Split Fires !!!
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3
SPLIT FIRES
i hate to go against the grain, but i've used every type of plug out there, and i actually like the split fires. in my dodge omni, they made a huge improvement...in my honda motorcycle, they greatly improved the performance...in my 94 z28, they made it go...to a certain point, you get what you pay for. i think any plug that costs more than 99 cents should keep your ride running right.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,531
Thought I'd add my experience to increase the confusion...lol.
I recently did the plugs on my 96. I stuck with the OEM ACDelco's. This was the first plug change on my car and I had 80,000 on the originals. Let me tell you that after examining the the plugs that came out I'd estimate they could've gone another 15,000 or so before any problems. I was surprised to say the least. With the new ones in I didn't tell that much difference in performance meaning the old ones were still doing good.
Anyway, I'd recommend the ACDelco platinum's. Why? You won't get a significant performance difference with anything else and these plugs are such a PITA to change....why not get a set that'll last years?
Oh...just a reminder that the heat range on 93-95's is different from 96-97. Make sure you don't get the wrong one.
I recently did the plugs on my 96. I stuck with the OEM ACDelco's. This was the first plug change on my car and I had 80,000 on the originals. Let me tell you that after examining the the plugs that came out I'd estimate they could've gone another 15,000 or so before any problems. I was surprised to say the least. With the new ones in I didn't tell that much difference in performance meaning the old ones were still doing good.
Anyway, I'd recommend the ACDelco platinum's. Why? You won't get a significant performance difference with anything else and these plugs are such a PITA to change....why not get a set that'll last years?
Oh...just a reminder that the heat range on 93-95's is different from 96-97. Make sure you don't get the wrong one.
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Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 939
From: Lowcountry
The problem people have with the factory AC Delco platinum sparkplugs is that the platinum electrode is a small "puck". It doesn't take long for the puck to fall off. This changes the gap and you risk hammering one of these pucks into a valve seat.
When I removed mine from the stock car with ~30k miles on it, I was missing several "pucks" and many report the same problem. If you plan on doing regular tune ups (especially if you're running nitrous or boost) than a copper plug is the way to go and they are cheaper. If you want to throw in a set of plugs and forget about them for a long time invest in some good platinum plugs (except for the factory style).
When I removed mine from the stock car with ~30k miles on it, I was missing several "pucks" and many report the same problem. If you plan on doing regular tune ups (especially if you're running nitrous or boost) than a copper plug is the way to go and they are cheaper. If you want to throw in a set of plugs and forget about them for a long time invest in some good platinum plugs (except for the factory style).
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,148
From: Bay Area, CA
Splitfire claimed they had all kinds of research to show that their plugs made more power and more mileage, when called to court, guess what, they couldn't find any evidence to present to the court. Plus, the center of the split electrode likes to fill with carbon, you can be assured that is a good thing 
(thats a bad joke).
Stick to a decent quality regular old plug, NGK or whatever, I use Autolites, mostly because they are readily available and I know the sizing scheme.
(thats a bad joke).Stick to a decent quality regular old plug, NGK or whatever, I use Autolites, mostly because they are readily available and I know the sizing scheme.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,148
From: Bay Area, CA
Re: NGK's
Originally posted by Formula95355
Okay, the consensus is NGK TR55's, Thunder Racing has both a 35 and 50 gap. What is best? Why a difference?
Okay, the consensus is NGK TR55's, Thunder Racing has both a 35 and 50 gap. What is best? Why a difference?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,148
From: Bay Area, CA
Originally posted by JSK333
I changed to Autolite 104s for n2o use. They seem to be a little bit shorter.
I changed to Autolite 104s for n2o use. They seem to be a little bit shorter.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 389
From: Palmetto FL/Tallahassee FL
Originally posted by hairbear21
Lost,
As far as the +4's that you so adamantly despise, they do not claim to spark on more than one electrode, but what they do is give the spark multiple paths to travel. True, electricity will take the path of least resistance, but anyone that knows anything about electronics knows that heat changes the resistance values of electronic devices (also remember temps in a combustion chamber). Therefore, the original path that was traveled will get warm, and voila! the next electrode becomes the path of least resistance. That is why those plugs are designed in that manner. I wanted to see for myself if they were worth a damn, so I bought a set for my '95 Z. Maybe I'm crazy, but a 2 hour job to change plugs just to see if they work! Anyway, I put them in, and of course the gas mileage went up, and throttle response was better (any tuneup is likely to do that), but my idle was smoother, and it was easier to start. I am not saying that these are the best plugs out there, but they arae definately worth trying once. I will caution though, I have heard of some people having problems with these plugs. It may be because there is no way to check correct gap, and everyone knows that f-bodies are a nightmare to change the plugs on. So, it is possible that the gap could get changed and they may not fire correctly. That would be my only complaint about them.
Lost,
As far as the +4's that you so adamantly despise, they do not claim to spark on more than one electrode, but what they do is give the spark multiple paths to travel. True, electricity will take the path of least resistance, but anyone that knows anything about electronics knows that heat changes the resistance values of electronic devices (also remember temps in a combustion chamber). Therefore, the original path that was traveled will get warm, and voila! the next electrode becomes the path of least resistance. That is why those plugs are designed in that manner. I wanted to see for myself if they were worth a damn, so I bought a set for my '95 Z. Maybe I'm crazy, but a 2 hour job to change plugs just to see if they work! Anyway, I put them in, and of course the gas mileage went up, and throttle response was better (any tuneup is likely to do that), but my idle was smoother, and it was easier to start. I am not saying that these are the best plugs out there, but they arae definately worth trying once. I will caution though, I have heard of some people having problems with these plugs. It may be because there is no way to check correct gap, and everyone knows that f-bodies are a nightmare to change the plugs on. So, it is possible that the gap could get changed and they may not fire correctly. That would be my only complaint about them.
[RANT]
The bosch plugs are snake oil.. it's as simple as that. Any things you think the plugs may have done for your car are either your imagination in action OR they are things that any new set of plugs would have accomplished. You think the heat generated by the current is so significant.. hello.. the plug is in the combustion chamber where it's hot as hell anyways... any cooling that the prongs could possibly do would be so insignificent in the face of the the exteme combustion temperatures. Besides you're overlooking the worst part: a design where the prongs shroud the spark! This obviously is NOT GOOD duh...
Hey, who am I, anyways? [Sarcasm]Bosch is such a leader in the performance world.. how could I be so stupid as to question their engineering? Jeez, autozone and discount carry these plugs.. and we all know they're our source for all our performance needs.[/SARCASM] [/RANT]
Thank you, have a nice day
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,017
From: Toledo, OH
Bosch is such a leader in the performance world.. how could I be so stupid as to question their engineering? Jeez, autozone and discount carry these plugs.. and we all know they're our source for all our performance needs.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 334
From: Dartmouth, MA
Everyone always bashes the +4's but I've had them for about 15,000 or so and havent had any problems. I know on the box they say you dont need to gap them but sometimes during shipping an electrode gets bent and you have to gap it somewhat, maybe thats why people are havent such problems with them
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,742
From: Langley B.C. Canada
i have had the bosch platinum +4's in my car for 60,000 kms and have had absolutaly no problem with them i would really like someone to come out and prove that they are crap everybody has had problems with one spark plug or another but i bet you quite a few of the people who have them like them
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 389
From: Palmetto FL/Tallahassee FL
I just think they are a crappy gimmick, that's all. I never said these plugs were causing engines to blow or anything along those lines.
You know what, forget it. I give up trying to reason with you people.. you must be right, they are a great product simply because you've had no problems with them
Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'm going to buy a set of these along with my f'ing tornado and octane booster!
You know what, forget it. I give up trying to reason with you people.. you must be right, they are a great product simply because you've had no problems with them
Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'm going to buy a set of these along with my f'ing tornado and octane booster!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 101
From: Parker, CO
Bosch +4's ROCK!
OK, after reading all this, I thought I would put another vote in for the +4's.
I put them in at around 90k miles and removed the original ones (the original ones actually looked pretty good for having 90k miles). I now have 108k miles, and here are my "honest" observations and "real" results:
1) With no other changes, I noticed an increase in throttle response (not in my head, felt it right away).
2) Increased my MPG about 3-4 MPG.
3) Starts now with just a tap of the key, very easy.
4) Engine is actually more quiet at idle (again, not in my head).
Say what you will, but these things are great! I have never changed plugs and EVER received benefits like that before. I have since changed all my cars to +4's with similar results.
I also have an Engineering degree, and the path of least resistance comment is very true. This plug allows the electricity to go where it wants, not just a single point of contact. I am sure you all have had that misfire that happens once, and then does not do again. What do you think that was? Well, it has been known to be the spark finding another path besides the tip of the plug. It happens even when you do not feel it via a misfire, so, the +4's help to eliminate that by giving four paths instead of one for the spark. The comment about blocking the current is just plain crazy......but, who am I to say?
I know we all like what we like, that is just a fact of life. But, I feel that if someone does not like some particular product, they should only state the facts they know about it, not make up some crap to support their views....just MHO.......
I put them in at around 90k miles and removed the original ones (the original ones actually looked pretty good for having 90k miles). I now have 108k miles, and here are my "honest" observations and "real" results:
1) With no other changes, I noticed an increase in throttle response (not in my head, felt it right away).
2) Increased my MPG about 3-4 MPG.
3) Starts now with just a tap of the key, very easy.
4) Engine is actually more quiet at idle (again, not in my head).
Say what you will, but these things are great! I have never changed plugs and EVER received benefits like that before. I have since changed all my cars to +4's with similar results.
I also have an Engineering degree, and the path of least resistance comment is very true. This plug allows the electricity to go where it wants, not just a single point of contact. I am sure you all have had that misfire that happens once, and then does not do again. What do you think that was? Well, it has been known to be the spark finding another path besides the tip of the plug. It happens even when you do not feel it via a misfire, so, the +4's help to eliminate that by giving four paths instead of one for the spark. The comment about blocking the current is just plain crazy......but, who am I to say?
I know we all like what we like, that is just a fact of life. But, I feel that if someone does not like some particular product, they should only state the facts they know about it, not make up some crap to support their views....just MHO.......