I used both copper and platnum in it, and I know each engine is different, but I got better mileage and a little bit more seat of the pants feel of power from the platnums over the copper.

now in a buddies ranger we put in some platnums to see what would happen, it turned into a turtle to put it best.

 

it's interesting that you felt there was more power with the platinums. were both sets brand new and the same heat range? Copper is a better conductor and therefore it should deliver a better spark (more power).

 

the only difference was the gapping of the plug.

last I remember, I could be wrong, but the platnum plugs I use have a lower resistance factor than copper, this more energy for the spark.

also, with the design of the plugs it comes to a single point where as the copper plugs have more surface area.

 

hmm. lower resistance. Less voltage required to jump the gap, less wear and tear on the electrodes, longer life? Interesting. I could be absolutely wrong, but everything I've always heard is that platinum plugs are for longevity, copper for power, and rediculously expensive iridium plugs are for both.

 

I've got a 97 Ram 2500 4x4 with the 5.9L automatic, ran the stock Champion plugs. I run platinums in my Neon and it runs great, so I decided to go with platinums in the Ram last time I did a tune-up,(that was August last year), it ran good for me untill recently. I got the multiple cylinder misfire (43) codes and transmission CRT (37) code, this happened while pulling a 2500 lb trailer up a slight grade.Since then the truck's been gutless and hesitating shifting fom 2nd to 3rd so I took it to the local Dodge dealer to have it looked at, the mechanic tells me I need a tune-up, and I'm using the wrong plugs! I was a little shocked, I expained to him I only put 2000 miles on since my last tune-up incuding plugs, cap, rotor, wires. He tells me the ignition sytem in a Dodge can't handle delivering the voltage required to fire platinum plugs. He said I will get a misfire condition from using them. He also proceded to tell me I should'nt be using premium fuel, it will run better on the stock plugs and regular gas, can anyone confirm or deny this!

 

some ignition systems just cannot handle anything but copper plugs. from what Ive seen, most American made cars and trucks dont run too well with platnums, where as most Japanese run better with platnums.

running premium fuel doesnt help much in the long run unless the engine is specificaly designed for high test, like high compression engines and air cooled engines.

 

Wow! that is the fastest response I've had, I think I'm going to like this forum, thanks Drew!
I hear what your saying about Import cars, it was a Subaru guy who turned me onto these in the first place, I'm old school and look to him for advice sometimes to keep me in the 21st century. I've had great luck with champions in the past, changed only from his recomendation, he swears by them!
By the way these were Autolite platinum 3924 plugs. I just pulled one out and still looks like new!
I checked my gap, it was at .050! I recall on the package they were preset gap so I never checked, do you think I would benefit from gapping these plugs to the factory set plug gap (I think is .035 or .040) or just toss em for the stock champion RC12Yc's?

 

ha. I'm a Subaru guy too, but I wouldn't even think of putting platinum in my old RS. The turbo models "require" platinums, but I have a feeling that it might be due to the fact that they're coil-on-plug and a PITA to change, so by requiring platinum they extend the replacement interval.

And about the regular unleaded - put the cheapest (read: lowest octane) gas you can run in it. Lower octane = easier to burn. Octane is basically the resistance to combustion. Higher octane resists combusting more, so you can run higher compression and whatnot. If you get a little pinging with 87 octane you can try 89. I ran 91/92 in my Subarus just because I hated the sulfur smell that I got with the low octane stuff. In my truck and my mustang I run super all the time because I've got the timing advanced about as far as it'll go without detonation.

My RS came with champion plugs in it and after a few thousand miles I swapped them out for NGK V-Powers and noticed a huge improvement. Idle was smooth and the mid-rpm hiccup went away. I'm not a big fan of Champion, just because it seems to be the bargain basement plug.

 

for the most part platnum plugs are already gaped from the factory since the electrodes are platnum and can be chipped of easily. The Bosche platnums I use come to a single point electrode to electrode. the ones I refering to are the single electrode, the two and four electrode versions are crap IMO. I do check them real quick with a feeler gage to make sure, but for the most part they are good. The last set of plugs I had in my toyota lasted me 50,000 miles before all 4 plugs burned the elecrode so far into the porcelan you couldnt see it, yet the engine ran, VERY rough, but it ran

now, if your wanting to run a test and see what happens you could close the gap to .035 and see what happens. if your feeling up to it you could close it to even .03 but that would be the closest even I would feel comfortable with. since it takes less energy to bridge the gap so you would have more energy going into the ignition of the fuel air mixture. However if you dont have the time to play around with this going back to the stocker copper plugs wont hurt at all.

 

Thanks horatio102, I started running the higher octane because of the pinging, but it did'nt seem to help. The mechanic also recomended I get my computer reflashed to correct this, apparently this is a common problem with the 97 Ram and there have been updates to correct this.
I noticed alot of guys on the board like the NGK's, I've had trouble with in my snowmobile, so I never considered them for anything else.

Well I bought new Champions on the way home today, so I guess I'll swap them out in the morning and see how it goes, that should prove or disprove what the mechanic is telling me. I still have to go in to have the trany looked at and reflash the computer, so I guess if I take his advise before I bring the truck back to him, I'll be putting my best foot forward, maybe I'll try experimenting with the gap on the platinums at a later date! Thanks Drew for all your help!