New spark plugs (Denso IK20) - INSANE gas mileage
#16
Pole Position
INSANE?? You're the one INSANE if you think you're getting 40MPG. It doesn't matter what the on board computor says or any kind of math you did in your head with how far your gas gauge moved. Fill the tank, drive a few hundred miles, fill the tank again, then divide the gallons into the miles you drove and there's your MPG. Wow, school was 30 yrs ago. I can't even dream that any kind of spark plug will give another 15 MPG. The only way you would get 40MPG is to coast down hill at idle for 40 miles, don't think that will ever happen. It does recomend to change that particular plug every 30K. Why,... why, if you only drive it 5K a year, around town b/c you don't drive highway, would you even bother with a performance plug? What, are you racing at every light for 2 or 3 blocks? What better gas mileage would that give you? You're not on a track or driving a sports car, it's a friggin luxury sedan which you barely drive to begin with.
My opinion on iridium plugs, . I've used copper tip forever, well, for 30 years anyway, and I've only had 1 plug foul out on me. I always change them at 30K.
My opinion on iridium plugs, . I've used copper tip forever, well, for 30 years anyway, and I've only had 1 plug foul out on me. I always change them at 30K.
#17
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
a guy came into work the other day and said he used those pulstar plugs and it bumped his mileage up 20 percent..
http://pulstarplug.biz/Main/PULSTAR-Home.asp?P=1
im not endorsing or saying i believe it...its just what this guy said
btw it was an older camry
the last plugs i put in my car i got from the dealer...
http://pulstarplug.biz/Main/PULSTAR-Home.asp?P=1
im not endorsing or saying i believe it...its just what this guy said
btw it was an older camry
the last plugs i put in my car i got from the dealer...
#18
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
I get about 26 to 28 on trips going about 78 MPH cruise control with AC on. Don't know what plugs I have since the guy I bought the car from a year and a half ago had just changed them. Tire inflation, tire type is probably the most significant factor in gas mileage (assuming your engine is tuned and in good running order)
#19
Instructor
They are just plugs, not a magic bullet. I hate giving mileage with plugs because no one really follows the same schedule, but copper's last for a while, Platinum or Iridium usually last for 90k+, I replaced the OE Densos at 118k w/ no sign of performance loss, simply because it's preventative maintenance. This copied from another forum, but general sums up all the FAQs.
Iridium - resistance 5.289E-08 ohms per metre, conductivity 1.891E+07 siemens per metre
Platinum - resistance 1.059E-07 ohms per metre, conductivity 9.442E+06 siemens per metre
Platinum-Iridium alloys - resistance 1.895E-07 ohms per metre, conductivity 5.278E+06 ohms per metre
Copper - resistance 1.664E-08 ohms per metre, conductivity 6.009E+07 siemens per metre
Copper has a resistance of 1/10th that of platinum-iridium alloys, 1/4th that of iridium and 1/6th that of platinum (approximately). Copper has a conductivity of 11 times higher than iridium-platinum alloys, 3 times higher than iridium and 6 times higher than platinum.
The benefit of iridum-platinum alloys over copper are that it is so HARD that the centre conductor tip can be made to a very small diameter so the charge is concentrated there more, meaning less voltage is required to produce the spark. This supposedly puts less strain on the ignition system. However, it won't make an engine produce more power - it will only produce more power compared with a poor quality knackered spark plug, so long as the ignition system produces the spark.
-Pedroski
Because spark is spark, it don't matter whether you light your cigarette with a match or lighter... If applied properly, they both provide the same result, spark plugs are no different. Hence your gas mileage wouldn't change. Plugs don't "die", they cause misfires when they do, which no doubt will set a code, if not flash the light. Newb.
Iridium - resistance 5.289E-08 ohms per metre, conductivity 1.891E+07 siemens per metre
Platinum - resistance 1.059E-07 ohms per metre, conductivity 9.442E+06 siemens per metre
Platinum-Iridium alloys - resistance 1.895E-07 ohms per metre, conductivity 5.278E+06 ohms per metre
Copper - resistance 1.664E-08 ohms per metre, conductivity 6.009E+07 siemens per metre
Copper has a resistance of 1/10th that of platinum-iridium alloys, 1/4th that of iridium and 1/6th that of platinum (approximately). Copper has a conductivity of 11 times higher than iridium-platinum alloys, 3 times higher than iridium and 6 times higher than platinum.
The benefit of iridum-platinum alloys over copper are that it is so HARD that the centre conductor tip can be made to a very small diameter so the charge is concentrated there more, meaning less voltage is required to produce the spark. This supposedly puts less strain on the ignition system. However, it won't make an engine produce more power - it will only produce more power compared with a poor quality knackered spark plug, so long as the ignition system produces the spark.
-Pedroski
Because spark is spark, it don't matter whether you light your cigarette with a match or lighter... If applied properly, they both provide the same result, spark plugs are no different. Hence your gas mileage wouldn't change. Plugs don't "die", they cause misfires when they do, which no doubt will set a code, if not flash the light. Newb.
#21
Super Moderator
iTrader: (6)
Real world the differences in quality plugs is minimal. Much to my parts guy telling me the car will perform better with iridium over platinum...I just didn't see it. I can pocket that $ for a VIP style mag which cost $14.XX.
(All the $ spent of those mags would buy some actual car goodies over all these years. )
(All the $ spent of those mags would buy some actual car goodies over all these years. )
#23
Pole Position
Spending $120 for plugs, in my opinion, is just outragiously crazy. Why, when you can spend $20 and use the other $100 toward something that is actually useful. If you need to change those so-called "performance" plugs every 30K, (as that site suggests) that would be every year for alot of people. When I was working I would put on about 60 -70K miles a year. I can't imagine spending over $200 a year just for plugs. Just crazy.
#25
Super Moderator
iTrader: (6)
PD, The plugs on sale? I need to make some calls to replace mine. Prices from my last plug change were $4.25 each, that was some years back but it should be comparable.
The weak $ hasn't been much relief in buying JDM goodies. Stopped by Mitsuwa Torrance the other day and VIP Style was $14.6X...crazy $ for a magazine.
http://www.x-rates.com/d/JPY/USD/graph120.html
If those plugs get the car up to 40 MPG might be worth it. I think we scared him away though.
The weak $ hasn't been much relief in buying JDM goodies. Stopped by Mitsuwa Torrance the other day and VIP Style was $14.6X...crazy $ for a magazine.
http://www.x-rates.com/d/JPY/USD/graph120.html
If those plugs get the car up to 40 MPG might be worth it. I think we scared him away though.
#27
Driver School Candidate
Bringing up a old thread.. Did NGK discontinue making copper V-power plugs? Just purchases some V-power (BKR6E-11) today but they are Nickle. I asked if they carried a Copper version but the shop said no. Did a search and all I see now are Nickle V-power plugs.
#30
Last edited by aptoslexus; 05-05-14 at 07:27 PM.