Plugs 101

[amalventano at sc.rr.com (Allyn)]

ok, heres the general deal with plugs:
copper plugs give you a better spark than platinum. think about it. you dont 
see fance quad electrode copper plugs do you? reason is simple, its just not 
needed with a copper plug. platinums do in fact last longer than copper, but 
have to do crazy tricks to try and get the spark equivalent to a copper 
plug. here are the basic trade-offs:
copper:
adv: conducts better at its surface
dis: breaks down easily - lower life
platinum:
adv: lasts extremely long
dis: usually very small platinum electrode surface area, and also doesnt arc 
as well as copper

i tried the bosch super +4 plugs in the rieger once. after one day of 
driving i ended up changing back to coppers and noticed an improvement. the 
only catch is that the 'improvement' only lasts for 3-5 k miles, then the 
plug acts like a platinum plug.

general rule:
if you suck at maintenance on your rocco, get platinums, they will likely 
outlast your engine.
if you can remember to change them out regularly, go with coppers, you will 
be rewarded every time you change them out.

all of this is of course IMO, but i've got a decent amount of experience 
with these things.
Al


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Utley" <fahrvegnugen@cox.net>
To: "Matthew H." <rjtremor@core.com>; <Wolfsbrg8v@aol.com>; 
<scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 9:58 AM
Subject: Re: Re: Plugs 101


>
>>
>> From: "Matthew H." <rjtremor@core.com>
>> Date: 2004/06/18 Fri AM 05:24:17 EDT
>> To: "David Utley" <fahrvegnugen@cox.net>,  <Wolfsbrg8v@aol.com>,
>> <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>> Subject: Re: Plugs 101
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "David Utley" <fahrvegnugen@cox.net>
>> To: <Wolfsbrg8v@aol.com>; <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
>> Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 12:01 AM
>> Subject: RE: Plugs 101
>>
>> > In my experience, if you have a low compression motor, stay away from
>> them.
>> > Coppers will do just fine unless you have some expensive MSD ignition 
>> > and
>> a
>> > turbo.  In the high compression motors, I have had better experience 
>> > with
>> > the platinums, but I did not feel any performance change.  Now, to your
>> > point directly, I have yet to play with the Platinum2s at all...
>> >
>> > Take it for what it is worth,  :)
>>
>> Hmmmm. Considering the changes I've done to my engine, it's feeling of 
>> being
>> tired and worked to death, maybe I should try something different. The 
>> 2.2
>> 5cyl was an 8.5:1 cr, and I've ran Bosch Platinum's with each change. 
>> *Rubs
>> at his chin a little* Maybe I'll go to the Supers next time... always 
>> wanted
>> to try NGKs too. Any thoughts on that one?
>>
>> ~Matt
>
>  Again, in my experience at OReillys' (Local FLAPS) and of course being 
> around VWs for the last dozen years, with few exceptions you are almost 
> better off staying with factory plugs.  By that I mean, if that engine 
> orginally came with Bosch Supers, put them in.  A lot of folks with an 
> American brand car/truck would come in and want Bosch plugs, or NGKs. 
> Almost always, they came back unhappy.  The same could be said for those 
> that had VWs, BMWs, or Mercedes when they put in Autolites.  It seems if 
> the original engineers worked with Bosch, then you are much more likely to 
> have good luck with Bosch.  Therefore if you drive a Ford, you should 
> almost always put in Autolites, A GM, therefore use AC Delco, etc...  In 
> those years, NGK was not used by VW like they are now.  I think they are 
> good plugs, but just getting a plug in the proper heat range does not seem 
> to be enough...
>
>  Back to your more immediate situation... IIRC some of the cars that 
> originally had Supers have now gone to Silver (Silber) plugs at the 
> dealerships.  If you are feeling adventurous, LMK what car you are working 
> on, and I will get the Bosch part number to you (so that you can save some 
> bread).  However, if it is Audi, I am no help for the number.  Just go to 
> the local dealer, ask to look at the plug, and quietly say, "No thank 
> you," and buy them elsewhere...
>
> HTH
>
> David Utley
>
> Cheers,
>  David Utley
>
> ---Chrome don't get you home.---
>
>
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