| Author |
Message |
rob guess (Beast)
New member
Username: Beast
Post Number: 38
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 7:58 am: | |
I myself have found that platinum plugs are more likely to foul in my carburated race engine applications.
The main reason that the auto maunufacures use them in there new vehicles is due to the fact of EPA Emission control system warranties. It is to easy out for the mfg's when they run a plug that can last 100,000 miles. They have less worries about other parts of the ignition system failing due to the fact that a plugs gap had grown so much that it over loads the coil packs on the engine.
I recently changed the plugs in my F-150 truck with 114,000 miles on it to get ready for an emissions test and the gap had only grown from .048" to .070" in that many miles in conventional plugs the electrode would be gone, if the coil pack had not gone up in smoke before hand. |
Mark Eberhardt (Me_k)
Member
Username: Me_k
Post Number: 596
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 6:48 am: | |
Platonum plug are made with platinum at the tips of the electrodes. This prevents corrosion and allows then to last about 100k miles. That works out well in a modern car with closed loop EFI, since the plug insulator stays clean. In a carb'd engine the insulator gets so covered with junk they need to be replace every year or 15k miles, which ever comes first. Standard electrodes are good for about 30k miles, so in a carb'd engine they way out live the insulator. So, for an older carb'd engine, buy the standard plugs, platinum is a waste of money. I don't know about Davids point, it may be true too. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 1120
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:17 am: | |
I've heard the same story as David.... |
David Feinberg (Fastradio2)
Junior Member
Username: Fastradio2
Post Number: 234
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:09 am: | |
Steve,
Short story...platinum plugs nominally take more voltage to fire, so I'm lead to believe. The older ignition systems (typically lower voltage at the plugs) are more easily able to fire the copper plugs reliably. I tried platinum plugs in my 74 BB, with mixed results...more fouling than with the conventional BP6ES that I currently run..
David |
steve kotler (Akydakyx)
New member
Username: Akydakyx
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 12:00 am: | |
2.4 dino engine. i could swear i read somewhere that you should stick to copper plugs with the older engines. any reason not to use platinum in this engine? if true, why is copper better. |