On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:05:21 -0600, Desertphile
wrote:
>On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:48:44 -0700 (PDT), studio
> wrote:
>
>> On Sep 25, 8:50 am, "M. Balmer" wrote:
>> > 4 HP in a 350. In a 4 cyl it would be considerably less as I originally
>> > stated.
>>
>> It was 3hp gain in a 2 cylinder 92hp Harley engine.
>>
>> Desertphile wrote:
>> > As for the people who claim they can "feel the difference" with
>> > Iridium spark plugs in their cars..... well, they're just stupid.
>>
>> I don't consider myself stupid, but I guess all those winning
>> motorcycle racers and mechanics that use and swear by them are also
>> stupid in your book.
>
>Yes, stupid or ignorant or paid to say what they do. Think of all
>the many more losers with the same spark plugs.
>
>Sheeeish.
>
>> As for me, when, if, and until I see a drawback, I'm sold on them for
>> my application, end of story.
Actually, to be totally frank, just because the OEM uses a particular
part does not NECESSARILY mean it is the best. There is a
price/advantage ratio that works best for manufacturing. There ARE
parts out there that are better, at least in some ways, than the OEM
parts, for certain applications. They generally cost more than the OEM
spec part, or would require payment of licencing fees in order to
implement.
HOWEVER - Generally speeking, the OEM spec part is the best bet for
general use. When I'm working on a Ford I'll generally use Motorcraft
plugs. On a Toyota NipponDenso or NGK (both OEM options) and on a GM,
AC Delco.
Whatever the factory supplies - that way the customer can't come back
on you if your "flavour of the day" has a problem.
On my own vehicles I sometimes (heck, over the years OFTEN) try
different combinations - particularly when other specs have been
modified. My '63 Valiant 170 (206RWHP) would chew up and spit out
Champion rn14y plugs in 200 miles. The coldest Champion I could buy
(n6?) lasted about 500 - so I put in the Nippondenso W24EP plugs. The
coldest NipponDensos Toyota used back in the '70s. Those plugs would
go 6 -10 thousand miles in the Valiant with no problems at all. The
engine routinely saw 6000 to 6500 RPM (and over 120 MPH)
Put them in a stock 170 slant six and they'd be fouled up in no time
flat. In town, trying to idle sedately in traffic, they loaded up even
on the warmed over engine.
So even on that engine, for city driving they were not ideal - but the
car spent more time on the highway, or locked in low gear around town
- and I spent less time and money changing plugs.
I ALMOST broke down and installed capacittive discharge ignition so I
could install marine surface gap "stones" - no heat range - stone
cold.
If the iridiums do the job for you, excellent. They ARE a better plug
than a standard or copper core Champion. A fine wire electrode plug
will fire more consistently with lower voltage than a standard
thick-electrode plug. They are more foul resistant too - we used
paladium fine-wires in 2 stroke engines back in the sixties because
they would start consistently in the cold (snowmobiles) even with the
oil fouling issues 16:1 pre-mix brought to the table.
They are still used in 2 stroke ultralight aircraft engines,
particularly when the engine is installed inverted (plug down) because
they will still fire when oil soaked.
And no, they were not GENERALLY standard OEM equipment in either
application. But they worked. Well enough to make what I remember was
their EIGHTEEN DOLLAR price tag in 1969 (compared to something like a
buck and a quarter for the stock plug, and seventy five cents for a
champion automotive plug) worth while.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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