Auto Zone Expert?

stevej37 · 10:28 AM

I thought it was about time to replace the plugs in my Prelude. I looked at my service records that I keep and noticed that it's been 13 years since I replaced the originals. I noted that I used NGK Platinums, same as the owners manual calls for.

I stopped today at Auto Zone to pick up four of them...told the main counter man what I needed. He keyed in all the info and said I need double platinum's at $18/ea.
I told him reg Platinum's would be ok. Three different times the guy said "Double Platinum's will give you all the best performance and we don't recommend anything less."

I didn't want to argue anymore with him so I walked out and drove next door to O'Reilly's. He pulled up my cars stats and said "The car came with NGK Platinum's and we have them for $5.49 apiece. Or, you can go with the newest and best for $18 each."

$75 or $23 for a 25 year old car?
I bought the reg platinum's.

Zeke · 06-25-2023, 10:33 AM

I won't go into a chain parts store unless it's NAPA and I don't have a great affinity for them.

However, there is story here. I bought a master cylinder for the '44 Jeep which uses an old Ford truck MC because the Jeep I have is a GPW (Ford, not Willys). I got this from NAPA in 2020 for $90. I went to the cheap independent where all the backyard mechanics go the next week to buy this and that and asked about the Ford MC.
"Yes, sir, we have one. 50 bucks no exchange."

So I returned the NAPA one because they looked the same to me. The counter guy who happened to understand cars and adapting parts and was a genius in locating obscure parts in 4 feet of paper catalogs told me, "When you get to the cashier counter tell them you work for the city and they will discount 40%." (The price at the cheap place.)

I did that for 20 years and they never asked for an ID.

But I would at the time go into AZ a block away for cheap one time tools or goofy exhaust couplings. Stuff that NAPA wouldn't touch. Now I just buy everything I need (not much) online.

Or Walmart for oil related stuff. It's close.

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 10:45 AM

Yeah, this AZ guy was prob about 20 years old and I could tell that he didn't dare go along with anything other than what he was taught to do.

I'm sure the double platinums are good...but when the manual suggests reg ones, I'm not throwing an extra $50 his way.

Baz · Baz's Garage

In general, a sales associate's job is to present a "good - better - best" choice for the customer.

Sometimes it's not possible to do that.

But in general that's what a good sales person does.

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 11:43 AM

Just finished swapping the plugs out...it's an easy job on the Prelude. All plugs top center of the engine.

The old ones looked great...hardly any soot or oil and the gaps were still at the specified .044

Good for another 13 years.

TimT · 06-25-2023, 12:59 PM

A few years ago I needed to check the timing on my 911, and found that my timing light stopped working at some point...Off to Auto Zone I went... looked around and didn't see any timing light...I asked the counter guy if they had any.. I just got a blank stare.. the guy had no idea what a timing light was...

Sears still stocked them.

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 01:25 PM

^^^ He was prob thinking you were looking for a string of led lights for your clock.

He knows where those are.

herr_oberst · 06-25-2023, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimT

A few years ago I needed to check the timing on my 911, and found that my timing light stopped working at some point...Off to Auto Zone I went... looked around and didn't see any timing light...I asked the counter guy if they had any.. I just got a blank stare.. the guy had no idea what a timing light was...

Sears still stocked them.

You should have asked him to show you the xenon bulbs for timing lights.

pwd72s · 06-25-2023, 01:58 PM

I often wonder why I keep that Craftsman timing light in my rollaway.

But my big question...what's the difference between regular platinum plugs and double platinum plugs? Other then price, of course..

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 02:13 PM

^^^ I have no idea...this is all I could come up with...

"Platinum spark plugs come in two varieties - single and double platinum. A single platinum plug is much like a copper spark plug with a platinum disc welded to the center electrode; a double platinum spark plug has a platinum disc on both the center and side electrodes."

(Seems like little to justify a $13 dollar bump.)

pwd72s · 06-25-2023, 02:35 PM

Then, iridium (sp?) seems to be the better plug today for long plug life...

Mike80911 · Mike80911's Garage

That is why I never go in there without a part number for the parts I need, no need for them to look it up just give me what I asked for. I went to one the other day and asked if they had 3/8 threaded rod the kid behind the counter asked what year and make my car was so he could look it up. I told him it was not for any specific car then he asked what it looked like, the other counter kid turned to him and said "probably like a rod with threads on it".

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 03:08 PM

^^^ lol

Superman · 06-25-2023, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

...what's the difference between regular platinum plugs and double platinum plugs? ..

Well, they're "double" platinum. You know....there's probation and then there's secret probation and then there's double-secret probation.

My Mazda takes the iridium plugs. Combustion chamber environments in today's cars are just too much for a regular copper-core plug. The Mazda would eat them up.

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Then, iridium (sp?) seems to be the better plug today for long plug life...

I was looking at the screen of the O'Reilley's guy and they had Iridiums priced less than the Double Platinums.

NutmegCarrera · NutmegCarrera's Garage

I tend to use Rock Auto lately.
Been doing lots on a ‘89 Honda Civic we happened upon. It’s got a new alternator, radiator, timing belt, water pump, brakes, upper control arms, ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends, and wheel bearings. Really reasonable from R A.
Also has koni yellow adjustable sand H&R’s and a set of wheels and tires from tire rack.

The kids need to know how to drive a manual. And this has been the best thing since sliced bread for my son.
Good lessons in auto mechanics too!

stevej37 · 06-25-2023, 03:18 PM

^^^ Did you do the timing belt and water pump yourself?

Steve Carlton · 06-25-2023, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

But my big question...what's the difference between regular platinum plugs and double platinum plugs? Other then price, of course..

40-50 hp and 50-60 mpg.

dad911 · 06-25-2023, 04:12 PM

The chain autopart stores drive me nuts. I needed a battery for a mini-excavator, couldn't make selection online even though I knew the group I wanted. If it didn't fit the vehicle, it wouldn't make the selection.

john70t · 04:40 PM

(The Autozone website returned an 'access denied'. Must be doing something right. brrr-bzeet-bop-brrr.)

https://cartreatments.com/copper-vs-iridium-vs-platinum-vs-double-platinum-spark-plugs/
Iridium:
"One of the reasons iridium spark plugs last so long is their small, yet dense, center electrode. This design requires less voltage to generate the electric current needed for combustion, making them a popular choice among car manufacturers.
(Is the firing voltage the same? ie coil wear)"

Platinum:
"But durability isn’t the only benefit of platinum spark plugs. They also generate more heat, which helps to reduce deposit buildup and help prevent fouling. That means less maintenance and more time on the road for you."

Double Platinum....um....
Wait a second.
Um. What?
When does a spark plug control the ignition system?
"If you’re driving a car with a waste spark system for its distributor ignition, double platinum spark plugs are often a good bet. This system fires the spark plugs twice, once in the compression stroke and once in the exhaust stroke. "