Best Spark Plugs?

[Boon]

So I am thinking about dropping $200 on spark plugs. According to them they're suppose to be the cats balls.

Using there 6% better fuel milage estimate they would net me $210 (70 gallons if i only drive 24,000 a yr) in gas savings in 12 months, and that is at $3 a gallon which lord knows we are probably never going to see that again for premium.

Here is some info on the plugs. http://www.pulstarplug.com/index.html

Any ones input on them would be appreciated. I am pretty knowledgable about the ignition system and how it works, so it all seems to make sense, but I also worked in marketing and know how that side of things goes also. I could probably pay 1/3 the price and save 3% with some iridium NGK's.

Let the discussion begin........... please

[maxnix]

Remember, cats choke on hair balls.

RTFSM for the plug specification and use them.

Many VH45DE have been destroyed by owners using Bosch, Autolites, etc. that suffer broken electrodes or hit pistons.

Like Harry Callahan said, "Do you feel lucky?"

[jadeM45]

Looks like this topic has been talked about on a few other forums and even has a guy from Modified Mag posting some nice gains. It looks like most of the discussion on the other forums is about performance gains and not fuel savings.

I am all about new tech and when it comes time to change my plugs I may consider them. If you get them let us know how they work out fuel wise.

[auditech10]

And how have they compared these plugs to??? Old fouled plugs vs new plugs (any kind of brand) will net performance and mpg gains. For me, unless I go forced induction, I will stick with the OEM plugs as this motor was designed with.Cheers

[jadeM45]

And how have they compared these plugs to??? Old foulded plugs vs new plugs(any kind of brand) will net performance and mpg gains. For me, unless I go forced induction, I will stick with the OEM plugs as this motor was designed with.Cheers

It seems that someone with a SRT4 neon also did a very lengthly test with many plugs on a dyno. So it is not comparing to an old fouled up plug. I would love to see this test done on the VQ.

Alot has changed in the 5 years since this car and motor came out and technology has advanced. Just becuase it came with the car does not mean it is the best option. There is no way the factory would use these plugs or any other high end plug becuase it is not a cost they would be willing to absorb. Im not endorsing these, just saying they look interesting.

From the post below:Sparkplugs.com has received a lot of questions in regards to the performance gains and reliability of newer spark plug technology. They decided the best way to decide if some of the newer technology is just a gimmick, or if they have some true performance benefits would be to have them dyno`d. Therefore we took seven different types of spark plugs, sent them to an independent dyno shop, and thought we would share the information with you.

The test vehicle was a stock 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4, provided by Manny Gomez, a member of SRTForums.com (screen name: hawkable). The test was performed on a Mustang Dyno. We completed three runs for each plug in a cold, warm and hot state. We then averaged these runs to find the final average horsepower and torque numbers. We have included the dyno charts showing the plug with the highest peak horsepower, and the plug with the most torque. All results are based on the vehicle factory-specified gap setting of .050 inches, except for the Pulstar plug, which had a maximum manufacturer recommended gap of .045 inches.

After testing, the Pulstar plug had a horsepower advantage, having both the highest peak horsepower (205.95hp) and the highest average horsepower (204.04hp). The NGK Iridium IX showed the second highest average horsepower (203.78hp), and highest average torque (230.27 lb-ft), however, the NGK Iridium IX also displayed the most reliable and consistent horsepower figures. The Denso iridium showed the highest peak torque (235.96 lb-ft), third highest average horsepower (203.67hp), and second highest peak horsepower (205.51hp) and average torque (229.74 lb-ft).

All testing performed by Design Craft Fabrication for Sparkplugs.com

http://www.srtforums.com/forum...9262/

[saeedakobiakov]

good info. i would get them if i got extra $100.jadem45,which ones are getting?looks like iridium way to go.

[Boon]

Very good info Jade. I might just go with the NGK's. They were what I was going to go with before I saw these. I have always run NGK's and they have always been a great plug!

[DRIPS]

stick with stock plugs. Do not mess around here. THe stock plug is NGK PLFR5A-11 # 6240.

[maxnix]

And how have they compared these plugs to??? Old foulded plugs vs new plugs(any kind of brand) will net performance and mpg gains. For me, unless I go forced induction, I will stick with the OEM plugs as this motor was designed with.

I am very suspicious of any test that says a particular plug produced the most torque but not the most horsepower as HP is just a number calculated from the torque data for any engine.

[szh]

So I am thinking about dropping $200 on spark plugs. According to them they're suppose to be the cats balls.

Using there 6% better fuel milage estimate they would net me $210 (70 gallons if i only drive 24,000 a yr) in gas savings in 12 months, and that is at $3 a gallon which lord knows we are probably never going to see that again for premium.

Here is some info on the plugs. http://www.pulstarplug.com/index.html

Any ones input on them would be appreciated. I am pretty knowledgable about the ignition system and how it works, so it all seems to make sense, but I also worked in marketing and know how that side of things goes also. I could probably pay 1/3 the price and save 3% with some iridium NGK's.

Let the discussion begin........... please

Ryan, I would strongly suggest sticking with the OEM plugs - with the two available "hotter" and "colder" options! The Nissan and Infiniti engines are notorious for eating other brands - no matter how good they are touted to be, and no matter how "reliable" the brand/source.

Our collective experience, over many years of Infiniti ownership (I bought my first one in 1991 for example) and watching what has happened to people (e.g., who tried Bosch spark plugs and had pieces break off and score cylinder walls, etc.), leads folks like maxnix and myself to warn you strenously.

Finally, no spark plug change (away from OEM in this case) is going to give you any significant or perceptible increases in horsepower or reliable improvements in gas mileage, etc. Anybody who says otherwise is fooling themselves.

Z

[GJEMD]

Spark plug performance is matched to the fuel air mixture determined by the computer at the factory. Lets face it all the gaggling on about how spectacular these M45s are begs, that the Factory hit this one on the head.

OEM only. This VK engine is hittin on all 8 so stay with the factory.

[Boon]

Ryan, I would strongly suggest sticking with the OEM plugs - with the two available "hotter" and "colder" options! The Nissan and Infiniti engines are notorious for eating other brands - no matter how good they are touted to be, and no matter how "reliable" the brand/source.

Our collective experience, over many years of Infiniti ownership (I bought my first one in 1991 for example) and watching what has happened to people (e.g., who tried Bosch spark plugs and had pieces break off and score cylinder walls, etc.), leads folks like maxnix and myself to warn you strenously.

Finally, no spark plug change (away from OEM in this case) is going to give you any significant or perceptible increases in horsepower or reliable improvements in gas mileage, etc. Anybody who says otherwise is fooling themselves.

Z

Thanks for looking out. I will stick with NGK's

Would you say don't even upgrade to the NGK Iridium's? Is even that pushing it? Let me know as I value you long time owners opinions. Thanks.............

[szh]

Unfortunately, I have not tried the other NGK plugs, so I cannot comment on them.

Sorry about that! You might look in the Q45 and Infiniti General forums (search, that is) to see if anybody else has done so.

Z

[maxnix]

Would you say don't even upgrade to the NGK Iridium's? Is even that pushing it? Let me know as I value you long time owners

What makes you think the iridium is an "upgrade?" Spend some time reading at the NGK website as it is very informative.

Let me ask you this, if Nissan thought an iridium plug would work better, wouldn't the engine be designend with that plug?

It was designed around the NGK platinums that are specified. Use them unless you are seriously altering the intake charge and flow rates.

[Boon]

Let me ask you this, if Nissan thought an iridium plug would work better, wouldn't the engine be designend with that plug?

Honestly cost is always part of the equation, and new technology is always changing. My engine was made 6 years ago, I'm sure there have been many advancements within that time. I know these engines were not made to be supped up so I realize your guys concerns, just saying there are always two sides to a coin.

[GJEMD]

Honestly cost is always part of the equation, and new technology is always changing. My engine was made 6 years ago, I'm sure there have been many advancements within that time. I know these engines were not made to be supped up so I realize your guys concerns, just saying there are always two sides to a coin.

Again depending on what A/F mix at the computer, a so called up grade can rob performance. Many engines designed for copper top plugs will BURN lean with platinum plugs and drop performance and INCREASE TOP END WEAR.

[akliquid]

Wondering if you changed out your spark plugs to something different than OEM. Was thinking of putting the NGK IX Iridiums. Also because on SPARKPLUGS.COM, the Iridiums are $8.00 compared to $11.71 for the double platinums. Wanted to know what you eventually went with. Thanks

[szh]

Wondering if you changed out your spark plugs to something different than OEM. Was thinking of putting the NGK IX Iridiums. Wanted to know what you eventually went with. Thanks

I searched for a bit more information on the other NGK brands recently. According to some info (admittedly a bit dated now) that our CEO got from an NGK person, the Iridium was designed for four-cylinder cars and not intended for high-end V-8 applications like our M's and Q's.

I'd strongly recommend that you all stick with OEM plugs ... They are not that expensive - sources from eBay are available too. Plus, you can get them for a decent discount from http://www.everythinginfiniti.com!

Z

[Boon]

Do to the overwhelming influence of the trusted people here at NICO, I went with the stock plugs. Sorry, nothing exciting to report =(

[lfj2025]

Had OEM put in with 62K on car and they really needed changing.

[maxnix]

Wondering if you changed out your spark plugs to something different than OEM. Was thinking of putting the NGK IX Iridiums. Also because on SPARKPLUGS.COM, the Iridiums are $8.00 compared to $11.71 for the double platinums. Wanted to know what you eventually went with. Thanks

zerothread?id=220

I spoke at length with an engineer from NGK here in the Valley, back when I was considering the NGK iridiums vs the platinums. He explained to me that the iridiums are NOT designed for an environment such as the Q's combustion chamnber and unequivocally cautioned against using the iridium plugs in anything but the low compression 4-cyl for which they were degned.

Old yes, but each plug and each particular combustion chamber for which it was designed has not changed!

[THT]

Those dyno numbers are all well-within the range of dyno error. I would stick with the stock plugs because they are what the engine was designed with in mind.

[akliquid]

Thanks for all the info. Just ordered OEM plugs off EverythingInfiniti. I have 65,000 miles on my car. I'm interested to see the condition of the plugs.

[WhiteKnight]

I read someone got 5 extra horsepower with Pulstar plugs. And some people said it made the engine run rich.

[MinisterofDOOM]

It seems that someone with a SRT4 neon also did a very lengthly test with many plugs on a dyno. So it is not comparing to an old fouled up plug. I would love to see this test done on the VQ. ...The test vehicle was a stock 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4....

I don't really think an American turbocharged 4 cylinder is a good basis for test data regarding a Japanese V8.

Long-time experience with Nissan motors has taught many of us to stick to OEM NGK and not waste time or money finding out the hard way that nothing else will work as well, let alone any better.