I went to Autozone yesterday to order plugs. I told them I wanted the
original copper plugs for my 2004 Ram 1500 Hemi. He said the computer
claims OEM were the platinums. Don't sound right to me from what I've
read so I'll have to pull one to make sure. I was surprised he said they
don't carry the copper ones even if I was right. I'm nearing 90K so I
reckon it's time to change them.

 

that salesman is a freakin tool .....oem ,is ,was and will be copper in a Hemi. he needs kicked in the nuts...hard

 

Yeah, it's not the 1st their computer was wrong. They did the same thing with
my o2 sensors.

 

I forgot I posted posts here, so to up date, I'm debating platt plugs for the hemi.
I'm not doing the spark plugs on this go arround, I replaced the 0em champions with Oem champions at 60,000 KM my self, now at just shy of 100,00 km the truck is due.

The last time I was in the States, I bought 16 oem champion copper+ plugs for the hemi and heres what gets interesting, Champion claims a warenty for two years unlimted mileage on the spark plug box, ( U.S.A packaging ) and dodge claims change them evety 50,000 km, odd, the plugs have the mopar and champion loggo on the spark plug boxs..

I have learned that that the SRT hemi 6.1 has platt plugs and in reading on othier dodge owners sites, a lot of hemi owners are asking if dodge went to copper plugs to keep costs down, and some hemi owners wounder if platt plugs will work in a MDS engine and some are convinced leaving platt plugs in the heads longer than 100,000 km will cause problems when removing the platt plugs.

And a lot are convinced sticking with the oem champions is the safe way to go, I'm not debating that, been thier done that and after 15, to 30,000 km on oem champion plugs my truck starts to run like a old nag, TB is clean, I replace the PCV valve every time I replace the plugs and the air filter.

New plugs bring out the hemi, but I don't get a lot of life out of copper plugs.

THe way I see it, Al. heads are fine with Platt. plugs, Cast iron heads and copper plugs are the past, I doubt your going to extra milage or performance out of a platt plug to justify the cost, but platt plugs will out last a copper plug at least 3 to four times so the extra cost up front is off set in the long run.

AS for platt plugs running hotter than copper I'm not buying it, the ignition coil is setting the spark and the plug transfers the spark, copper or platt is going to fire = to the ignition coil, Gm has a multipul displacement sytem on the vorteck V/8s and they run platt plugs with AL. heads.

SO platt plugs for me, If I buy more problems with platt plugs and the hemi runs like burnt dog meat, I will say so, if all is well, I will say so.

 

Okay, I went with the copper plugs, I all ready paid for them, so I used them. I went to a idependant garage, I know longer deal with dodge and the mecanicis a die hard GM guy, first hemi that has rolled into his hands.

To use platt plugs would have killed me, price wise candian tire or nappa was a hell of a lot cheaper for the NGK plugs, at 25 bucks for a platt plug, thats a no go.

I expressed my issues with a platt plug running hot and the mecanic ( die hard Gm ) figured that dodge went with the copper plug because of the two spark plugs per cylinder and a platt plug will generate more heat in the cylinder than 2 copper plugs.

we booth agread that running a cooler plat plug should off set any potential problems and hes going to do his own UPgrading and reading up on the hemi engine.

I'm glad the old 06 is hitting close to 20 mpg highway, 6th gear, 60 mphj 1800 rpms, but its not going to last for long.

So For now, I stayed with the oem plugs, next sparky change, I'm running platts.

 

Our hemi still has the factory plugs at 218K miles, hasn't lost fuel mileage yet.

Yea, we're confused too.

 

ok its funny out of all the posts in this thread this one caught my eye--- Grease or antisieze on a bolt will change the torque value.
There is Wet Torques and Dry Torques, -Wet torque causes less friction between the thread matings/surfaces therefore you DO NEED A LESS TORQUE SPEC
Reduce torque by 10 percent (%) when lubricating oil is used on threads (wet torque). · Reduce torque by 20% when installing new threaded fasteners. · Reduce torque by 30% when threading screw into aluminum, unless inserts are used


your aircraft manual most likely stats the Wet Torque value because it says to apply anti-sieze.....
oh and i forgot to add..-DO NOT USE GRAPHITE ANTI SIZE!!! .. this is very important
Extreme potential for galvanic corrosion to the aluminum. Graphite used on aluminum, magnesium, zinc, cadmium may cause galvanic corrosion. It is best suited for Inconel, stainless, and titanium alloys.

If you gonna use it on the hemi plugs us the LOCTITE ZINC ANTI-SEIZE good for 750F..or LOCTITE HEAVY DUTY ANTI-SEIZE good for 2400F ...the Zinc Protects aluminum and ferrous surfaces from seizure and corrosion, and The Heavy duty are safe for all metals including aluminum, stainless steel, and soft metals

So I decided to mark a FYI about this so it doesnt confuse ppl

 

I have 68K on my truck and original plugs still with 0 problems...thought about changing them but haven't had the ambition to fork over the money for 16 plugs...I was getting prices for them and found an auto store that I will NEVER go back to as they have retards there. They tried selling me some fancy plug prolly the iridium or whatever for like $9 a piece I am like F NO, not with needing 16 plugs...They were like there is NO engine out there that needs 16 plugs, that is a load of crap, etc. And his co-worker concurred as well...I told them to look it up, and they were convinced that the computer was wrong, I told them to feel free to go take a coil off my truck and have a look-see, then quickly retracted as they can't grasp the concept of 2 plugs/cyl, they prolly can't grasp the concept of a ratchet.

Anyway, I will never use anything but a Champion plug. When I was 16, building my first car, I got the motor in, slapped them fancy Bosch platinum plugs in (back when they were brand spankin new concept) and car wouldn't start, I messed and messed and messed until tools starting flying across the barn. My dad got home late and I had to get to sleep as I had an early day...anyway, the next day my dad went to the store and bought the plain ol Champion Copper plugs that he had been using for 30 years and the car fired right up and ran like a raped ape. That day forward I vowed never to go with the "new" thing in spark plugs. I run Champions in EVERYTHING...boats, cars quads, snowmobiles, etc...NEVER had a lick of problem. As to the guys that don't care for Champion...it seems it may be the platinums you have problems with, maybe I misread something, but thats what it seemed to me. But no sense getting into it, you're not gonna change my mind and vice versa. Just stating my experiences.

 

interesting

 

Champoin says the copper plugs are good for two years...UNLIMITED mileage so Dodge is fricking ya with thier sparkplug ZAR Mainatance.... ????? I hope to get at 60,000 Km out of this set, with 60,000 with the oem plugs and should have just left them, last plugs only lasted 40,000 KM.