Having a second set of spark plugs has never been a waste of money to me.
Spark Plugs
- Thread starter Tim W
- Start date
You totally missed the point.Well I put 8000 miles on that Saturn in 4 months of working outta town and it never ran better until it’s demiseI was all about mpg on it so either way I’m just explaining my experience not anyone else’s nor am I a salesman! so I’m not trying to argue on FACTS of something that I lived!! So I’m just trying to help out a fellow member here THAT ASKED for help an that he/she has options in that department but maybe you didn’t READ the part that says I have the platinum delcos in my Escalade and recommended them also.
Did you remove old/used/worn-out plugs, and notice a difference when you put new plugs in? I would hope so. That's not something that tells me E3s are a great new design. That tells me the old plugs were shot.
When you take out nearly-new, good-condition conventional/OEM-style plugs, put in E3s, and then notice a big improvement, you might be onto something.
But you've not told us what plugs came out--high- or unknown-miles, worn-out/fouled/cracked or deposits on the porcelains; or fresh 'n' pristine?
Cadillac Bob
Slammin original 4x4 Cadillac doors!
Ac delco plugs copper since it was a 97 if I remember correctly on that one since I had 3 from 3 different years. And no I didn’t miss any point because of course newer replacement parts are going to be better than worn out parts. I’m fully aware aging parts lack on performance eventually but that wasn’t the case here car received more/better spark from E3’s plugs vs copper plug . E3’s are platinum or iridium I think so they already have an advantage car ran fine beforehand! I wanted it to be most basic stuff I could do not brake the bank on getting more mpg out of it since it’s only job was to get me to work n back as cheaply as possible! So I did the few little things to improve that as much as I could without anything major happening. That’s my point and like I said it’s kool you don’t use other plugs in whatever it is you drive so be it. I’m only just trying to help out a fellow 400’er on a question they posted you don’t have to like my answer but I’m not just making up a story for him to buy E3 plugs!!! He’s fully free to get what he pleases him!!! An your really stuck on the plugs. I read though thread am seen not too much in response for his post so I replied back with options for HIM to chose what’s best for HIM an guess what his tuner may tell him whatever he uses which could be anything! An I would think he probably go get those plugs over whatever has been suggested here since it’s his tuners advice!
454cid
Sooper Pooper
The Saturn 1.9l should have copper plugs. I've read many times on the Saturn forum that the wasted spark ignition doesn't like the small electrodes of platinum plugs. Oe plugs were ac delco branded ngks.....my originals had both part numbers.
They sure wouldn't work well with "single" Platinum plugs. Half the plugs would have the Platinum on the wrong electrode.
That's why they started making "double Platinum" plugs. No matter which side of the coil winding they're on, there's Platinum on the correct electrode.
Frank Enstein
Best. Day. EVER!
+1
AC Delco hasn't made a spark plug in over 30 years.
Copper plugs have a wider heat range than non copper plugs.
Platinum plugs last forever (100,000 miles+). Iridium plugs last 3 times as long.
How long it 3 forevers anyway?
Bosch had the first platinum plugs for less misfire. At the time they were fighting emissions and were trying to reduce misfires that jacked up the HC emissions. The platinum needs less voltage to jump the gap so more current was available to start the combustion event reducing misfires in the leaner air/fuel mixtures they were trying to use.
The fine wire tip is used to blast away contaminants to keep the firing tip clean. This allows a colder heat range plug to be used reducing the chances of preignition without fouling the plug.
Waste spark ignitions fire one plug from the center to the side electrode it's companion plug fires backwards.
Double platinum plugs work well with this type of ignition.
Double platinium, iridium, ruthenium & etc. work fine with distributors and coil on plug or coil near plug ignitions too but they are no better than the single platinum for those applications and generally cost more.
E3 plugs and SplitFire plugs (now deceased were made by Autolite) do the same job as side gapping the plug (cutting the side electrode back enough to make the spark jump sideways).
I have been side gapping plugs for 45 years. Side gapping MAY help combustion by not shrouding the flame kernel started by the spark.
It acts like advancing the timing without advancing the timing. Unshrouding the flame kernel burns more of the fuel nearer TDC when the piston has better leverage on the crank.
That effect MAY help power, engine life, fuel economy, and tailpipe emissions.
Some engines respond well to this, some are totally insensitive. A larger plug gap can have the same effect.
Projected center electrode plugs also have a similar effect.
Indexing spark plugs is a good practice. Indexing puts the side electrode away from the piston so it doesn't block the flame travel. Again some engines may not care if the plugs are indexed but I have never seen it hurt performance.
With a domed piston it is mandatory to prevent the dome from contacting the side electrode.
Do not use projected plugs on a supercharged or nitrous engines. The longer side electrode is the problem because it may stay hot enough to cause preignition.
When I start an unknown combo I put the coldest plugs that don't foul.
I would rather sell you 3 sets of plugs than a second set of pistons.
Choose the plugs you like best, tune it until you're happy with the performance, close the hood, and go get ice cream!
AC Delco hasn't made a spark plug in over 30 years.
Copper plugs have a wider heat range than non copper plugs.
Platinum plugs last forever (100,000 miles+). Iridium plugs last 3 times as long.
How long it 3 forevers anyway?
Bosch had the first platinum plugs for less misfire. At the time they were fighting emissions and were trying to reduce misfires that jacked up the HC emissions. The platinum needs less voltage to jump the gap so more current was available to start the combustion event reducing misfires in the leaner air/fuel mixtures they were trying to use.
The fine wire tip is used to blast away contaminants to keep the firing tip clean. This allows a colder heat range plug to be used reducing the chances of preignition without fouling the plug.
Waste spark ignitions fire one plug from the center to the side electrode it's companion plug fires backwards.
Double platinum plugs work well with this type of ignition.
Double platinium, iridium, ruthenium & etc. work fine with distributors and coil on plug or coil near plug ignitions too but they are no better than the single platinum for those applications and generally cost more.
E3 plugs and SplitFire plugs (now deceased were made by Autolite) do the same job as side gapping the plug (cutting the side electrode back enough to make the spark jump sideways).
I have been side gapping plugs for 45 years. Side gapping MAY help combustion by not shrouding the flame kernel started by the spark.
It acts like advancing the timing without advancing the timing. Unshrouding the flame kernel burns more of the fuel nearer TDC when the piston has better leverage on the crank.
That effect MAY help power, engine life, fuel economy, and tailpipe emissions.
Some engines respond well to this, some are totally insensitive. A larger plug gap can have the same effect.
Projected center electrode plugs also have a similar effect.
Indexing spark plugs is a good practice. Indexing puts the side electrode away from the piston so it doesn't block the flame travel. Again some engines may not care if the plugs are indexed but I have never seen it hurt performance.
With a domed piston it is mandatory to prevent the dome from contacting the side electrode.
Do not use projected plugs on a supercharged or nitrous engines. The longer side electrode is the problem because it may stay hot enough to cause preignition.
When I start an unknown combo I put the coldest plugs that don't foul.
I would rather sell you 3 sets of plugs than a second set of pistons.
Choose the plugs you like best, tune it until you're happy with the performance, close the hood, and go get ice cream!
jaywestfall
I'm Awesome
Iridiums are all I have ever used on my 98 Vortec 5.7. No problems.
Tim W
I'm Awesome
I ended getting the ac delco professional plugs. The truck runs great. I also got some stock plugs. I'm curious to see which plugs have the best temp range
454cid
Sooper Pooper
I always heard the term with the Saturn engines, but never knew how it worked. this is the first time i've heard an explanation as to why the platinum plugs didn't work well. I don't think this is common knowledge on the Saturn forum. Those 1.9L engines usually burn oil, so replacing copper is probably the better way to go than buying double platinums anyway.
Frank Enstein
Best. Day. EVER!
I learned that when I was adapting GM 4 pin HEI modules and two pin coils to my 82 Yamaha XJ1100. It took me a bit to wrap my head around it.
