Spark Plugs

[Alero4life]

I need new spark plugs, has anyone used the new E3 plugs. Are they all that they are said to be, and worth 6 bucks a plug, what other ones are there?

[Nate's Alero]

I need new spark plugs, has anyone used the new E3 plugs. Are they all that they are said to be, and worth 6 bucks a plug, what other ones are there?

DO NOT use ANYTHING but Ac Delco.. if it's a 3400

[Alero4life]

DO NOT use ANYTHING but Ac Delco.. if it's a 3400 Yes Sir haha

[Nate's Alero]

Yes Sir haha

Iridiums or Rapidfires will do

read this is why you must not use anything but platinum tipped or iridium tipped plugs

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

[Alero4life]

Will the #41-101 plug number work

[Nate's Alero]

Will the #41-101 plug number work

yes it will, that's either the iridium or the double plat...

[Alero4life]

ok thanks

[Alero4life]

O. Does it matter what plug wires i get when i get new ones?

[mfuller]

Stock wires are fine. If you really have a hankering for aftermarket wires, I don't trust anything but Magnecor.

[wrestlingandrunning]

I have taylor wires and have no issues.

[Alero4life]

is there any wires that wont work or shouldnt use, that dont cost a bizilion dollors.

[mfuller]

Taylors seem to be hit and miss - some people have no problems with them, but others experience problems.....I know mine gave me misfires all over the place.
I didn't care for the construction quality of MSD wires.

[AleroDrime]

AC Delco iridiums

[Philbar71]

I need new spark plugs, has anyone used the new E3 plugs. Are they all that they are said to be, and worth 6 bucks a plug, what other ones are there?

Yes, the E3 plugs are great! I just changet mine about a week ago. Now it definantely idles smoother and it's just alot smoother in general.

Also, i have the 2.4, if it matters.

[Nate's Alero]

Yes, the E3 plugs are great! I just changet mine about a week ago. Now it definantely idles smoother and it's just alot smoother in general.

Also, i have the 2.4, if it matters.

2.4 would not be affected by the DIS system...

[Philbar71]

2.4 would not be affected by the DIS system...

DIS?

[Nate's Alero]

DIS?

three coils for 6 cylinders, one coil fires two cylinders, one cylinder is on power stroke, and does something, and the oil cylinder that was fired is on exhaust stroke, and does nothing

[AleroDrime]

nate you have my attention, do what? got any links about this

[a4d2a0m]

he linked an article in the fourth post.... :blink:

[AleroDrime]

wow thats a huge slip on my part i swore i was getting better

[Nate's Alero]

haha, i'm a 3400 nut, so i know my shizz

[01silveralero]

haha, i'm a 3400 nut, so i know my shizz

I wonder why? :rolleyes2: maybe the 15 times doing the LIMG gasket and such :p

[Cliff8928]

Iridiums or Rapidfires will do

read this is why you must not use anything but platinum tipped or iridium tipped plugs

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

Platinum tipped is no good either. You need Double Platinum (read your own link!).

You can use copper plugs though. They don't have the same service life, but the DIS system as known on the Alero has been around since 1987 and in other versions with GM as early as 1984.

The copper plug would be a R44LTSM6, FYI.

2.4 would not be affected by the DIS system...

FAIL... The 2.4 has two coils. It is also waste-spark. Also, while they aren't serviceable individually, the Ecotec also only has two coils in the Alero (some ecotecs have 4)

DIS?

Direct Ignition System.

[a.graham52]

some people like to call it Distributorless igntion system. good way to rember it atleast.

[clutch1]

Any car with coilpacks (aka no distributor or coilonplug) has a waste spark system.

They're all prettymuch the same across the board for manufacturers... most platinum plugs will do. My Aurora has the exact same packs as the Alero, and I threw in some platinum Champions for $2.50 a plug and it runs fiiine. :)

p.s. Nate, what a terrible engine to be a fan of :p

[Cliff8928]

Not necessarily true. The LS1 and it's derivatives are not waste-spark.

[clutch1]

Hmm, never seen that before! 8 Laminated e-core coils... it's like coil on plug, but with short wires.. that's an interesting setup for sure.

http://www.corvetteblog.com/uploads/image/ls1.jpg

[Chris2000]

So what plugs would be best for the 2.4 Twin Cam?? Its a 2000 with 94k miles.

[01silveralero]

So what plugs would be best for the 2.4 Twin Cam?? Its a 2000 with 94k miles.

typically they will still say ac delco and stay away from bosch. my alero happens to love bosch for some strange reason though.

[a4d2a0m]

me too, I hear only bad things about bosch.. But my ecotec is enjoying them.

[colonel6632]

my friend recently put the e3 plugs in his sierra. seem to work pretty good. and they have a 5 year warranty

http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/video.htm

i just replaced my spark plugs, but i might give these a try

[Philbar71]

my friend recently put the e3 plugs in his sierra. seem to work pretty good. and they have a 5 year warranty

http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/video.htm

i just replaced my spark plugs, but i might give these a try

Do it. I put them in my 2.4 and in my dads Saturn that has the 2.2 Ecotec, or some variation of it. I noticed a smoother idle, and the engine just felt smoother in general.

[cherrington17]

wonder how those run in the every finicky 3400...

[Philbar71]

wonder how those run in the every finicky 3400...

Go for it. If they dont work, take them back and say they didnt fit ;)

But one strange thing happened after I put them in. I took my car for a test run, drive it on the highway for about 3 min got off. I then went to get back on and go back home when about halfway down the on ramp my car suddenly cut off, no warning, no stuttering, just like cutting it off with the key. I was not even at half throttle when it cut off. So i pulled over to the side, took the key out, let it sit for a second, tried to start it. It took 3 times of hard cranking and then it finally started. Been running perfect since, no random cutting off or nothing like that.

[Fuzzyspudkiss]

How the %$*!# do you remove the back three spark plug wires? Its like they are welded on the the plugs... Is there any method other than screaming loudly and pulling as humanly possible on the boot?

[robalero]

needle nose pliers

[lord2heart]

How the %$*!# do you remove the back three spark plug wires? Its like they are welded on the the plugs... Is there any method other than screaming loudly and pulling as humanly possible on the boot?

:emotlol:

[XanderWiFi]

I just always got whatever was in stock at autozone...should I be worried? Never noticed anything terribly wrong...I have the typical GM knock...but...

[BlackJack]

DIS = Distributor-less Ignition System.

As described above, computer decides which coil/wire to fire when, by grounding the circuit with constant hot applied to the coils.

As far as plugs/wires......I was running excess of 12-15psi boost with nothing but stock coils/wires and NGK standard type plugs (2 colder than stock). Why all the big fuss about "high-performance" wires and plugs? All that crap is unnecessary. Split-fires, iridium, all that bullshit is just to drain money out of your wallet unless you're running an already-built engine with serious performance mods. Nothing makes a performance enthusiast roll their eyes quicker than a close-to-stock engine running nearly $300 worth of ignition components. Money could be better spent elsewhere for some actually notable performance gains.

[twagn]

How the %$*!# do you remove the back three spark plug wires? Its like they are welded on the the plugs... Is there any method other than screaming loudly and pulling as humanly possible on the boot?

Channel locks, a sharp knife, screaming and cussing helps to a point. Most shops charge $350 to change the plugs and wires for a reason:eek:

[Trace62]

I removed the alternator and the coil packs to have more room. I bought a steel pick with a hook on it and worked it under the end of the spark plug boot while pulling on the boot. Worked like a charm. Bought the pick hook at harbor freight tools for cheap money. Hope this helps.

[colonel6632]

*update*

used those e3 plugs in my ecotec, ran like shit, got shit mileage, took them out and put in ngk plugs, and babys purring like a kitten... a loud straigh off resonator kitten, but still purrs nicely lol

[Thewolf]

Why not put Iridium's in the 3400? I put Iridium's in my 3100 Lumina and it runs just fine. I've heard that the thinner the spark plug tip the more gas the car burns, and use only ACDelco spark plugs because these engine's don't "agree" with any other spark plug manufacture. I don't know if that is true or not.

I've heard that some mechanics disconnecting the engine mounts and jack up the engine to get more room at the back 3 plugs.

[XanderWiFi]

Was there ever a conclusion to which plugs are best for the 3400? I say take the person with the fastest most hopped up 3400 and they get to say...clearly the input got them to that point lol

[BlackJack]

and I STILL say stocker are the best.

[cherrington17]

no engine mods, but AcDelco's are in mine w/ zero problems.

so between me and bj.. you got heavy mods and no mods, using the same plugs.

[BlackJack]

oh, not really the same, I'm boosted, so I use 2 colder than stock NGK's. But if I was N/A, I'd still be running stockers.

[mfuller]

For 99% of this board, stock plugs are fine. I may have to go 1 step colder on my next build, though.

[XanderWiFi]

Was just recently reading about the benefits of having colder plugs and whatnot so it makes a little more sense. So do no engine mods pertain to CAI and exhaust?

[mfuller]

Assuming a properly running engine, you can run stock plugs until you start doing "serious" mods like higher compression, a big cam, or boost/nitrous.

[XanderWiFi]

I'll always be totally safe then hahaha