At 30,000 mile maintenance in my 2010 1500 manual says to change spark plugs. Does this need to be done ? Im not a mechanic and just wondering. Dealer says $190 labor and $60 parts.

They also say clean air induction and fuel injection.

 

Not absolutely necessary. I'm on 41K now and no loss in performance or mileage. I would get it done @ 35k to keep the warranty valid.

 

Wow, your, dealer is a bargin at 250.00

 

What engine?

 

Being that the hemi has aluminum heads, i would seriously think about at least pulling them, look at them, if look good, (and most look great at 30,000 miles) re-install them with "copper anti-seize" on the threads. Ther are people i know that have been running them up to 60,000 miles with no issues on the original plugs. Just make sure you get some copper anti-seize on them very soon so they dont strip out the plug threads in the heads when you get ready to change them later on.

 

If your going to go through all that labor I'd do more then look at them. I replaced mine with 100,000 mile Iridiums. At least use the Platinums that come in the police and hybrid versions of the 5.7. To heck with pulling them every 30k.

 

Got a part number for both Iridiums & Platinums..?

 

Dodge store has the Platinum. Iridium you can look up on the plug manufacture charts. I used Autolite Iridiums that I bought through Amazon.com. There is only one part number for the ones used in he 5.7. At the time I bought they were on sale PLUS Autolite had a $2 rebate per plug coupon. I ended up at $4 bucks each. Some of the Denso,Bosch etc were as high as $14 bucks each. The Plariumns at a Dodge store were like $10.00 each. I called plug manufacture tech assist phone numbers and asked questions etc. Ended up with the Autolites. The Auolite plug number is XP5325. http://www.autolitecatalog.com/Application.aspx?b=AThey are a copper CORE with Iridium tip. Most all are COPPER core. The TIP is what is the long wearing metal. Just stay away from PULSE DURATION plugs lite E3 whatever. They can cause running issues and charge system issues. GM has tech bulletins on such. Pick plug,NGK,Autolite,Denso,Bosch etc.. and go to their web page or look up guides.

 

Here's what you want.

Will be replacing my 2nd set of stock copper ones in about 5K... oh hells yeah!! Just what I need between my Intake/bored throttle body and Headers/Exhaust.


http://www.pulstar.com/products.htm

http://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com...es-Spark-Plugs
^^^Set of 16^^^

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30kmi is because they are the basic copper plugs. When you buy "mopar" brand, they say Nickel on the box and are $8 a pop, but dont be fooled... Basic copper plugs are ALL Nickel coated Copper plugs!!! Mopar brand plugs ARE Champion plugs rebadged as Mopar. The same plugs labeled as Champions are $2 at auto parts store.
Going to 100kmi Platinum or Iridiums is not necessarily beneficial. Platinums suck. Iridiums are better than Platinums...
Most 2rd Gen guys who have gone to Iridiums r Platinums have complained about driveability issue's.
The reason is that Chrysler has tuned the engines to copper plugs. Those fancy plugs have different metals that react differently in both cold and hot situations. Fancy plugs even at the same plug temp range run hotter. That means leaner conditions in the cylinder!
If you incorporate the cost of fancy plugs as compared to copper plugs, you can do 4 copper plug changes(30kmi x 4= 120kmi) and still be cheaper than 1 fancy plug change. Granted you do the work yourself which isn't that hard, just time consuming...
Do what you want, but I'd never stick fancy's in my truck. Too many complaints from guys who have well over 100kmi on their trucks. 4th genners are a newer era and have far less proveable mileage so hearsay of I dont have any problems YET aren't good enough for me. I'd say on average 4 of 5 3rd gen guys went back to coppers.

BTW...Most 3rd Gen guys are reporting no issue's up to 40-45kmi area, but at that mileage they have reported a larger gap on the plugs that does indicate wear. I wouldn't go past 40kmi because of this.