I remember this topic on the old board and when I went to look for it, and surprise, surprise the board is down again. Good thing Rick switched when he did.
Anyway, I know the Zetec is kinda fussy about its spark and I'm wondering what people have had success with. I seem to remember NGK Iridiums being mentioned in the old board, but that's all I remember.
Gr33nlemon has some split fire or at least duel spark ones but is thinking about changing them out due to a misfire code that tripped the CEL light. He is still trying to figure out if it's wires or the plugs.. He can elaborate more on it..
That's interesting that all of you still have your stock plugs - especially at 78K miles! So do I. My car is pushing 4 years old now and 50,000 miles. I was just thinking that by now some new plugs might be in order, but I'm not having any problems or anything.
Since it was well over 90 degrees again, I wasn't about to mess with anything under the hood today. So long as they're fine, why bother. I went and bought some much-needed new clothes instead.
I may be the exception then. But Im also running the Screamin' Demon coil and Livewires. But I ran stock plugs, and Bosh Platinums and kept wearing them out. I tried the Bosh Platinum +2 and +4 and would just tear them up.
I switched to NGK's and I havent had a problem since. In fact I just recently checked the gap on them and Ive got a good 15,000 miles on them and they were right on the money. I do attribute the issue though to the aftermarket ingition system. I think it was just running too hot for the typical plugs.
Things have been good since switching to NGK's.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
I had my stockes in til like 68K when my intake sucked up some water. I changed them out to bosch platinum +2's, and I didn't have any complaints until recently when I got my codes read and found I had a misfire code. Instead of trying to fugure out where the problem is, I just ordered the screamin demon coil + livewires. I think now that synthshheld mentioned it, I'm gonna go try to get some NGK's if he is just burning up other plugs. Is it possible to open up the gap on the bosch +2's ? I didn't think I could so I went and looked at 2 different parts stores and all they had were the motorcraft ones. Maybe I'll have to return them and try for some NGK's. What NGK's are you running Dan H.?
____________________ "Men and boys alike love burnouts because they involve machinery, loud noises, and destruction."
I'm back to the stock plugs. Nothing noticed when I swapped out to NGK. Tried playing with gaps a bit but stock gaps seem to be correct. Did notice that if the gaps were even a little different from each other that it wasn't as smooth as when they were all identical. Volumetric/combustion efficiency of all four are very close on my engine.
____________________
A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams...John Barrymore
gr33nlemon wrote: I had my stockes in til like 68K when my intake sucked up some water. I changed them out to bosch platinum +2's, and I didn't have any complaints until recently when I got my codes read and found I had a misfire code. Instead of trying to fugure out where the problem is, I just ordered the screamin demon coil + livewires. I think now that synthshheld mentioned it, I'm gonna go try to get some NGK's if he is just burning up other plugs. Is it possible to open up the gap on the bosch +2's ? I didn't think I could so I went and looked at 2 different parts stores and all they had were the motorcraft ones. Maybe I'll have to return them and try for some NGK's. What NGK's are you running Dan H.?
gr33nlemon, Im running the Iridium plugs. You can gap the +2's and +4's but with as short as the electrode is on those, it can be tricky and probably best to leave them as they are. You can open up the gap with the Screamin Demon coil and Livewires, I think they say you can open it up to .065". I have mine set at .060" I believe. I did that only to ensure I got solid spark in case they started wearing some like the other plugs did, but as I mentioned they are still right where they should be and I havent had a problem since going to NGK's.
I imagine that if I had stayed with the stock ignition I would have been okay with stock plugs, but the screamin demon coil runs the voltage up there quite a bit and thus the reason they recommend you use the Livewires with the coil.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Autolite Double Platinums, they work well for me, the stock ones are Motocraft platinums, supposedly good for 100K miles. But when I went to better wires, I figured I'd try some better plugs. Bosch run a bit too hot for our car thats why you were having a tough time SS, I've heard alot of people have problems with those.
