I wouldn't expect a negative change with a good quality platinum plug. If the heat range is wrong, it'll run tough. I've had that problem with Bosch plugs before. But if the Autolite you used is the correct heat range, and it's just platinum vs. copper, it ought to run fine.

dualdakota01, in my opinion, the plugs that should be used are what Dodge put in. You know you're getting the right heat range and the right style of plug. Other plugs might make a small difference in power, but they're likely compromising something else (like perhaps longevity). As long as you're comfortable with the compromise, that's fine. Me...I'd use what Dodge specifies. Their engineers did the R&D and lots of validation work. They know what works and what doesn't. What came in your truck is what works. Check the underhood decal -- it should say what came in it from the factory (likely a Champion plug).

 

i'm looking to change mine here soon as well...glad to hear that there is only one coil pack and plug thats a pain to get too. from what i've read i really like the ngk v-powers at least from what i've heard from others the ones i found were only 2.xx a piece so i plan on doing that very soon since im done school this friday!

 

One of the reasons I went with the autolite platinum is because a few years ago I was going to put them in my 98 V6. I sold it before I put them in, so all I had to buy were two more and I had it for my V8.
When changing the plugs I took off the air piping to the throttle body and loosened up the other lines under there. Like I said #8 was a pain with the dipstick pipe in the way, but it will come.

 

Autolite 3923's, they are a heat range cooler and tend to make the magnum motors (3.9, 5.2, 5.9, 3.7, and 4.7) run very well. Lots of second and third gen ram guys are running them, as well as 3rd gen dakota guys. I put them in my 06 dakota with the 3.7 and I love them. They are also only about a buck a piece at walmart.

 

i put in 3923 platinums just because i had a rebate and they came out to the same price as the copper cores...i havent noticed any decrease in mileage or power.the only real difference i noticed was that it runs smoother than with the 5224's that were in there.

 

Those are the one'sI just put in, the 5224. Hope they are O.K. to use.

 

one cheep trick for you guys for better mileage is to wrap your fuel rails with thermo tech insulating tape... it will keep you fuel rail from getting heat soaked which will give you a tad more power. yo wont feel it since the truck is so heavy but when I did it to mine I got about .75 mpg better...

 

[sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=roll.gif]
Have you ever worked in the autmotive parts industry??? For either OEM or a tier supplier?
well i have, I worked (past tense)at Bosch for 4 years as a validation technician. OEM supplier side not aftermarket, spark plugs are considered aftermarket there.

For parts like these the R&Dand the validation in all done by the supplier NOT by Dodge/chrysler.
What they do is say to the various suppliers "we need aspark plug. that fitsthese dimensions. how cheep will you sell it to us"
whoever gives the cheepest pice gets the contract for X amount of years or for Y amount ofunits/vehicles.

Yes what comes in the truck works obviously, but its the bottom barrel of what will work not the best.

and no im not biased towards bosch, but if you go to the mopar performace site they list bosch plugs as an upgrade.

 

just buy ngk plugs, they are one of the best plugs ever, you don't want one to foul, they are the best, My friend threw these in his bike (Either a step hotter or cooler.) Never had a problem with fouling for a long time (two strokes like to do that to your plugs!)

 

Actually, yes I have -- which is why I'm biased against Bosch and other non-stock parts. Bosch used to advertise that they cover 99% of the applications out there with just 14 or 15 part numbers. Great. Every plug, then, is necessarily a compromise.

Take, for instance, the Dodge 4.7L. The OE plug for that application is the Champion RC12MCC4. That's the ONLY application for that particular plug. That plug isn't specified for ANY application except for the 4.7L V-8 engine. Chrysler doesn't simply ask for a plug that fits a certain dimension. There are a LOT of Champion RC12-type plugs out there that would physically fit. There's obviously a lot more to spark plug design than simply fit and finish.

Okay, back to the 4.7L V-8. What Bosch plug fits it? 4230, or FR8LPX. Okay, fine. Go look that up on Rockauto.com. Look at the application list for this plug:





ACURA
(1992 - 2007)

BMW
(1988 - 1994)

CHRYSLER
(2007 - 2008)

DAEWOO
(1999 - 2002)

DODGE
(1994 - 2008)

FORD
(1989 - 1997)

HONDA
(1990 - 2007)

ISUZU
(1996 - 2000)

JEEP
(1997 - 2007)

MAZDA
(1988 - 2003)

MITSUBISHI
(2006 - 2007)

SATURN
(2004 - 2007)

Are you kidding me? That's not acceptable. I will not believe for a second that the same plug that Bosch specifies as correct in a 1992 Acura or a 1995 Honda or a friggin' Daewoo is going to be the optimum plug for a 4.7LV-8. Not happenin'.

The OEM specifies exacting specifications for their OE plugs. You are right -- they will likely get the lowest bidder. But still -- that plug is made to the EXACT specifications of the OEM (Dodge in our case). That's not the case with an aftermarket Bosch plug. The Mopar site might list it as an "upgrade", but c'mon -- that's marketing -- they're trying to sell you a spark plug! Look at the application lists (Rockauto.com makes this very convenient) and then YOU can make the decision about which plug is going to be optimal for the engine.

If Bosch is correct -- and the plug that works in a 1988 Mazda is the best plug for a 4.7L V-8 engine, why didDodge go to the expense of defining certain performance characteristics forthe 4.7L V-8 plug,go to the expenseof an RFP and bid process from various plug manufacturers, go to the expense ofbuying a plug from Champion that only has ONE application (theirs)? Why didn't they just use the plugthat Mazda used in 1988? (That's obviously a rhetorical question.)