NGK Iridium.., is this overkill Options

[njccmd2002]

these are the ones they recommended for my corolla on http://www.9thgencorolla.com/.

they make for the celi. Anybody tried them....

[6_GEN]

Irridiums are better for turbo engines i heard. They just last a lot longer than a regular sparkplug for our cars...nothing special.

Overkill i'd say.

[njccmd2002]

Irridiums are better for turbo engines i heard. They just last a lot longer than a regular sparkplug for our cars...nothing special.

Overkill i'd say.

well if they last longer, i have already put them in, so its ok. purrs like kitten and better mileage, not a whole lot. and better acceleration.

compare the pic...

[x_itchy_b_x]

i dont get it. compare what? four used plugs to one brand new one.

new plugs regardless = better performance.

iridiums last longer thats all.

i prefer cheap copper ones.
NGK BKR7E ftw.

i replace them about ever third oil change.
10k - 15k miles.

[playr158]

cheap copper > iridium in turboz
thats all i use in my 1.8T same as itchy!

[DEATH]

See I don't get that. I've heard Copper>Iridium for turbo cars many times [especially from the MR2T guys] but noone seems to be able to offer an explanation as to why. I'm running NGK Iridiums right now and they run great.
I agree on the "new plugs regardless = better performance" and attribute this to most of the "upgrades" people feel when going iridium but why is it a no no for Turbo cars?

This post has been edited by DEATH: Apr 16, 2008 - 9:31 AM

[x_itchy_b_x]

its not a no no, the stock 3sgte plugs are iridium, the timing cover has sticker that says it.

I use copper because they are cheap and get the job done. every third oil change i know the condition of my plugs, notice changes in the color of them ect. me and my engine have a pretty intimate relationship...

[DEATH]

Cool thanks Itchy. But by the same token I'm a over-maintainer like you. I change cap and rotor every 3rd oil change and plugs/wires/cap/rotor every other of those intervals [in other words every 6th oil change - but that may be more often for me as mine is a DD and I live in Houston where miles rack up very quickly]. I like to be able to keep an eye on the condition of the plugs, and by association the engine, using this method. Nice to know I'm in good company on that [not to be a leghumper but it's good to hear an second opinion] .

[x_itchy_b_x]

I agree
I guess thats why were on this enthusiast site.
speaking of plugs i should change mine soon.

[lagos]

See I don't get that. I've heard Copper>Iridium for turbo cars many times [especially from the MR2T guys] but noone seems to be able to offer an explanation as to why. I'm running NGK Iridiums right now and they run great.
I agree on the "new plugs regardless = better performance" and attribute this to most of the "upgrades" people feel when going iridium but why is it a no no for Turbo cars?

Copper is a great conductor and you can change the plug gap lower which is a benefit for turbo cars.
Iridiums also work well, but most people believe that that the tips are too fragile and can break off under detonation and you cant change the gap on iridium plugs (well you CAN, but its not recommended).. So thats why most of us with turbo cars use copper plugs and just change them more often.

This post has been edited by lagos: Apr 16, 2008 - 11:50 AM

[njccmd2002]

i dont get it. compare what? four used plugs to one brand new one.

Yes, thats how bad my plugs were.. the copper on one of them was almost melted. prolly had more than 100k on them. I know iridiums are overkill, but i cant return them used.

Anyways i am no planning on changing them frequently. I want them to last. The less i torque on the the engine and pull the cable plugs the less i will run into trouble, 200k my engine will be rebuilt anyways.

Copper is a great conductor and you can change the plug gap lower, yes but i rather just take out and put in. Im lazy.

new plugs regardless = better performance yes, even the most crappy ones work better.

all i was saying, is people change your plugs regardless. you want better mileage, anything works better than used.

[alltracman78]

Stock 3S plugs are platinum, not iridium.
1st, 2nd and 3rd gens.
Only the 4th gens might have iridiums, it's a relatively new plug.

As for copper being better because it conducts better, consider this;

Regarding conductivity, do you know how conductive the secondary circuit of the ignition system [plugs/wires/coil secondary] actually is? Both the wires and the coil are several thousand ohms each. This isn't by accident, it's supposed to have a very high resistance to increase the voltage [this also lowers the current]. High voltage, not high current, is what produces a better spark.
There's obviously a limit to this, and it doesn't mean every car runs better on iridiums, many times a car [close to stock anyways] runs best with the original type parts in it.
Point being, conductivity in a plug [under a certain range obviously] isn't as big a deal as most people think.

Copied from Celicatech, I didn't feel like typing it all again.

Also, iridiums have a shaper corner than coppers.
The spark jumps to the corner, not the center.
This makes the spark tighter and hotter.

I'm not a tuner with hundreds of 3S coming through my shop every year, and I don't have any dyno runs to prove anything, but I do know I've had less ignition problems with the iridiums than I did with the coppers.
I also don't run 20+ PSI, and I'm on a relatively stock engine, so I don't see massive detonation.
But neither do most of you.

And you can gap iridiums, you just have to be careful.
The electrode [curved part off the threads that you actually bend to gap the plug] is no different between a copper and an iridium. You just have to be careful of the tip on the iridium plug.

[DEATH]

So you're saying iridiums are fine [altho more expensive - which isn't an issue for me] right? I'd just like to get ya'lls opnions cause you guys are the ones who've been running 3S consistantly for a long time. I just want what's best, regardless of price, for my engine.

[alltracman78]

You shouldn't have any problems running iridiums. I don't know if it will make any difference in your engine, assuming you're still relatively stock; you might be fine running coppers too. They won't wear out as fast as in a turbo engine, and are much cheaper. :shrug:

[njccmd2002]

one week running on iridiums... i get better acceleration and response... and no more HP!! its just that y car is not lazy. but my plugs were messed up anyways

so no problemo here, yes its expensive and new. thats why its not recommended. because they did not exist.

it depends on your options. i want them to last at least 30k miles. paid 40 bucks. if you change copper every 5k 6 x 8$ = 48 $. almost same thing. 5 less times to mess up, in my case. im not an expert mechanic so no chances to rip the cables, or mess up the plug thread.

life is about options.... every option is right. some are more convenient.

[DEATH]

You shouldn't have any problems running iridiums. I don't know if it will make any difference in your engine, assuming you're still relatively stock; you might be fine running coppers too. They won't wear out as fast as in a turbo engine, and are much cheaper. :shrug:

I'm 3S but thanks

[alltracman78]

That's right, I forgot you were swapped.