Platinum Spark Plugs

[MGV6]

As most of you guys know, Mitsubishi recommends the use of Platinum Spark Plugs in Galants, but does anyone know which ones though? i.e. specification, brand?

Which ones do ClubVR4/WRD normally recommend? and which ones do WRD normally use during servicing?

and if I'm right, its 4 spark plugs our cars have right?

[steve190]

2.0 has 4 plugs and the V6 versions have 6

As to type, never had mine out yet.

[Nick VR4]

Search is your friend

http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthr...ht=Spark+Plugs

[Lillywotsername]

Pretty sure WRD use Densos. Don't quote me on it though.

[Kieran]

Either NGK or Denso will be fine. You need to get the right plug code though. This will be listed in your Owner's manual somewhere.

[psbarham]

i put a set of ngk iridiums in mine and they do make quiet a difference

[Gly]

the v6s use the same plugs as the VR4,
just with a higher gapping

the ngk iridium number is BKR6EIX-11 (for 1.1mm gap)

also from factory they came with platium plugs in the rear bank only, and stock copper plugs in the front bank,

it is fine to use platium or iridiums all round

[Roberto]

Iridium allround for me.

Had them checked after something like 30K and was told they are still as good as new...

[Eurospec]

And for you performance nutters out there with turbo cars with a boost controller etc etc, do yourself a favour and drop in a plug 1 heat range colder.

I believe the rule of thumb is 1 range per hundred bhp extra.

It will help reduce the hot spot caused by the plug and hence reduce the propensity for det.

Also, if you are going all out for power, go to coppers and change them frequently. My reasoning behind this is that if you look at a platinum plug, it has a tiny tip. This is because platinum has a pretty high resistance- higher than copper- and the manufacturer is simply concentrating the voltage produced by the coil onto a tiny tip, which then goes and produces a small spark.

If you run copper, the spark area is much larger and the spark kurnel is much bigger, although possibly slower moving, which helps to ignight the gas more easily. The electrodes on a copper plug are bigger due to the lower resistance of the core material and so there is no need to reduce tip size as with platinums.

Your aim is to get as much energy to that plug tip as you can, hence using high performance leads, big kicker coils or ignition boosters. The benefits of resistor vs non resistor plugs can be debatable in that you want to have some resistance in the plug to give the coil 'something to push against' I personally use resistor plugs, because you try and find non resistor plugs that are 4 ranges colder, otherwise i would run non. The downside is reported to be, (again i dont KNOW this) that non resistor plugs will burn out the coils faster and can cause interfearance issues. The latter i can see being true.

Cheers,

Ben.

[Rambaud]

If one is only doing 10,000 miles between annual services, are not platinum plugs a waste of money (I'm thinking in terms of my 2.4GDI)?

[Nick Mann]

In the V6, the platinum plugs are scheduled for replacement every 54k miles or 6 years, whichever comes sooner.

I don't know if that's true of the GDI.

[Rambaud]

In the V6, the platinum plugs are scheduled for replacement every 54k miles or 6 years, whichever comes sooner.

I don't know if that's true of the GDI.

Thank you, Nick. I shall check the service history to see when they were last changed.

54k miles seems a long time for the copper ones in the front bank?

[Nick Mann]

Copper in the front bank is new information to me. I had a 1998 V6-24 which I owned from 45k to approx 80k miles. The 54k service included 6 platinum plugs, none of the services ever included copper plugs. Maybe different area cars or different age cars had different specs?

[Kieran]

Yeah, I know Carsten (Gly) said the front bank was copper, but that's the first time I head that too - It would be a bit odd to fit two types of plug, surely?

But yeah, my V6 Sport specified platinum only in the book. In fact, I think there was even a warning label in the engine bay to remind you to use platinum plugs.

[bradc]

They do that because the front plugs are easy to access and the rear ones are obviously rather difficult

Ben - what about those fancy triple electrode plugs or plugs that have the entire outside part curving up to be a 360 degree electrode?

[Rambaud]

AFAIK, the only benefit of platinum plugs is longevity?

[Eurospec]

Both the 6A12 FTO engines only have platiums in the rear bank. They use coppers up front.

The main reason to use platinum plugs is simply longevity as Rambaud said. Its a pain in the arse to change your plugs all the time, but if you are commited to going faster, its a small thing in the scheme of it all really. If you are running higher boost, then the protection has got to be worth the hassle.

Example, a friend of mine who drags his GTO would get a steady 6 count of knock with std plugs at 17psi on a drag pass. Dropped in a set of 1 range colder plugs, knock gone. Okay, 6 isnt exactly engine killing amounts (The stock ecu will only respond when the count exceeds 5- indicating that mitsu thought that was 'safe' at the original power levels) however, if you are continually banging on the piston tops and rods and big ends, then it isnt going to help.

Our mitsu dealers say the vr4 has 6 platinums as std.

Cheers,

Ben.

[Rambaud]

I remember experimenting with different plugs in my TVR a few years ago - but changing 8 of them at the same time was a bit of a pain.

[Rikki]

I remember experimenting with different plugs in my TVR a few years ago - but changing 8 of them at the same time was a bit of a pain.

Mits use NGK Laser Platinum (PFR6G-11) for the V6 anyways. I have just had mine replaced and make a slight improvement in smoothness, but then thats probably due to the fact they are new lol. Out of interest, a mix up with the garage has left me with 6 of the above sparks if anyone fancies putting some money my way. Honda charges £66 ex.VAT, Mits asked for £92.34 ex.VAT!

[ralliart-type-s]

mine has denso iridiums in all 6, i know this cos i fitted them, 4got wot temp code tho, but car runs well with them in, not sure if perform different from std plat plugs anyway.