stunned....so far

[lvporschepilot]

Hello enthusiasts!

Thought I would key everyone in on what I am stunned about.

After reading so many threads about spark plugs and who has what favorite and why, I decided to try a couple on my own. I read over and over that Bosch platinum's are either junk, or they foul very quickly. The most important bit of knowledge I picked up from all these fellow experimentors was that copper, is king. I had to find out for myself anyway.

I went to my local Autozone and picked up a new set of Bosch copper, Bosch single electrode platinum, and Bosch double electrode platinum plugs. Yesterday, I installed the single electrode platinums with the idea that the car would run like garbage. Not true. The idle, the throttle response, and the warm-up phase was noticably smoother. I drove the car roughly 50 miles with those plugs installed. Today, I installed the Platinum 2's and noticed the throttle response was better but the idle was not as smooth so, after 50 miles I yanked them and put the coppers in. Car idled even with the occasional bump as it always had. I drove the car for a while and undoubtedly noticed the platinums did have something positive to offer(for now). I pulled the coppers out, put the single electrode platinum's back in and the idle evened out to a noticably smoother beat.
I am going to keep everyone posted on this one. I have a feeling that the tiny piece of platinum on this plug will not last long but, I can honestly say there was a positive difference. Anyone have a similar experience?

John

[FrayAdjacent911]

Not in a Porsche, but when I replaced the OEM plugs in the Toyota Tacoma I had, I used the Bosch Platinum four electrode plugs. I did notice better idle, slight increase in power and a little better fuel economy.
Wish I hadn't traded that truck...

[lvporschepilot]

It really is the dambdest thing that these plugs actually made a difference. I never would have believed it due to the reviews these plugs have been given. Let's see if these plugs last past 2 or 3 thousand miles.

[afterburn 549]

Hmmm

[lvporschepilot]

to the naysayers,
In no way am I implying that these are superior plugs. I would never try these plugs in a pre-DME Porsche. I remember trying platinum plugs in my '80 Maserati Merak ss with horrible luck. I mean, the car would barely run. Yeah, that bad. For some reason, that car would only run well with Champion plugs, and even then I still had to change them every time they fouled at start-up (very often).

[wholberg]

This does not surprise me at all. I had a '68 Camaro that ran better with Champion plugs than with anything else. I have had several International Harvester trucks and after trying several brands over the years, Autolites were the only thing that ran well and lasted more than a year.

It would not surprise me if each type of 911, mid-year, 911SC, Carrera, had a favorite plug. As for my current Carrera, when I bought it, it had single-electrode platinum plugs and it ran OK. I put plugs in it 4 months ago and the auto parts store was out of copper core plugs, so I put in plain steel core Bosch plugs. The car runs OK but the idle is a little rougher and I have lost about 1-2 mpg. So, this spring I'll try something else. I'll be interested in finding out how long the platinum plugs last in lvporschepilot's car.

[john walker's workshop]

try denso irridiums and you'll never go back. they stay clean in dirtier running MFI and carbed engines too.

[Steve@Rennsport]

I'd concurr with John; the Denso Iridiums are excellent plugs and last a long time as are the NGK V-series ones.

Regarding Bosch single-electrode Platinums; I've see two engines now where the platinum tip became dislodged and caught between the valve and valve seat. This caused a 25% leak in that cylinder and required new valves in those engines. I won't put them in anything,......

[slodave]

I use Bosch Platinum four electrode plugs in my '84. I have had no problems with them.

Dave

[lateapex911]

I tried the Bosch platinums in my MFI 911, and shhheeeesh! I never left the parking spot. Would barely start, LOL. oddly, Autolites made it happy. Go figure!

[Blanco]

Bah... here I was thinking a spark was just a spark.

[69911e]

Originally posted by john walker's workshop
try denso irridiums and you'll never go back. they stay clean in dirtier running MFI and carbed engines too.

John: What Denso Iridiums part do you suggest for a 2.7 E MFI motor? Is it the Denso Iridiums IW24? What plug gap should I use?
Thanks
Ed Bogue

[Bill in OKC]

I've got the Denso iridium plugs in both of my motorcycles. They really work well. When I got my 911, I discovered that NGK is also making iridium plugs now and I bought them. They run great, but you have to buy them in packs of 4...

[dan79brooklyn]

Pelican included Platinum plugs with the "tune-up kit" I was surprised as everybody usually reccomends the "older technology" plugs in our cars. Several mechanincs said they should be fine, I changed out the Bosch W8dc plugs that were in the car when I bought it, the Bosch's looked fairly new and ran fine. The platinums have been in for several thousand miles and the car runs good. I think the platinums might have a longer lifetime than copper/silver plugs.

FWIW I also ran Bosch W8DC in my 1976 BMW 2002 and was always warned against Platinum plugs by the 2002 community as well.

Seems the discussion is similar to the oil topics. Lot's of opinions but it's most important that they are decent plugs and changed every few years...

[Ken911]

would the iridiums work ok in my turbo ? its got 964 cams and A k-27hfs turbo with an andial inter cooler. i have a set of the bosch w3dpo ordered but they are pretty steep.

[ChrisBennet]

A friend of mine (one of the first Bosch master mechs in the US) doesn't like them (the Bosch Platinums) and won't use them . He's had too many "comebacks" with them in the past. As he tells it, Bosch would tell him, "Try these, we fixed the problems." only to get burned again and again.
-Chris

[David]

I use iridium plugs in my kart and think they do make a difference, but I couldn't justify the cost for 12 of them. I saw a test where the platinum plugs didn't work as well as the copper plugs for the first few miles but in the long run the platinum did much better.

[randywebb]

IIRC, there are two broad types of the Platinum Bosch plugs - or two applications (old cars, and 996s incl. Boxsters).

My view is to get advice from experts who see a lot of 911s - not from a single owner. The reason is that you are approching something like a statistical sample with the former rather than just anecdotal information from the latter. So I just stay away form anything platinum on my 911 - makes it simple.

If in doubt run a search with the terms platinum + Steve + Weiner -- that shop is highly regarded and sees a lot of cars, esp. hotrodded and racing ones...

If somebody built you a modified engine - like say Henry/SuperTech or a similar type place, then I would bend over backward to use what they say...

Only if you get different advice from real experts would I worry -- in that case, punt...

[emcdan]

I just purchased some denso iridiums for the ole 3.0L stock SC but standard heat range. Going in this weekend. $85 with tax at Autozone...ouch!

Why do I get the feeling if John Walker said jump off a bridge it'll make your car run better....I'd probably do it.

Eric

[B D]

Iridiums are cheaper here http://sparkplugs.com/default.asp.