spark plug recommendation

[steve40]

what plugs work well in a stock 02 gt?

Also what is the plug gap, at 100k on the car, figure its time to change them.

steve

[Jchiasson]

I've read many threads on this, STICK WITH AC DELCO!
Gap at 100k is no different than 0k or 300k, I think it's 60 thou...

[steve40]

Originally posted by Jchiasson
I've read many threads on this, STICK WITH AC DELCO!
Gap at 100k is no different than 0k or 300k, I think it's 60 thou...

i meant what do you set the gap to?

[coupe]

I forget the gap but if you run a search you will find it quick and easy, or buy a haynes manuel, you should have one anyways.

Stay with AC Delco plugs IMO

[Saved04GT]

Pretty sure its .060

[jcob00]

Why Ac delco ?
I threw in Bosch Platinums.. seems to be good for now anyways...
Does anyone know of any problems ?

[dajuiceman]

i put bosch platinum 4's in my car and they work great. Alot of people on the boards say they suck and stick with delco, just going on my personal experiences here but I found no problems whatsoever with the bosch plugs and when I changed my old plugs (which were in bad shape) to the bosch i saw my gas mileage improve (obviously i know thats due to old plugs not producing a good spark vs. new plugs and not the manufacturer). I'm just saying if you have lots of mileage on your ride then get the spark plugs changed. On a side note i see bosch has ir fusion plugs out, anyone know anything about these plugs.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

i put bosch platinum 4's in my car and they work great. Alot of people on the boards say they suck and stick with delco, just going on my personal experiences here but I found no problems whatsoever with the bosch plugs and when I changed my old plugs (which were in bad shape) to the bosch i saw my gas mileage improve (obviously i know thats due to old plugs not producing a good spark vs. new plugs and not the manufacturer). I'm just saying if you have lots of mileage on your ride then get the spark plugs changed. On a side note i see bosch has ir fusion plugs out, anyone know anything about these plugs.

The Bosch plugs are great, I plan on swapping to Platinum +2's once I get the chance. I used +4's in my Intrepid, and it really made a difference.

[StUpId8000]

don't wast your money on those "multi spark" plugs, they do nothing more then any other plug with one post. When the plug is used for about 100 - 200 mile, the buildup of crap is just enough to bring up owns law. the spark will start to go to only one post *path of least resistance". Sooo...their really only good for about the 1st 100 miles or so.



w00t...1st post and Im putting stuff down already...I'm going to do great here

[jonnythan]

I've been using Bosch Platinum plugs since '01 and they work great.

[jonnythan]

Why Ac delco ?
I threw in Bosch Platinums.. seems to be good for now anyways...
Does anyone know of any problems ?

People recommend ACDelco because they're the OEM parts. I've heard that the Grand Am ignition systems don't do well with anything but ACDelco plugs, but my experience does not confirm this.

[99GrandAMSE]

I have NGKs in my car and they have served me perfectly :)

[Big Joe]

I have NGKs in my car and they have served me perfectly :)

eh, you only drive your car like once a year. :lol:

[99GrandAMSE]

... but they have served me perfectly every time ;) :lol:

[sunrunner_pei]

Either AC Delco Platinum or NGK TR-55IX Iridium. Time and time again we've heard of issues with 'fancy' plugs, particularly the Bosch +2 and +4 plugs. They just don't seem to perform well with GM's 'waste spark' ignition system.

[boomboomgrandam]

i put bosch platinum 4's in my car and they work great. Alot of people on the boards say they suck and stick with delco, just going on my personal experiences here but I found no problems whatsoever with the bosch plugs and when I changed my old plugs (which were in bad shape) to the bosch i saw my gas mileage improve (obviously i know thats due to old plugs not producing a good spark vs. new plugs and not the manufacturer). I'm just saying if you have lots of mileage on your ride then get the spark plugs changed. On a side note i see bosch has ir fusion plugs out, anyone know anything about these plugs.


lucky, i tried using the same plugs and my motor bucked, threw lights and all, went back to a/c delco not a problem since

[tjsoulsby]

one you should be using the platnium plugs and if im not mistaken dont you not have to set the gap on them?

[stewartfn20]

Yea, i have NGK iridium in my daily driver and i think they are awesome.

[jonnythan]

Since it's gotten cold I've started having occasional hiccuping and bucking at low RPMs around 50-60 mph. I think it might be the spark plugs. I'll be putting ACDelco plugs in soon.

[jackpot]

replaced mine with ngk tr-55IX and they have been flawness ever since, work like a charm

peace
JP

[ramairgt2]

like shawn said use the NGK's or the Ac-Delco platinum plugs. Also if you are unsure of your spark plug gap it is located on the sticker on the hood(underside of course lol) or on the radiator support I believe. With platinums you don't have to set the gap though.

[jonnythan]

You have to set the gap no matter what the electrode is plated with. You have to be very careful gapping coated electrodes such as platinum, though. The cheap disc gappers can scrape the platinum (or other) coating off.

[Pontiac]

like shawn said use the NGK's or the Ac-Delco platinum plugs. Also if you are unsure of your spark plug gap it is located on the sticker on the hood(underside of course lol) or on the radiator support I believe. With platinums you don't have to set the gap though.

The sticker is under the hood? That'd explain why I didn't see the sticker on the drivers door when I went to look for the proper tire pressure I needed the other day. {chuckle}

[gt00]

The sticker is under the hood? That'd explain why I didn't see the sticker on the drivers door when I went to look for the proper tire pressure I needed the other day. {chuckle}The tire sticker IS on the drivers door , unless someone removed it or painted over it . The engine info sticker is under the hood . ;)

[Firefox234]

A friend told me today the NGK TR-55IX's were a bad idea for the 3400 engine. Saying they were for high compression engines and worst case they would spark to hot and burn a hole in a piston. Any truth to this?

[sunrunner_pei]

A friend told me today the NGK TR-55IX's were a bad idea for the 3400 engine. Saying they were for high compression engines and worst case they would spark to hot and burn a hole in a pistol. Any truth to this?

No.

[Firefox234]

No.

Thanks and lol just noticed I misspelled piston.

[GrandAmGTTT]

Either AC Delco Platinum or NGK TR-55IX Iridium. Time and time again we've heard of issues with 'fancy' plugs, particularly the Bosch +2 and +4 plugs. They just don't seem to perform well with GM's 'waste spark' ignition system.

I talked to one of my freinds whos a retired mechanic and he said that the bosch +4 work great. I'm planning on buying a set of them this summer.

[stewartfn20]

I talked to one of my freinds whos a retired mechanic and he said that the bosch +4 work great. I'm planning on buying a set of them this summer.

i woudnt. i heard horror stories on GAGT saying that those spark plugs dont like the engine. the tips break off or something like that. Go with NGK, they are the best IMO.

[sunrunner_pei]

I talked to one of my freinds whos a retired mechanic and he said that the bosch +4 work great. I'm planning on buying a set of them this summer.

Work great, but in what? As I already stated they don't work well with GM's waste spark ignition. Time and time again we've heard of missfires and rough idles with those plugs in these engines.

But what do we know? It's your money, waste it on whatever fancy plugs you want. We're only trying to help.

[GrandAmGTTT]

So you guys say NGK are the best plugs for my car. Cause i want to make sure i get the best for it. I'm takin your word for it bc i know you guys know what ur talkin bout

[sunrunner_pei]

Either NGK Iridium or AC Delco Platinum. Both will work very well.

[jackpot]

Either NGK Iridium or AC Delco Platinum. Both will work very well.

99.9% lol

I only say that because I have to leave that .1% to anything, I dont even give gravity 100%, and with the new electric universe theories that gives me more comfort in that uncertain certainty lol

ok im rambling, but most have ac delco platinums and they work fine, I decided to chance it and use the NGK, though many have and said they worked fine, and now I can say they work fine

I think im going to try the ac delco platinums next time just to see if there is any difference, mostly at idle, though this will be awhile since iridiums I believe are good for atleast 50k km

peace
JP

[GrandAmGTTT]

How are NGK's at idle compared to AC Delco?

[jackpot]

im not sure which is why i would like to try the ac delco next time I change my plugs/wires to see if there is any difference

the idle is pretty smooth and quiet with the ngk however there is an issue i would like to see if it clears up which i have no idea if its related to plugs or not

regardless ngk seem to work great

peace
JP

[99GrandAMSE]

I have had NGKs for a long time and they have given me no trouble :)

[GrandAmGTTT]

i think i'm gonna try the NGK's this summer:)

[99GrandAMSE]

As with any spark plug change, you are not going to see any amount of increase any way regardless of what plug you choose ... the only difference, if any, you will see is if the ones you are removing are old and no longer performing 'as new'.

[Pontiac]

The tire sticker IS on the drivers door , unless someone removed it or painted over it . The engine info sticker is under the hood . ;)

Must have been removed. No stickers on the drivers side, either on the door itself, or on the vertical beam. I've seen the GM report on this car, and there is no repairs mentioned about it.

Oh well. I'll just go to the junk yard and find another sticker.

Or... read the manual? {chuckle}

[ythrashn]

I just put some ngk tr-55IX's in. Those rear plugs were a biatch to get to.
Car seems to idle and accelerate better.

Could all be in my head tho:P

[sunrunner_pei]

I just put some ngk tr-55IX's in. Those rear plugs were a biatch to get to.
Car seems to idle and accelerate better.

Could all be in my head tho:P

I'd say your results fall into this category:

As with any spark plug change, you are not going to see any amount of increase any way regardless of what plug you choose ... the only difference, if any, you will see is if the ones you are removing are old and no longer performing 'as new'.

[Firefox234]

Have you guys seen these?

http://www.autozone.com/R,APP49077/vehicleId,2581002/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,812/partType,00033/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

http://www.boschautoparts.com/Products/SparkPlugs/IrFusion.htm


now plugs are getting weird. Would these really work or is it a ploy like those 1950's radioactive plugs? It sounds like they're just throwing the words "platinum" and "Iridium" around to get the elitists to buy them.

[jackpot]

NGK has a similar plug (though better and does not use the 4+ design), the difference between iridium plugs such as NGK-TR55IX and ones like these or the NGK laser iridiums is that the plate or whatever the electrode is fused to is made of platinum instead of nickel?Ithink, the lasers are suppose to be laser cut to for "perfection", laser iridiums are one step cooler than the TR55IX too, I was thinking of getting them but was looking at close to 100bux for 6! not sure if those bosch are laser cut but the main difference is its platinum+iridium opposed to iridium+nickel = last longer is all (technically)

peace
JP

[stewartfn20]

Have you guys seen these?

http://www.autozone.com/R,APP49077/vehicleId,2581002/initialAction,partProductDetail/store,812/partType,00033/shopping/partProductDetail.htm

http://www.boschautoparts.com/Products/SparkPlugs/IrFusion.htm


now plugs are getting weird. Would these really work or is it a ploy like those 1950's radioactive plugs? It sounds like they're just throwing the words "platinum" and "Iridium" around to get the elitists to buy them.

Yea, they SUCK. Dont ever use them.

[speedemon77]

i have switched my plugs for the ngk iridium plugs and i have no problems at all the gap is for sure .060 but be carefull with the iridiums

[stewartfn20]

i have switched my plugs for the ngk iridium plugs and i have no problems at all the gap is for sure .060 but be carefull with the iridiums
be careful with what? gapping them.

[speedemon77]

yes they break easy dont use a keychain gapper

[khugh]

I put Bosch Platnums in my Truck a few years back and they created a hot spot and as a result it melted the top of the spark plug. Next thing I new I had a bad cylinder as a result. I will NEVER use this brand of plug again.

[nathan_w1]

Has anyone heard of the e3 brand plugs? Are these worth the money?

[Twoolf]

What sucks is, I went to AutoZone today, and Bought Bosch Platinum +2's and planned to install them when I got a new set of plug wires (soon) as part of a Tune Up I want to do since I just bought my GA. Now I'm kinda worried about the plugs, but anything has got to better than whats in it, because the plug wires are 90k old, and the plugs almost 60, and I dont want to spend another 30$ on a set of plugs and discard the Bosch's :???: :???:

[sunrunner_pei]

What sucks is, I went to AutoZone today, and Bought Bosch Platinum +2's and planned to install them when I got a new set of plug wires (soon) as part of a Tune Up I want to do since I just bought my GA. Now I'm kinda worried about the plugs, but anything has got to better than whats in it, because the plug wires are 90k old, and the plugs almost 60, and I dont want to spend another 30$ on a set of plugs and discard the Bosch's :???: :???:

You bought +2's after reading this (and probably countless others) that all advise against it? :banghead:

[Twoolf]

You bought +2's after reading this (and probably countless others) that all advise against it? :banghead:

No, I bought +2's before reading this....
I didn't have the sense to check the forums before buying them :mad:

[sunrunner_pei]

No, I bought +2's before reading this....
I didn't have the sense to check the forums before buying them :mad:

Ahhh. Well you'll know better next time then. :lol:

[Twoolf]

Just pulled the Plugs that came with the Car, (could only get 4, 2 of the back boots wont budge) and the gap was about a quarter of an inch. Replaced with the Bosch +2's I bought. I suspect they're the plugs that came with the Car, which explains my rough Idle and poor mileage. Now I've just got to find a way to get those last 2 back boots off.....
Seems no matter what I do, I cant get them to budge.
Any Insight into this issue would be much appreciated.

Edit:
I'm thinking I may need to remove the coil packs to get the leverage on the boots to get them off.
Yay/nay?

[Blackhawk]

Yay, remove the coil packs and the base for it.

[gt00]

Replaced with the Bosch +2's I bought. This whole thread advises against using Bosch + 2 or + 4 , and that's what you installed anyway ...... :???:

[Blackhawk]

Didn't catch that one. :banghead: