Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Do "high performance" spark plugs and leads give any results?
Apart from lightening your wallet

Just curious as to what people thoughts are.

I used to run slitfire plugs on my old mildly worked dunnydore V6. They seemed OK but not sure if they had any power gains or anything.

What types of specialty plugs do you guys recomend?
Paul.

after running quite a few plugs on the dyno, best bang for buck spark plugs are NGK's. you just have to change them more frequently than the specified service intervals. the new NGK iridiums make more power as well, and although expensive, don't get changed for quite a while.

plug leads are quite important, and thicker insulation is definately a bonus, but cheap leads often come in thick insulation, so the appear high performance, eg top gun. i run IC&E leads, custom made by a guy in Moorabbin. he sends AUST wide.

you don't have to spend heaps on plugs and leads, you just have to change them more often, to keep them fresh.

I used Iridiums and some decent LPG leads on my TB42, i did make a difference...not a HUGE difference, but IMHO i think its worth it.

Draven wrote:I used Iridiums and some decent LPG leads on my TB42, i did make a difference...not a HUGE difference, but IMHO i think its worth it.

LPG leads??? Cant say Ive heard of them. Can you elaborate more?

LPG leads are usually just a fatter lead (9mm) with a HEAP less resistance than normal leads

Good plugs and good leads witch usually need to be custom made. This is when you get the good wire IE Magnacore and quality boots on each end to ensure a water tight seal which is the most important with a 4B. With custom leads they are made to the required lenght so you can position the leads exactly were you want .

Wally

Bigger leads and beter plugs will make a diffence, especially on turbo versions as is you don't have a strong spark, the extra boost will blow the spark out and cause misfiring.

Bosch Plug leads are one of the best (and relatively cheap) "off the shelf" leads, and NGK Plugs likewise. Bosch leads have quality fittings and caps that make positive contact with the plugs and dissy cap. If you put a small spray of lanotec or similar under the rubber boot, they are quite watertight.

Top gun leads, common among the ricer boys, at twice the price of Bosch leads are crap. The contacts don't fit properly, the boots are crap etc etc. If the ricers got rid of their "high performance leads" in favour of something decent, they wouldn't spend so much time wondering why their engines are missing!

Believe it or not, SuperDodgy actually sell bosch leads! (although they are usually cheaper at Burson! (repco don't sell bosch!)

Cheers, Dean

I guess it probably changes on different engines, but it's been dyno proven that just normal old copper plugs (NGK's) give you best performance, but they need replacing more often.

Iridium's will last for 100,000kms or whatever before replacing, but at the cost of a few horses.

Not a great deal of difference IMO.

Thats bazzar....I got more power and economy when I put Iridiums in.

Iridium's are over rated I believe, NGK's tend to last longer as well. A magazine I once read in the performance car industry did tests on different brands and the NGK came out on top. I haven't used NGK yet, but next service I will change them to that.

if I dont have to change the plugs for 100,000 kays, or even 50,000 i reakon they are worth it.

Iridium's are ~$20 RRP each, but if you know someone at repco, you can get them for about $12 each.

Copper's are like $2 ?

That's 6-10 sets of plug changes.

Copper can be regapped, iridium's shouldn't be regapped because they are coated in platinium, and it chips the platnium away.

I dunno, depends what sorta car it is, for Toyota/shopping trolleys I'd go the iridiums

It's definety less hassle, but it really makes sweet fark all difference at the end of the day. Just keep em gapped nicely/clean and the engine will run smooth.

Low-resistance leads can cause interferance on your CB & radio.
I always used NGK's on the 260Z racer.
For the money you are better off looking at a MSD, Jacobs, or Crane ignition booster.

...I also know a few guys who are very happy with the Jaycar High-Energy Ingnition kit ($50)...
Apparently made a significant difference to a 60-series petrol and GQ petrol...

The reason I ask is because I am fitting 30 inch muds to my missus 1.3 zook and will be looking to get every ounce of extra power I can to make up for them.
I have bought a set of extractors which is a start.

It fairly zips around town at the moment but that is with 205-65 car tyres .
Paul.

Get some Magnecore leads made up. They are 12mm and I can't even get my timing light to read off them they are that good.