Platinum spark plugs: specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Will the trip take place, will the car fail in a responsible life situation? It depends on many factors. In the work of the "heart" of the car, the main functionality is given to spark plugs. Which of them will please your "swallow"? This is a question that interests any owner of a vehicle and requires careful consideration. The current novelty of the car market is iridium and platinum candles. We will tell about the features of the latter.

The role of spark plugs

This concept refers to a device involved in the ignition of the fuel mixture to stimulate movement. A spark of several tens of thousands of volts is formed between the electrodes. The durability of the device depends on various factors: fuel consumption, the speed at which the owner of the vehicle drives is important. Periodic replacement takes place during operation. It is important to be ableunderstand the design differences between platinum and iridium candles.

Is it hard to choose?

For maximum performance of the device, developers use advanced technologies. NGK, Denso and Bosch are among the leading manufacturers of high quality aftermarket parts. What do they pay attention to when buying?

• The ability to resist thermal shock, insulating properties matters.
• Anti-corrosion qualities.
• Reliability in various operating conditions.
• You should ask about the thermal conductivity of the insulator, electrodes.

Platinum or iridium

The most common question among car enthusiasts: is a platinum or iridium spark plug better? Platinum is offered by various manufacturers. The main working element of the device is the electrode. Models are presented on the market in the form of single-electrode or multi-electrode modifications. The standard solution is the presence of a central and side electrode. The constant "work" of the spark leads to the rapid wear of this part.

Multi-electrode spark plugs (platinum and iridium) have proved to be the best in practice, extending the life of this unit.

The materials involved in the creation can be different, and the main parameters of high-quality use are dictated by the characteristics of the electrode parts. Spark plugs apply:

• made of copper and a combination of chromium and nickel;
• of platinum and iridium.

The cost also depends on the material: the latter will cost more. Candles platinum and iridium differ in production methods. It is worth disassembling each part separately.

About the benefits of platinum candles

The production line is based on the use of innovative equipment. An alloy of platinum is used to make the central electrode element. According to online reviews, a candle with a platinum tip has a number of advantages.

1. Helps increase motor power.
2. Results in lower fuel costs due to reduced consumption.
3. The shelf life of the model is doubled.

Among the shortcomings, one can note the high price, exactingness to the quality of the fuel resource. Drivers love them for stability in work. Their power is increased by engineers by reducing the rod thickness, allowing you to upgrade sparking. The result is good functioning and starting even on a frosty day. Unlike iridium, platinum is endowed with increased melting point values, the result is a double "longevity".

How does a motorist win by betting platinum?

Cost is the basic difference, a motorist can save about 40%. Platinum spark plugs are more suitable for cars with engines and turbochargers, intercoolers. The motorist wins from an economic point of view in such a situation. Precious metal products do an excellent job withhigh loads, justify the money invested in the car. Experts highlight the following signs of high quality NGK platinum candle.

• Products are resistant to corrosion.
• Cope with temperature fluctuations.
• Flammability is stable due to the action of the low voltage center electrode.
• Up to 100 thousand km, judging by the reviews of motorists, the part works flawlessly.
• Easy starting is ensured by referring to the U-profile and electrode diameters up to 0.7mm.

With that said, driver feedback confirms that platinum spark plugs are more in demand. When choosing a product, it is worth considering the type of car engine. This is the ideal solution for machines with a turbocharger.

Tricks to resolve the issue

What kind of platinum or iridium candles do professionals recommend? Auto mechanics, contrary to the opinion of connoisseurs of driving a car, most often opt for iridium parts. Why? The condition of the vehicle, its technical properties play a big role.

If you decide to install iridium parts on a worn-out unit, then you will only throw money away. This will not change anything in terms of power and dynamics.

Many people think that candles made of precious metal will not flood. This opinion is erroneous, since if oil enters the combustion chamber, coking of the candles will inevitably occur.

The traditional method of cleaning these parts is detrimental to expensive metal. Nagar is not cleaned by conventional mechanical methods. General termthe suitability of both devices is approximately the same, subject to driving on the road ruts of the native Fatherland and the CIS countries.

Factors determining replacement

The frequency of replacement of platinum spark plugs depends on some nuances.

• How many kilometers did the car "run"? With daily use of transport, early wear is inevitable. Replacement is sometimes needed after 50 thousand km.
• Driving style determines the frequency of visits to service centers. Frequent temperatures with a "+" sign, aggressive behavior on the road - and "welcome" to the workshop.
• Vulnerability is felt in relation to the quality of the purchased fuel, lubricants. Bad gasoline will add carbon deposits to engine spark plug parts, degrading dynamic performance.
• There is a dependence of the change of these spare parts on the he alth of the motor, its design. Careful attention to it ensures the durability of candles.
• The brand and age of the car are not in last place. Old domestic remedies require frequent replacements from the owner.

Time to change? How to understand it?

Looking under the hood and unscrewing the details, it is recommended to pay attention to such points. There are no deposits in the working system: the color of the device is gray. The presence of a small soot: you can replace it with similar models with thermal characteristics. Charred electrode devices are not subject to further use.

The detail “screams” about the need to buy a new one if it is contaminatedworking space, dark brown deposits, system interruptions, throttle contamination. This is fraught with serious consequences. It is required to carry out diagnostics, clean the candle in gasoline, but the problem should be looked for deeper - just replacing them is not enough.

Incorrectly adjusted clearance of the device leads to its destruction, to the fact that the seals cease to perform their functions, to the appearance of dark deposits on the surface of the cylinder. When buying spark plugs, you need to know how to distinguish the original from the fake.

Fakes

How to tell which spark plugs are platinum and which are fake? Manufacturing design features differentiate parts from fakes.

NGK models are characterized by a perpendicular arrangement of the electrode with respect to the contact. Fakes have an uneven stem. Low cost is a reason to be wary. The quality side of printing is different: the drawings of the original are clear, bright; for fake ones, the contours of the images are shifted down. On one of the faces of this part is the batch code. The thread is perfect, and the insulator resembles icing, even the fakes have a rough finish.

On Bosch products there is a brand on the belt, parts are sold with a warranty card, in high-quality packaging. Fakes are most often supplied from Turkey, entering the market in the form of W7DC, W7 DTC. They can be identified by deformation or detachment of the side electrode part. Remaining in the cylinder, they cause irreparable damage to the engine, which entails a lot of money. Undergroundcame up with their own marking W8 ATC. Products from a dishonest craftsman are coated with chrome, sticking tightly to the head. They become loose soon after the acquisition, the compression begins to disappear, the car inexorably loses its dynamics. The original is characterized by clear deep markings, skillfully executed logo.

The Denso fakes have a blurry inscription on the case, a shiny contact terminal, and the electrodes are poorly centered. Markings peel off easily.

Do not face counterfeiting is extremely important for vehicle owners. You should only contact professional companies specializing in the sale of branded parts. Safety on the roadway, financial costs depend on this. In order to avoid embarrassment, it is better to listen to the advice of experts, study the reviews of experienced car owners and remember that the timeliness of diagnostic measures, maintenance, caring for the vehicle, buying spare parts from a reliable manufacturer are the main canons for the proper use of a car.