2.0L LSJ Performance Tech 205hp Supercharged SS tuner version. 200 lb-ft of torque.

Spark plug's!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 20, 2008 | 09:54 AM
  #1  
Cyclone's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: 10-04-07
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: colorado
Spark plug's!!

Yeah i know there are a few threads like his but what the hell!! I am gm stage 2 and i just ordered nate's 2.8 pulley i want to run a step colder spark plugs what are some parts numbers and brands that i can go to my local parts store and pick them up ??
Reply
Old May 20, 2008 | 10:03 AM
  #2  
rnjmur's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-06-06
Posts: 2,729
Likes: 9
From: O Fallon, MO
Most people stick with the NGK plugs. BKR7E for copper plugs, BKR7EIX for Iridiums. If you plan on running the car hard go with the copper plugs. If you are going to be easy on the car go with the Iridiums.
Reply
Old May 20, 2008 | 12:09 PM
  #3  
Cyclone's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: 10-04-07
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: colorado
Originally Posted by rnjmur
Most people stick with the NGK plugs. BKR7E for copper plugs, BKR7EIX for Iridiums. If you plan on running the car hard go with the copper plugs. If you are going to be easy on the car go with the Iridiums.
Thanks!!
Reply
Old May 22, 2008 | 11:59 PM
  #4  
cobalt ss/sc's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 01-30-08
Posts: 187
Likes: 1
From: Fort Wayne Indiana
Originally Posted by Cyclone
Yeah i know there are a few threads like his but what the hell!! I am gm stage 2 and i just ordered nate's 2.8 pulley i want to run a step colder spark plugs what are some parts numbers and brands that i can go to my local parts store and pick them up ??
autolite 3922
Reply
Old May 23, 2008 | 12:03 AM
  #5  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
what is the main difference between iridiums and copper?
Reply
Old May 23, 2008 | 02:21 AM
  #6  
rnjmur's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-06-06
Posts: 2,729
Likes: 9
From: O Fallon, MO
Originally Posted by flash13brandon
what is the main difference between iridiums and copper?
The material that the electrodes are made of.

The real question would be what is the difference between copper, iridium and platinum. Different metals have different properties when it comes to electrical and thermal conductivity. The higher the electrical conductivity the better spark you will get and the higher the thermal conductivity the quicker the electrode dissapates the heat generated by spark and combustion in the combustion chamber. Another point to consider is how quickly the electrode material erodes from spark burning off little bits of the electrode. Typically the harder the metal, the longer it lasts.

Copper is the softest of the metals, however it has the best electrical and thermal conductivity of all the spark plugs. Copper is 2.5 times more thermaly conductive then Iridium and about 3 times as electrically conductive. Due to the soft material however, copper plugs wear very quickly.

Iridium is the hardest of the metals, and because of this it is able to be made into a very fine electrode helping the electrode from holding heat. Iridium is twice as thermally conductive and twice as electrically conductive then Platinum. Due to the very fine electrode Iridium is actually able to cool much better, probably about 3 or 4 times better then platinum plugs.

Platinum is harder then copper but softer then iridium. Copper is almost 6 times as thermally conductive and 6 times as electrically conductive as platinum. However since platinum is a much harder metal the electrode can be made much smaller allowing it to help stay cool and the material lasts much longer then copper plugs.

For a typical N/A car platinum plugs work fine. The car doesn't need an extremely powerful spark and doesn't need to worry about staying extremely cool plus typical drivers don't want to have to hassle with changing plugs and platinum allows them to go (under ideal circumstances, of course) up to 100K miles before a spark plug change. Forced induction cars (especially newer FI cars) typically use iridium plugs because of the better spark and ability to cool better then platinum while still allowing extending periods before having to change the plugs. However, for a race car or for maximum performance out of your car, copper is always the best way to go. Copper cools much better and has a much more powerful spark, helping to prevent spark blowout but the plugs have to be changed 4 to 5 times more often then platinum or iridium plugs.
Reply
Old May 23, 2008 | 04:42 AM
  #7  
Maxim_X's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 10-14-06
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 2
From: New Bedford, MA
Great post^^^^^
Reply
Old May 23, 2008 | 11:29 AM
  #8  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
so what plugs would you recommend with Stage 2?
Reply
Old May 23, 2008 | 05:54 PM
  #9  
mrniceguy8211's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 08-15-07
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield CT
Denso ik22
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 12:52 AM
  #10  
rnjmur's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-06-06
Posts: 2,729
Likes: 9
From: O Fallon, MO
Originally Posted by flash13brandon
so what plugs would you recommend with Stage 2?
According to GM the stock platinum plugs are fine for stage 2 however I would be concerned with possibly getting spark blow out because of the increased compression. Personally, I put Iridiums in my car when I had stage 2 installed. If you are going to be running the car hard all the time you might consider copper. I don't run my car hard and don't get on it alot so I just stick with the iridiums (plus I have a few other mods, K&N - header - exhaust and stage 3 pulley so going one step colder wasn't a bad idea). On a stage 2 only car with no other mods you are probably fine with the stock heat range iridiums.
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:03 AM
  #11  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
but would 1 range coler iridiums or copper produce any benefits?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 12:33 PM
  #12  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
ok...so would one range colder with a stage 2 produce any benefits?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 12:53 PM
  #13  
mrniceguy8211's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 08-15-07
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield CT
I noticed a difference with the ik22 ( one range colder iridium ) plugs in the top end, and in gas mileage. I am Stage 3 with a 2.8 inch pulley. The denso ik20 plugs were very good for me when I was just stage 2 with a 2.8 in pulley. The ik20's are stock heat rang iridium
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 12:54 PM
  #14  
M-Dub's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 12-19-05
Posts: 9,704
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh, NC
Have fun with that 2.8 on a stage 2 tune!
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:00 PM
  #15  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
when you had stock heat range iridiums...did you see a difference?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:06 PM
  #16  
mrniceguy8211's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 08-15-07
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield CT
Acceleration and throttle response was better, and I got better MPG's. I ran the stock heat range for like 4 months on the stage 2 tune, when I took them out they still looked like new.
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:12 PM
  #17  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
do you think i would have the same results with one stage colder or better results?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:14 PM
  #18  
forced_induction's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 08-22-06
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by rnjmur
The material that the electrodes are made of.

The real question would be what is the difference between copper, iridium and platinum. Different metals have different properties when it comes to electrical and thermal conductivity. The higher the electrical conductivity the better spark you will get and the higher the thermal conductivity the quicker the electrode dissapates the heat generated by spark and combustion in the combustion chamber. Another point to consider is how quickly the electrode material erodes from spark burning off little bits of the electrode. Typically the harder the metal, the longer it lasts.

Copper is the softest of the metals, however it has the best electrical and thermal conductivity of all the spark plugs. Copper is 2.5 times more thermaly conductive then Iridium and about 3 times as electrically conductive. Due to the soft material however, copper plugs wear very quickly.

Iridium is the hardest of the metals, and because of this it is able to be made into a very fine electrode helping the electrode from holding heat. Iridium is twice as thermally conductive and twice as electrically conductive then Platinum. Due to the very fine electrode Iridium is actually able to cool much better, probably about 3 or 4 times better then platinum plugs.

Platinum is harder then copper but softer then iridium. Copper is almost 6 times as thermally conductive and 6 times as electrically conductive as platinum. However since platinum is a much harder metal the electrode can be made much smaller allowing it to help stay cool and the material lasts much longer then copper plugs.

For a typical N/A car platinum plugs work fine. The car doesn't need an extremely powerful spark and doesn't need to worry about staying extremely cool plus typical drivers don't want to have to hassle with changing plugs and platinum allows them to go (under ideal circumstances, of course) up to 100K miles before a spark plug change. Forced induction cars (especially newer FI cars) typically use iridium plugs because of the better spark and ability to cool better then platinum while still allowing extending periods before having to change the plugs. However, for a race car or for maximum performance out of your car, copper is always the best way to go. Copper cools much better and has a much more powerful spark, helping to prevent spark blowout but the plugs have to be changed 4 to 5 times more often then platinum or iridium plugs.
very nice information
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:35 PM
  #19  
mrniceguy8211's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 08-15-07
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield CT
It depends, what are your mod?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:51 PM
  #20  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
Stage 2 with AEM Filter
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 01:55 PM
  #21  
mrniceguy8211's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 08-15-07
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield CT
It might help, here are pics of the denso Ik20's stcok heat rang, when I went stage 3 and put in the Ik22's one range colder


Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 02:20 PM
  #22  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
so it looks like you didnt have any problem with those?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 02:30 PM
  #23  
mrniceguy8211's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 08-15-07
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield CT
None at all, I was very pleased with them. I just switched to the colder ones when I installed the stage 3 computer and cobra h/e. I also get about 1 to 1 1/2 more miles per gallon with the iridium's ver. the stock double platinum's. I tried the NGK BKR7e copper plugs also, but the throttle response was not as good as the iridium plugs. Another thing that helped my throttle response was cleaning out my throttle body with some tb cleaner and a toothbrush. My rpm's don't drop as quickly between gears now either.
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 02:50 PM
  #24  
flash13brandon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 03-09-08
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: Brandon, Florida
depending on where you live, would colder be needed more like down here in florida?
Reply
Old May 25, 2008 | 03:00 PM
  #25  
hungryhip-ccp's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: 05-31-07
Posts: 4,339
Likes: 0
From: SoCal, Lancaster
Originally Posted by mrniceguy8211
None at all, I was very pleased with them. I just switched to the colder ones when I installed the stage 3 computer and cobra h/e. I also get about 1 to 1 1/2 more miles per gallon with the iridium's ver. the stock double platinum's. I tried the NGK BKR7e copper plugs also, but the throttle response was not as good as the iridium plugs. Another thing that helped my throttle response was cleaning out my throttle body with some tb cleaner and a toothbrush. My rpm's don't drop as quickly between gears now either.
those were from switching to the stage three ecm... i noticed the same things...
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:14 PM.