Plug Change
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,661
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From: Virginia Beach
A spark plug is not voodoo science. If the spark plug is the correct heat range, and is gapped properly before installation, it should perform fine. The coating on the electrode just extends the life of the plug. I agree it may be cheaper to run copper plugs rather than platinum over the life of the vehicle, but I would rather spend a few more dollars and save my knuckles.
Do some research on hemis and platinum plugs and you will see that they have caused problems.
Last edited by sarguy01; Oct 1, 2009 at 05:00 PM.
Professional
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Oklahoma
A spark plug is not voodoo science. If the spark plug is the correct heat range, and is gapped properly before installation, it should perform fine. The coating on the electrode just extends the life of the plug. I agree it may be cheaper to run copper plugs rather than platinum over the life of the vehicle, but I would rather spend a few more dollars and save my knuckles.
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Virginia Beach
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f67/p...-stall-705109/
I have a 07 Commander Limited with the 5.7L Hemi. I installed the Champion 3570 Platinum Plugs(that i bought at PEP Boys)and the car started to stall. I took the Jeep the the dealership explained to them what I had done and 30 days later and 3 different modules(PCM,FCM,WIN) replaced they blamed it on the spark plugs. They explained to me that the Hemi engine will not run properly with the Platinum Spark plugs only the original copper plugs. I am a ASE certified mechanic of 10 years and I have never heard of anything like this. All the mechanics at the dealership also have never heard of anything like this. It took an engineer form Detroit that they flew out to figure it out. Do any of you guys run Platinum Plugs? Have any of you heard of something like this.
Thanks for your guys Help
Thanks for your guys Help
All I am saying is that there is really no benefit to running platinum plugs other than the fact that they last longer. I don't want to see anybody post about some butt-dyno claim that platinum plugs gave them more hp. Plus, most people claim a gain of MPG and power after a spark plug change when they took out 30K mile old plugs. Sure, new plugs are always better than old ones!
Lastly, you will still pay around the same for platinum as you would for two to three sets of coppers.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Danville, KY
I think the main reason for the short interval plug changes has to do with the aluminum heads and the potential for a plug to seize in the head. I believe there are other aluminum heads out there with longer intervals but am unsure as to what the differences are. My 2003 has the original plugs in it with over 100,000 miles and it runs fine and gets nearly 20 MPG. I guess I should change them!
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Virginia Beach
Okay, did some more digging. It seems we have a wasted spark ignition system. With this type of ignition system, one spark plug is fired normally and the other is fired backwards.
With one firing backwards, if the plug is not a double platinum, it will wear prematurely and cause issues since the plug gap gets bigger and bigger.
So, I am thinking a double platinum *should* work while the single platinum will cause issues.
With one firing backwards, if the plug is not a double platinum, it will wear prematurely and cause issues since the plug gap gets bigger and bigger.
So, I am thinking a double platinum *should* work while the single platinum will cause issues.
Thread Starter
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Veteran
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What did the engineer from Detroit have to say? Price of the plug to me is not as important as the labor cost to install them. $2 or $8 is not the issue. It's how long will this take and has anyone paid to have theirs changed. This is the question I asked to start the thread, yet I am getting a class on spark plugs. I don't care what they use. I only care what they charge. The dealer does ALL my maintenance. And I will not do anything to affect my warranty adversely.
Rookie
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From: michigan
With one firing backwards, if the plug is not a double platinum, it will wear prematurely and cause issues since the plug gap gets bigger and bigger.
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you have to contort your arms and work around it. i usually put one arm over valve cover to hold the extension, and the other arm under booster to turn the ratchet. its a little tricky breaking them loose--lots of pointy stuff back there to stab your hand on.
FWIW: those of you doing plugs yourself on the 5.7, i highly suggest getting a magnectic plug socket. its SO MUCH EASIER not having to deal w/ the old style sockets w/ the rubber boot. i save about 10-15 minutes per 5.7 tune up cause of this.
FWIW: those of you doing plugs yourself on the 5.7, i highly suggest getting a magnectic plug socket. its SO MUCH EASIER not having to deal w/ the old style sockets w/ the rubber boot. i save about 10-15 minutes per 5.7 tune up cause of this.
How hard is it to get the coil packs off?
Veteran
Joined: May 2009
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From: San Antonio, Texas
What did the engineer from Detroit have to say? Price of the plug to me is not as important as the labor cost to install them. $2 or $8 is not the issue. It's how long will this take and has anyone paid to have theirs changed. This is the question I asked to start the thread, yet I am getting a class on spark plugs. I don't care what they use. I only care what they charge. The dealer does ALL my maintenance. And I will not do anything to affect my warranty adversely.