Iridium Spark Plugs

[Dynamohum]

Has anyone installed Iridium Spark Plugs in their 3.2, 911 and have input on pros and cons?

NGK BPR6ES seems to be the favorite choice so far, but I'm wondering if the new generation of Iridium Spark Plugs are the way to go?

I'm considering trying NGK BPR6EIX Iridium or the new Bosh Platinum Fusion.
Bosch claims that their Fusion plug is better than the OE Iridium Plugs.

The advertised benefits of using these high end plugs from the manufactures are:
"Reaches self-cleaning temperature only seconds after starting"
"Exceptional wear resistance"
"Most Powerful Spark for most efficient combustion and optimum horsepower without increasing the voltage requirement"
"Resists spark plug wear and oxidation for exceptional performance life"
"Ease of installation, Never requires adjustment"

My personal thought's and concerns are:
1 If they reach self-cleaning temp faster, they should run cleaner and more efficiently which should be beneficial especially on high mileage engines that are consuming a bit of oil. So Self-cleaning sounds good to me, providing there is no chance of increasing detonation from the insulator temp. I suspect that if the heat rage is correct this should not happen, but I would like to make sure before chancing it.
Logically a better performing plug should relate in better engine performance
and there seems to be advantages to these plugs.

I welcome your input, Thanks

[charleskieffner]

going to be having a beer/food/valve adjust/plugs/GHL entire exhaust system/install ORGY OF FUN, coming up here in the next few weeks and was wondering the same thing about plugs.

my 87 3.2 gets the snot run out of it track wise and on the highway. pure toy so its not a grocery getter nor daily driver.

here in arizona it gets to endure next to hell temps in summer and below freezing in the winter, let alone track days.

i only have 9000 miles on OEM as per book plugs. pretty much change em at 15000 miles normally. but since im "in there" doing valves, may as well change 'em. will be real giggles to read plugs from all 6 cylinders with my handy dandy "CHAMPION COLOR PLUG CHART" showing all sorts of ugly things that happen to plugs under varying circumstances. with 119K on motor will be keeping eagle eye on any plug wierdness!

[KFC911]

Stick with copper...can't go wrong with NGKs and change them regularly since they're so cheap...you won't be disappointed.

[charleskieffner]

yes but what about heat ranges from climate to climate and use of car???

is there one plug that can handle track temps/highway??

plugs are like oil..........cheap.

cant even conceive putting 15000 miles on in a year. would love to but that aint happening. so at my rate of driving 4500 a year, it will be almost 4 years until i change em again.

[Bill in OKC]

One of the first things I did after buying my 3.2 was to put in NGK iridium plugs. I put them in everything I own except my truck and I think it came with them from the factory. One reason is that they last a long time and run great for a long time. I don't think you get much if any more power, but I noticed the engine idling and running smoother. The difference is more noticeable on a v-twin sportbike and changing the 2 plugs on my bike is such a PITA that I would do iridiums just so I didn't have to worry about it again for a long time.

[Dynamohum]

Thanks for your input.

While doing more research on the Pros and Cons of these spark plugs, I came across some helpful info on the NGK site so I have included the link to this page.

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/faqmodified.asp

To summarize, the biggest factor in plug selection deals with compression pressure, which will determine air gap setting and heat range of the spark plug. Which does not directly answer the question if Iridiums are better in performance engines like those found in our beloved Porsche's

Interestingly I was looking into the recommendations on Racing Plugs on the NGK website and they did not list there Iridium spark plugs in that section, so I wondered if they are suppose to be better why are they not listed there?

[David E. Clark]

I've been using the DENSO Iridium Spark Plugs for three years now in my 1973 911E (MFI) and like them very much. My car tends to run rich and I find that the Denso plugs do not foul nearly as often as the traditional NGK or Bosch copper plugs.

[cdrik915]

Hi ,

I've been using these NGK Iridium spark plugs since a year , and no problems .
Evidently , no more power but a sensation of general good working , smooth.

[Dynamohum]

You know how sometimes things just dawn on you, the light bulb comes on!

2 things.

1 a plug that does not wear out as fast stays at its peak longer thereby lessing any possible misfire. Logically this relates into performance gains.

2 Where does the metal go that erodes from the spark plug electrode each and every time it fires on a conventional plug? From researching plug manufacturing sites, it hit me, each and every time a plug fires it wears out a wee bit, so where does that material go? Into the combustion gases and out the exhaust of course, but does this contribute to internal engine wear? Perhaps so little that its not worth thinking about? I don't know, but it does seem like yet another plus reason to go to the best know anti-wear material like Iridium

These plugs are literally out of this World! for those of you that know where Iridium comes from.... lol

[Por_sha911]

First off, based on your name, I would assume that you understand when I ask "Is that a real poncho or a Sears poncho?" Now. on to the plugs.
Although Platinum is the better plug for many modern cars, you will find that most P-car owners find that plain old copper work better. Sometimes "new and improved" in more marketing that science. Just look at the new and improved oil with less Z & P. As far as lost metal is concerned, make sure your plugs are gapped right and you aren't running to lean and you'll be fine. There is always some minuscule amount of metal wear in a motor and regular oil changes will fix that.
I think you'll find that there is no advantage to the Iridium but it doesn't hurt to try if you don't mind the expense.

[iamchappy]

I love frank( florsheim shoe )..
I am sold right now on the NGK BKR6EK

[Por_sha911]

"Here phydeaux"

[iamchappy]

telefunkenu47

[Dynamohum]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

First off, based on your name, I would assume that you understand when I ask "Is that a real poncho or a Sears poncho?" Now. on to the plugs.
Although Platinum is the better plug for many modern cars, you will find that most P-car owners find that plain old copper work better. Sometimes "new and improved" in more marketing that science. Just look at the new and improved oil with less Z & P. As far as lost metal is concerned, make sure your plugs are gapped right and you aren't running to lean and you'll be fine. There is always some minuscule amount of metal wear in a motor and regular oil changes will fix that.
I think you'll find that there is no advantage to the Iridium but it doesn't hurt to try if you don't mind the expense.

Hi Por_sha911,

Re the name, Well is there anything sweeter than the howl of a P-engine when she is given you all shes got? Hence the name "Dynamo Hum"

Re your comments on sometimes its more in marketing than science. I agree with you 100% and thats the very reason that I raised the question about these plugs here. To get the real world feedback from the respected members of this form, that own and love these cars as I do.

I thank you and all the members of this forum that have responded and provided enlightenment for the rest of us.

[john walker's workshop]

in clean running engines like an electronic injected 3.2 in good condition, you wouldn't notice a thing. it's the dirty running engines, MFI/carbed, tuned at the fine line between best performance and fouling plugs, that need iridiums. i've had great luck with them in engines that fouled regular bosch/NGK plugs regularly. they pay for themselves quickly.

[Por_sha911]

Dynamo: I agree with loving the sweet sound of an air-cooled P-car. I assume that you got that name from an album of Mr. Zappa.
John: It sounds to me like most folks really don't need Iridium since they are running stock or close to stock setups.

[Richard Burns]

I am using NGK Iridium BR8EIX in my Carrera 3 and have done for the last 3 years and have no problems with them. The car is used as a daily driver and gets the A**se rung out of it on track days.

[Dynamohum]

Some spark plug manufactures claim HP gains and back it up with Dyno results.

A spark plug does not make HP, but its efficiency prevents misfires which in turn shows better HP results in testing.

These plugs need less voltage to fire and are more efficient in the leaner conditions found in new vehicles. Thats where they seem to have the big advantage. They might not provide much of an advantage in a richer air fuel mixture thats easer to fire.
As John mentioned, they have their advantages in certain applications, from the ability to reach their self cleaning temp faster.

I wonder what the racers are using and what they think of them?

[khamul02]

Does anyone else have any opinions about Iridium spark plugs? My NGK coppers work great but spark plug are cheap & I would convert if they help engine performance/efficiency.

[khamul02]

Found this:
Irridium Spark Plugs
They have JWW approval so I'm going to give them a try.