V6 owners, seen any difference going to iridium/platinum plug?

[Gecko123]

That's the reason why...Iridium and Platinum just last longer...THAT'S IT.

Copper Spark Plugs vs. Iridium and Platinum: Understand for Top Performance - CarsDirect

I agree


If you can FEEL a difference when idling that would be a huge difference in performance. It it more psychological than anything.


The only way to do a proper test if put brand new copper plugs take MPG readings for a few months. Switch to new indium plugs and do the exact same thing.
In short, test needs to be scientific and objective

 

[CarlWheezer]

I put the Denso Iridiums in my '08 at 100K miles. It was the first plug change as it had two different types of plugs as well. It defiantly runs better, but as someone else posted it was probably due for a tune up. Getting just under 22mpg.

 

[RPS13]

If you're getting better gas mileage and/or performance with Iridium or Platinum plugs...it's a fluke. Iridium and Platinum plugs are designed to last longer....they were NOT designed for better performance or gas mileage.

If there was even a chance of getting .001% increase in performance.....then every race car in the world would be using them...They aren't. Standard copper plugs are used since the plugs are swapped out after each race.

For my V6 4runner I see no need for iridium or platinum plugs. Takes me less then an hour to replace the plugs. So why waste my money.

My wifes Lexus..that's a different story. Those back 3 plugs are royal pain in the butt. I want to replace them as little as possible..so I use iridium plugs.

Iridium plugs do help with marginal ignition systems, as they ionize a much smaller volume of the combustion chamber to create the spark, I've gone from misfire at 16-17 psi with copper plugs gapped to 0.022", to no misfires at 22 psi with the iridium plugs at 0.028" - no other changes. The coppers also get far worse after about 500 miles of hard usage, whereas the iridiums last "forever" in a performance engine that isn't used a ton.

I've also personally seen a few cars pick up some power on the iridiums beyond blowing out the spark, but they were likely on the edge of getting a misfire while in boost.


I've never seen or heard of an NA car really getting a gain from an iridium plug - but that doesn't mean NO engine can benefit from them.


I use them in everything because they last forever, and they'll also let a "lazy" coilpack run forever before getting to the misfire stage vs. a cheap copper plug that will show it immediately.

 

[YotaDriver]

That's the reason why...Iridium and Platinum just last longer...THAT'S IT.

Copper Spark Plugs vs. Iridium and Platinum: Understand for Top Performance - CarsDirect

Fortunately I'm not reluctant to spend an extra $20 for the convenience of leaving my plugs in for longer.

 

[MikeInNH]

Fortunately I'm not reluctant to spend an extra $20 for the convenience of leaving my plugs in for longer.

Me either...EXCEPT on my wifes Lexus...those rear plugs are a royal pain to replace.

 

[Rommel]

Me either...EXCEPT on my wifes Lexus...those rear plugs are a royal pain to replace.

I'm with you MikeInNH, my dad's V6 camry involves in pulling the entire manifold system out where it seems only tiny hands could even get into the nut bolts in back. Took me two days to put new plugs and I went out and got whatever very good plugs so that I don't do this again.

As for everbody, I'm guessing this set should be good enough? http://www.amazon.com/NGK-7654-Spark-Plug/

 

[MikeInNH]

I use them in everything because they last forever, and they'll also let a "lazy" coilpack run forever before getting to the misfire stage vs. a cheap copper plug that will show it immediately.

In the 40+ years of car ownership and maintenance...I've NEVER had a misfire when I changed the plugs at proper scheduled intervals per the owners manual. Even on the old point/condenser ignition systems. That's on my cars..my wife's and kids cars..and when I worked.....that's well over 2 million miles.

 

[4RunnerFan]

I'm also with MikeInNH. These plugs are easy to change. Truth be known, for me anyway, it's also a fun project. I would have no excuse for letting them go longer than the recommended service interval of 30k miles. And there's really no sense in paying extra for iridiums or platinums.

 

[ebg18t]

For some of us installing platinum or iridium plugs is just to make it easy knowing I don't have to replace them for a while. It's not hard, just one less thing to deal with.

 

[MikeInNH]

For some of us installing platinum or iridium plugs is just to make it easy knowing I don't have to replace them for a while. It's not hard, just one less thing to deal with.

And that's a valid point. Some people don't want to deal with it. And on some vehicles it's a royal pain.

The problem I have with Platinum and Iridium plugs is people THINK they are getting better performance..and they are NOT. Longevity - YES... Better Performance - NO.

 

[Nuke]

I knew that the OE plugs were stated to be on a 30k mile replacement frequency but I let them go until 90k miles. The car was running fine and didn't seem to change much with the new 6 Denso's. As far as I'm concerned, the 30K frequency is a crock.

 

[Gecko123]

And that's a valid point. Some people don't want to deal with it. And on some vehicles it's a royal pain.

The problem I have with Platinum and Iridium plugs is people THINK they are getting better performance..and they are NOT. Longevity - YES... Better Performance - NO.

I agree


And a lot of people think they Feel a difference when the use iridium. If you feel a difference than the differnence is huge. Even going from old spark plugs during scheduled intervals differences cannot be felt.

 

[RPS13]

In the 40+ years of car ownership and maintenance...I've NEVER had a misfire when I changed the plugs at proper scheduled intervals per the owners manual. Even on the old point/condenser ignition systems. That's on my cars..my wife's and kids cars..and when I worked.....that's well over 2 million miles.

I've never had an ignition problem caused by a plug on a stock car either, but how many of those cars you're talking about made 100 rwhp per cylinder?

The engine in which copper plugs didn't last long was not anywhere close to a stock engine at stock power levels, and the ignition system was being pushed way harder than probably anything on 99.9999999% of the vehicles driven/owned/maintained on this forum.


My original statement still stands, and is 100% true.