Which spark plug should I get?

[Redog]

Well the Autolites in the car as starting to give me a little bit of misfiring, not too bad, but I want to replace them before driving out to Michigan.

What should I get?

ACDelco rapid fires #14

ACDelco PLATINUM #41-940

I just want something that isn't going to give me a hard time. Also I'm not replacing them myself. Remember I have 2 heli-coils, one on #3 and one in #5 and I don't want to mess with them.

[Valley olds]

I voted rapidfires because I think they are copper, and I like copper plugs more than platinum ones. Or you could go for a standard AC delco plug. I dont know, I kind of have this thing against platinum plugs.

[Ryan from Ohio]

Whats the Heli-Coils have to do with it?

Technically speaking, those two are the strongest of the 6 then...

[Nate's Alero]

Whats the Heli-Coils have to do with it?

Technically speaking, those two are the strongest of the 6 then...

agreed

[KenshinZero]

Platinum is the most conductive metal there is, if I remember correctly. So I vote the platinum plugs.

[Nate's Alero]

Rapid fire man... gotta love it

[KenshinZero]

Rapid fire man... gotta love it

What dose the rapid fire do diffrent? or is it just a better plug?

[Valley olds]

KenshinZero: Platinum is the most conductive metal there is, if I remember correctly. So I vote the platinum plugs.

Actually, I think Ive read that platinum is more durable, but copper is more conductive.

[KenshinZero]

i see, I havent researched it in a while.

[Nate's Alero]

he is correct...

[KenshinZero]

he is correct...

Who is?

[Nate's Alero]

copper is moar conductive.....

[rustyballs_69]

Go with some ACDelco #41-101. It's an iridium plug.

[sh8dybizness]

I agree with ^^^^. The iridium plugs will last up to 100,000 miles as long as there are no issues with your engine.

[CactusWill]

I was going to suggest iridium too. The AC delco ones are still manufactured by NGK, who are basically the gods of spark plugs.

[PappaSmurf]

Redog,
Make that the above three that I have to agree with. I bought new plugs when I got the car in April. I change over from the AC DELCO (probably the original (and one was cracked in half)) to the NGK irridium plugs. I changed these myself and it fires up the first time evertime. I love em!!! It is so worth the 6 something a piece for them.
-Smurf-

[jabartram]

Denso Iridium.

[Gr1m]

Whats the Heli-Coils have to do with it?

Technically speaking, those two are the strongest of the 6 then...

yes but you could ruin the seal of the helicoil by excessive play with it, a good rule of thumb is once you get a helicoil in dont take the bolt out and risk other problems

[rustyballs_69]

As long as he used anti seize on the plugs he should have any problems with the helicoils.

[Redog]

i really have no idea if anti seize was used or not but im willing to bet not. I was still learning at that point, i did 2, 4,& 6 and the mech fixed 3 and 5 and put the plug in 1 also

[rustyballs_69]

i really have no idea if anti seize was used or not but im willing to bet not. I was still learning at that point, i did 2, 4,& 6 and the mech fixed 3 and 5 and put the plug in 1 also

Well you said your mech was gonna be the one changing the plugs. If its the same mech that put the helicoils in he should know what he is up against. Just remind him about the helicoils so he doesn't fuck it up. Also ask him to put anti seize on the new plugs while your at it.

[Atmosphere]

So are performance spark plugs generally just for a better cold start or do they help in other areas as well?

[Cliff8928]

+1 on the #41-101 plugs.

Iridium ACDelcos FTMFW!

[KenshinZero]

So are performance spark plugs generally just for a better cold start or do they help in other areas as well?

Im pretty sure spark plugs dont realy give you too much gain horsepower wise, they will spark better, and probably last longer, I think what it realy would be is a longer lasting plug.

[-Alero-]

ken i get the AC-delco iridium's they had the NGK label on them. but now they dont they just say "parts from japan"

but the NGK iridiums look completley different.

but yeah the ac delco iridiums seem to do just fine and i know certain years call for them

[Redog]

I bought the rapid fires #14 yesterday ;)

[mfuller]

FWIW, I am returning to Rapidfires after carbon-fouling 2 of my 6 NGK Iridiums.....iridium plugs are expensive!

[Redog]

The Rapid Fires work well for you Matt?

I remember you telling me about them, another reason I'm going with them.

Car starting to miss pretty bad now

[-Alero-]

youve ran rapidfires before though ken.

hope only the spark plugs are the only issue ~_~

[Redog]

No I didn't ;)

[NickAlero2000]

I bought the rapid fires #14 yesterday ;)

FTL. . .

[WhiteV6]

Copper plugs are bad on our ignitions, Platinum are bad unless its platinum ground and electrode...but why bother. Iridium are self cleaning, so Matt, have your iridium plugs glass bead blasted and put them back in.

Rapidfire are not copper plugs, so you are fine. For future reference, there is no such thing as a performance plug short of iridium, which take less charge to fire the plug. This acts like a hotter coil is being used. Too bad we have 40k volts and don't need more to fire. The self cleaning aspect is cool though.

[Valley olds]

WhiteV6: Copper plugs are bad on our ignitions

Does this apply to all the alero ignitions or just the v6? Also why are they bad?

[WhiteV6]

http://www.aa1car.com/library/sparkplugs_for_dis.htm

[Nate's Alero]

Though many technicians and do-it-yourselfers believe that copper core plugs can be used on waste spark DIS ignition systems, Autolite says that is not true. Ordinary copper spark plugs may function well initially, but the electrodes will wear prematurely and eventually cause ignition misfire.

Its true!! my plugs failed after 4,000 miles!!!


ok, should get new plugs,

what should i get that is cheap, but will work?

[Valley olds]

Interesting article. I think Ill try the iridiums next time. Oh and Nate, according to the article, get a plug that has platinum on both electrodes or iridium.

[Nate's Alero]

Interesting article. I think Ill try the iridiums next time. Oh and Nate, according to the article, get a plug that has platinum on both electrodes or iridium.

ok... expensive

[Cliff8928]

Copper plugs are bad on our ignitions, Platinum are bad unless its platinum ground and electrode...but why bother. Iridium are self cleaning, so Matt, have your iridium plugs glass bead blasted and put them back in.

Rapidfire are not copper plugs, so you are fine. For future reference, there is no such thing as a performance plug short of iridium, which take less charge to fire the plug. This acts like a hotter coil is being used. Too bad we have 40k volts and don't need more to fire. The self cleaning aspect is cool though.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/sparkplugs_for_dis.htm

So, theoretically even the old R44LTSM(6) plugs are no good either?

The Rapidfire plugs have been single platinum plugs for years now. They used to be something unique, but not anymore.

Interesting article. I think Ill try the iridiums next time. Oh and Nate, according to the article, get a plug that has platinum on both electrodes or iridium.

The stock platinums for the 3400 #41-940 have platinum on both electrodes. These were replaced in production by the #41-101 iridium plugs. The platinums are still available but cost almost the same as the iridium.

[WhiteV6]

Beats me, I had good luck with rapidfires...but I never used plugs 60k miles either. Hell, I was anal as hell back when I cared too much. I couldn't tell you what plugs are in my 3.4 DOHC right now but it doesn't misfire.

[Nate's Alero]

so, best cheap ass plug to put in my alero (3400) for the ride to ass? the coldstarts SUCK with the 1plugs i have now (fouling) and they keep failing... i need a GOOD plug that wont throw me under 20$ to replace all 6

i got platinum to platinum firing plugs for 23$ for 6.... great for DIS waste spark systems!

[Nate's Alero]

UPDATE:

I used the autolite Double Plat. plugs, 4$ a plug, work great!

[Nate's Alero]

I just though i would throw this out there, he double plat plugs i used, completely carbon fouled...and are now useless....rapidfires ftwfw

[hok666]

agreed

I agreed as well Ive done heli-coils before there very strong

[jrim]

I just picked up some autolite IX iridium plugs today. $7/per at autozone.

[bryan213]

i have ngk platinums and love em

[AleroDrime]

could someone pm me and teach me what helicoils are

[rustyballs_69]

could someone pm me and teach me what helicoils are

http://www.helicoil.in/
Google is your friend, use it.