I don't recommend them. I put 'em on a performance car several years ago and the electrode wire on several of them broke inside the ceramic. I didn't know there was a problem until one wire crept out and finally shorted against the cathode.

When it happened the power loss was so sudden I thought it sucked a valve. :shock:

Their technology may have changed since then, but as you can tell, I still don't trust 'em.

 

I was wondering if it would be worth it to upgrade the OEM spark plugs (which I think are Iradium (spelling?) tipped) with the Bosch Platinum+4 spark plugs, part number 4428. They make them, because they are available on www.boschusa.com. Think it's worth it?

 

Not if there's nothing wrong with your stock plugs. But hey, if you have extra money laying around, buy a kayak!

 

What would be the benefit?

 

Save your money from the plugs and get moly coated muffler bearings instead.

 

Bosch says if you don't receive better gas milage and better performance, then they will refund you the money.

 

[quote:2e233609b0="ZosoRules1:"]Bosch says if you don't receive better gas milage and better performance, then they will refund you the money.[/quote:2e233609b0]
Go ahead... just try collecting on that. Any improved performance/efficiency from nothing more than changing spark plugs is going to be unmeasurable by techniques available to the average driver. Conversely, any lack of improvement is going to be equally unprovable.

Bosch's marketeers know this and are exploiting the lack of ability to prove/disprove it. Spark plug manufacturers have relied on marketing gimmicks for a long time. Stick with your stock plugs, and, if you're still inclined, replace them with the Bosch plugs when the service schedule calls for it... at 110,000 miles.

Put the bucks you will save by not buying the plugs towards a tank of gas.

 

Never buy gimick plugs. They are all a waste of money.

 

I put these plugs in my wifes civic because it's the only ones they had in stock to fit here car. I hadn't read anything about them and was only using them because the car needed a tuneup and she was going out of town. She called me on here way home a few days later and asked what all I did to her car. I asked why and she said she had an increase of several miles per gallon. We did know exactley how much but it was at least 3 - 5. All I did was change the plugs. Yes, the car was getting around 30 - 35 before, so it was running fine.
She had just filled up and said it calculated to almost 40 miles per gallon. I am goning to try them in my element.

 

[quote:84af12562f=" "]Never buy gimick plugs. They are all a waste of money.[/quote:84af12562f]

You mean these don't work, they use the power of ultra sound to "shatter fuel mists" and guarantee a 40% reduction in fuel cost.

http://www.americanewsnet.com/shopping/auto/supersonic.htm

Yet when I look at there fuel savings chart it only looks like you will achieve a savings of 1/5th or 16.7%.

It also promises an increase in "Pulling power" of 20%, but this won't happen until after 200 miles. :shock:

Money back guarantee, nothing to lose. :wink:

 

I remember right before buying my E I was doing a tune-up on my 98 mini-van. I bought all the parts including those Bosch +4 platinum plugs. My mechanic told me to return those plugs because he had replaced quite a few because the head of the plug was easily fouled/broken. Basicly said heir reliability sucked. This was importent at the time as to replace spark plugs on the short wheelbase Plymouth Voyager with the Mitsubishi V6 meant getting the van up on the lift and then squeezing your arm up into the bowels of the motor to get the bottom 3 plugs. Big pain-in-A changing out the plugs on that motor.

 

...Bosch +4 platinum plugs. My mechanic told me to return those plugs because he had replaced quite a few because the head of the plug was easily fouled/broken. Basicly said heir reliability sucked.

Whew... I feel vindicated. I mentioned my travails with the Platinums someplace else, but the context is better here.

I put Bosch Platinums in a performance V8 I had a number of years ago, and it wasn't a week before at least two of them broke the center electrode internally, one eventually creeping out of the ceramic and shorting against the cathode. I was going "warp speed" and the sudden loss of power made me think I sucked a valve... which was a possibility since I had just rebuilt the heads. Imagine my relief when I discovered the shorted plug.

Went back to good ol' Champions and had not a lick of trouble thereafter.

 

Back when I had a CRX and had to time to work on my car I used all kinds of different plugs including Splitfire. The only plug that even gave me improved performance were NGK Platinums. NGK was and still is the OEM spark plug provider for Honda, and considering Iridium is said to be better than Plainums and your Element has the NGK Iridiums, then that would mean that your Element already has the best plugs possible now.

 

WoW...I never expected to get that much advice on spark plugs :shock: Thanks though, I've put the money toward other Element stuff....a cleaning/reoiling kit for my new K&N intake. I've read the threads on the intakes, they aren't too bad to install?

 

I do agreed with the responses.

I too have fallen for this gimmicks, claiming smoother response, increase fuel efficiency, last longer then typical resistor plugs.

The truth is multiple point discharge plugs are harder to gap, discharge point is not optimize, because at time two point can discharged at the same time, this occurrence give you a mediocre sparks. :roll:

Saves your money, put it toward a new set of tires.

Take care,

 

There will not be multiple discharges.

The only advantage of multi-electrode plugs is that in case one or more of the electrodes are fouled or otherwise not able to fire, then it only takes one good electrode to fire. Or, in other words, if you have an engine prone to foul plugs (like a classic English car with SU carbs running rich at idle... NOT like a modern i-VTEC engine with advanced engine management), then the multi-electrode plugs can help improve the ability to at least get the plugs to fire. Emphasis on "can". You're assuming likely failure of the plug to start with before there can be a benefit.

However, it would defy physics for there to be a multiple discharge in a single spark plug.

FWIW I've always had the best luck with NGK plugs.

 

"Went back to good ol' Champions and had not a lick of trouble thereafter"

My buddy/mechanic recommended I go with the Championspark plugs as well.

 

i would NEVER put anything but cheap NGK's or Denso's (same thing) in my hondas. anything else is a waste of money!

 

Yeah,
I agree with MikeQBF also. I bought into the marketing gimmick when I was driving a Jeep Cherokee & put in a set of Bosch Platinums just before I went on a driving tour in the NC mountains. Accelerator response was absolutely horrible.....didn't want to accelerate properly around 45MPH which gets really critical in the mountains. Drove about 400 miles that day and it was the most pitiful driving experience I ever had in a vehicle of any type. Threw them out after 600 miles & replaced them with Champions & everything went back to normal.......

 

Spark Plugs?

I know, I know the book says wait until 110,000 miles but has anyone changed thier spark plugs yet?

If I were to do it I would replace them with the same ones that came stock.

I would NOT install the Bosch Platnum plugs. I installed the Bosch ones in my old Acura and took them out within 1,500 miles as they were complete junk.

I only have 34,000 on my E so i think I will wait until the trip to Ohio this July for the Big Meeting.

To me spark plugs are like gum. They are so cheap and easy to install why not change them when they start to go stale?

Interested in my fellow EOC members thoughts.

Joe Mama

 

Re: Spark Plugs?

I far as I know, the oe plugs are the best on the market.... NGK Iridium plugs... and they are what all the tuners are changing too with nology wires and coils, Tim
Feel free to try others and let us know if they are any better. I think the NGK's are about $18 each :roll:

 

Re: Spark Plugs?

Ya, they aren't really worth changing because you will be throwing away your money. Which if you want to do that, I will give you my adress where you can send me money.

All the Acura's I've worked on I have rarely seen a plug go bad in less than the recommended miles. I wouldn't even consider it until after 80,000 at least.

 

Re: Spark Plugs?

NGK Iridium Plugs in your E is the best plug on the market and yes, listen to the technician, do not even consider replacing them until after 80K.

 

Spark Plugs?

Here is a question I have pondered for sometime, but havent brought it up because its worthless to replace 7k mile old plugs, but what is the best PERFORMANCE plug?

I couldnt find NGK's for the E, but of course Bosh has all theirs. So I guess, does anyone know which is best, I know the good ones are:

-NGK
-Bosch Platnium
-Bosch Platnium 2 (no gapping)
-Bosch Platnium +4 (no gapping)



then you have all the Autolite and Checker/Autozone/Napa off brands.

hoping to add this to the performance list

 

Platinum is a step down from the Iridium plugs that came stock. Total waste of money to swap plugs.

 

How I burned my valves

The platinum plug are a hotter plug, in connection with deposits on my valves from gas and running my car hard I destroyed my valves and guides. Only buy Iridium plugs either NGK or Nippondenso (Denso). A few extra dollars will save your engine.