Spark plug question - is it worth it?

BTRobertson · 03-02-2008, 08:40 PM

I see Denso has a very nice plug (K22 stock temperature plug for N/A K20Z3 engine) for our Civics but wanted to know if anyone has dropped the nearly $60.00 for a set of four yet.

I've read a lot about plasma plug technology. In fact, there was a spread about them in DSport's latest issue (63S March 2008) on Pulstar's plasma ignition plugs and the gains on their test cars (three cars tested, each of them saw nearly 6whp gains just by installing the plugs).

So there's Denso, there's Pulstar and there's another "N" brand (can't remember it). Are they worth replacing the Honda OEM plugs? Are they safe? Nothing really states whether they are or not, but seeing as they make a stock heat plug for a stock Civic, I would imagine they're fine, but are they worth the money? Thanks for input folks.

c130turboprop · 03-02-2008, 09:09 PM

there was a thread on this about a month and a half ago and someone had the pulstar and the plugs fouled out in like a month... take it for what its worth, give it try, maybe u will get better results and i saw that DSport test also in the mag and it was quite interesting... i would try it

CanyonDriver · 03-02-2008, 09:33 PM

Unless you are running F/I with heavy boost, or nitrous oxide the stock plugs are more than sufficient. I don't buy all of the dyno results from most plug companies. If I were you (btrobertson) i'd wait till the stock plugs go at around 120K miles before replacing them. Take the money you'd use for the plugs, and put it towards some other mods. You'll probably feel like the money was better spent in the end

videogmike · 03-02-2008, 09:57 PM

NGK copper ftw

CanyonDriver · 03-02-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by videogmike

NGK copper ftw

Aren't our stock plugs are NGK?

silverspoon1996 · 03-02-2008, 10:05 PM

You cant use hotter or colder plugs if you dont need them.. you will hurt gas mileage and performance..

You use a hotter plug for hotter burning combustion.. and a colder plug for cooler combustion (FI)

BTRobertson · 03-02-2008, 10:12 PM

yeah, I know the difference between running the hotter/colder plugs. I've got an intake and an exhaust, with a race header and ECU reflash planned for the Spring (daily driver). The stock heat rating for the K20Z3 engine for the Denso Iridium plugs (NGK was the other brand I saw) is "22" - they range from 16 to 34 (lowest is hottest, highest is coldest) . If I went FI, then I'd step one colder plug down, according to the turbo kit manufacturer's claims (the place selling it also recommends one step colder plugs for FI, bolt-on stage 1 kits). For every 75-100 horsepower you add to the engine, they suggest going one step colder in the plugs. I've only added about 21 so far, so I'm good with the stock heat range.

I figured I wouldn't need to replace them and I certainly don't want to worry about plugs fouling out. :) Thanks for the advice guys and I'll just stick with what I've got for now in my N/A setup for another...oh...100K miles.

03-02-2008, 08:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
BTRobertson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 31 Posts: 631 B.T. Robertson iTrader: 0 / 0%	Spark plug question - is it worth it? I see Denso has a very nice plug (K22 stock temperature plug for N/A K20Z3 engine) for our Civics but wanted to know if anyone has dropped the nearly $60.00 for a set of four yet. I've read a lot about plasma plug technology. In fact, there was a spread about them in DSport's latest issue (63S March 2008) on Pulstar's plasma ignition plugs and the gains on their test cars (three cars tested, each of them saw nearly 6whp gains just by installing the plugs). So there's Denso, there's Pulstar and there's another "N" brand (can't remember it). Are they worth replacing the Honda OEM plugs? Are they safe? Nothing really states whether they are or not, but seeing as they make a stock heat plug for a stock Civic, I would imagine they're fine, but are they worth the money? Thanks for input folks.

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03-02-2008, 09:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
c130turboprop Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Age: 20 Posts: 709 iTrader: 1 / 100%	there was a thread on this about a month and a half ago and someone had the pulstar and the plugs fouled out in like a month... take it for what its worth, give it try, maybe u will get better results and i saw that DSport test also in the mag and it was quite interesting... i would try it

03-02-2008, 09:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
CanyonDriver Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: West LA Age: 19 Posts: 1,517 Taylor iTrader: 0 / 0%	Unless you are running F/I with heavy boost, or nitrous oxide the stock plugs are more than sufficient. I don't buy all of the dyno results from most plug companies. If I were you (btrobertson) i'd wait till the stock plugs go at around 120K miles before replacing them. Take the money you'd use for the plugs, and put it towards some other mods. You'll probably feel like the money was better spent in the end

03-02-2008, 09:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
videogmike Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Fort Washington, MD Age: 21 Posts: 126 Mike iTrader: 0 / 0%	NGK copper ftw

03-02-2008, 10:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
silverspoon1996 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rockland County New York Age: 27 Posts: 461 JJ iTrader: 0 / 0%	You cant use hotter or colder plugs if you dont need them.. you will hurt gas mileage and performance.. You use a hotter plug for hotter burning combustion.. and a colder plug for cooler combustion (FI)

03-02-2008, 10:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
BTRobertson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Age: 31 Posts: 631 B.T. Robertson iTrader: 0 / 0%	yeah, I know the difference between running the hotter/colder plugs. I've got an intake and an exhaust, with a race header and ECU reflash planned for the Spring (daily driver). The stock heat rating for the K20Z3 engine for the Denso Iridium plugs (NGK was the other brand I saw) is "22" - they range from 16 to 34 (lowest is hottest, highest is coldest) . If I went FI, then I'd step one colder plug down, according to the turbo kit manufacturer's claims (the place selling it also recommends one step colder plugs for FI, bolt-on stage 1 kits). For every 75-100 horsepower you add to the engine, they suggest going one step colder in the plugs. I've only added about 21 so far, so I'm good with the stock heat range. I figured I wouldn't need to replace them and I certainly don't want to worry about plugs fouling out. :) Thanks for the advice guys and I'll just stick with what I've got for now in my N/A setup for another...oh...100K miles.