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Yesterday someone posted some MIS-Information about Iridium plugs.
I figured it would be a good idea to offer the information we have about plugs and the Z.
When the Z32 was new the best plug technology available for a street stock boost turbo car for long life and strong spark was Platinum plugs.
Platinum plugs were introduced in 1982.
Since that time new and better plug technology has come out.
About 1999 the first automotive Iridium plugs came out.
Iridium plugs are able to use a much finer center electrode
Spark plugs with fine wire center electrodes operate better for two reasons, first, a smaller center electrode requires less voltage to jump the gap. This means fewer misfires, which will be seen in higher mileage and more horsepower. The second reason is smaller center electrodes reduces quenching.
When we called NGK tech a couple years ago, We asked them what the best plug was for high boost and also for high boost and N20 applications for the Z32.
NGK told us "hands down Iridium plugs".
We found after trying the Iridium plugs that they fired much better in high boost applications. We also like the fact that the plug has a 1200 degree (F) higher melting point then Platinum.
We have been using the Iridium plugs in our own cars including my 9 second car and customers cars for over 2 years with great success. This is track and all types of normal driving.
Some thing a copper plug is best to use in racing applications, But I personally do not want the melted plug parts going through my turbos and engine.Here is what NGK says about Iridium plugs........
"Iridium is a precious metal that is 6 times harder and 8 times stronger than platinum, it has a 1,200(=F) higher melting point than platinum and conducts electricity better. This makes it possible to create the finest wire center electrode ever. Prior till now, platinum had been favored for long life or performance spark plugs due to its high melting point, also the technology did not exist to machine and bond iridium on a spark plug electrode(at least in a cost effective manner). Iridium industrial spark plugs have been around for years, but still sells for over a hundred dollars per plug. Just now is the technology available to effectively use iridium in a spark plug for automotive applications. The strength, hardness and high melting point of iridium allows NGK to manufacture their iridium ultra-fine wire center electrode to 0.7mm. One of the finest firing points in the industry! "
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15:39:02 12/13/06
