum) plug vs. a new Denso. Cars with "older style" ignitions (distributor, and high-voltage wires, etc) seem to benifit the most from plugs, multi-spark, and other ingnition improvement devices. Our car has coil-on-plug ignition -- the coils are mounted right on top of the plugs; these coils have very high energy output; have very fast rise times; and put the energy right at the plug. The result of all of the "advantages" is a system that will run 100K miles without a tune-up (YMMV).

So, once you get enough energy to light the mixture off well, the rest is BS. The only thing that I've seen that really impressed me was -- dual sparkplugs (as used in airplanes). You could turn one plug off and could hear the engine drop a few hundred rpms (we don't have dual plugs and that entails other issues concerning the flame front, etc).

--- end diatribe ---


1. You may get better performance, but the placebo effect is well known. Would you like to do a dyno and be a hero here (new plugs vs. new plugs and 4 runs each)?

2. The Densos are more delicate and they may not provide the same heat range that the stock plugs provide (heat ranges are not the same from different plug designs). The heat range issue may not come into play with the stock or mildly tuned engine, but could be very important over a wide range of operating conditions. Does anyone think that Acura just grabs a plug out of a bag with a blindfold on? They Densos also are easier to light off (a good thing) due to the smaller electrode. However, even with their improved metallurgy, they have thinner electrodes and do not last as long as the factory spec'd plugs. Be sure to change them more often.

You will find a number of people that seem to like them and think that the idle, cold start, and other properties are improved (vs. stock).

While this is better that hearing about people blowing their engines up, I don't know of too many people that complain (in public) about "feel good" mods...

 

Even Desno does NOT claim the plgus would improve performance. It is stated in their FAQ.

 

The stock plugs we have are DENSO When I was looking at the top of my engine bay it says "DENSO" Is this a brand lower than what you guys are looking at? Upgrade or something?

Nick

 

Stock plugs are either made by Denso or NGK.

 

So why is there group buys on DENSO plugs???

Nick

 

These are aftermarket plugs, Denso's Iridium or whatever line. Supposed to be a better plug but who knows.

 

Interesting -- why would someone want to buy a product that doesn't improve performance that only lasted 1/4 as long as the Platinum version of their plugs.

Sounds like a good way to stay out of trouble with the FTC and it is also interesting that they only post graphs of "improved" performance with their plugs. Try to submit at dyno showing a power dump and let me know if they put it on their web site (I think not).

Marketing and statistics go hand-in-hand (just food for thought…)

 

Unfortunately (or fortunately for Denso), the Densos have become the Xerox of the Iridium tipped spark plug world... (To a great number of people... Denso == Iridium.)