Best Spark Plugs?

[colepepper]

So the family's 2003 Nissan Maxima is due for a new set of plugs. Usually a simple job but it turns out the intake manifold needs to come out to gain access to three of the six plugs. The OEM platinum plugs should be good for about 100,000 miles and they have only 70,000 miles on them but my dad is worried they'll get fused to the block if we wait too long. So since changing the spark plugs isn't exactly a breeze in this car I want to make sure we get the best ones we can. What are your suggestions for good, long life and economical spark plugs?

 

[Slash]

I myself prefer ACCEL plugs.

 

[niky]

Stock. OEM.

The NGK plugs Nissan uses on most of its motors are often the best for the job. Spending extra on fancy multi-point plugs with different heights or gapping is usually just money wasted.

 

[Dennisch]

NGK or Champion. Those seem to be the best overall.

And 100000 miles? Are they platinum tipped plugs?

 

[Slash]

Stock. OEM.

The NGK plugs Nissan uses on most of its motors are often the best for the job. Spending extra on fancy multi-point plugs with different heights or gapping is usually just money wasted.

Usually. Some engines (not saying this in particular), respond well to different gap sizes.

 

[Nicksfix]

I myself prefer ACCEL plugs.

I would not even put those things in my lawnmower. Bad, bad experience(s) with them.

NGK's are the ticket, for performance and reliability.

 

[Slash]

I would not even put those things in my lawnmower. Bad, bad experience(s) with them.

NGK's are the ticket, for performance and reliability.

Family has been using them for years, never an issue.

 

[niky]

Oh, adjusting the gap on stock plugs is often a good idea. I was talking about multi-points with strange gaps built into the design.

 

[Anathema]

NGK. Replaced the original plugs on our Del Sol with those, the 4th one was nasty looking when it came out. That, plus the new fuel filter and oil filter - increase in gas mileage.

It was THAT bad.

 

[Slash]

Oh, adjusting the gap on stock plugs is often a good idea. I was talking about multi-points with strange gaps built into the design.

I see. Only real noticable benefits I found was better MPG, some engines a very slight HP increase, not even noticable in that case.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Stock. OEM.

The NGK plugs Nissan uses on most of its motors are often the best for the job. Spending extra on fancy multi-point plugs with different heights or gapping is usually just money wasted.

This x1000000.

Having owned more than enough Japanese cars in the past, I use OEM or NGK plugs only.

 

[Goshin2568]

This x1000000.

Having owned more than enough Japanese cars in the past, I use OEM or NGK plugs only.

I will also say 👍 to this.

 

[a6m5]

I also vote for OEM. No weird unexpected stuff is priceless. It's not like there are magical spark plugs out there that improves your 1/4 mile anyway.

 

[colepepper]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I knew the original plugs were good quality but I just wanted to see if any of that fancy iridium super platinum mumbo jumbo was worth anything more than marketing hype. Anyway it looks like a new set of the OEM NGK platinum plugs will be going in once I go through the ordeal of getting to the old ones. 👍

 

[Dennisch]

Most American V8's over here run on LPG, and I found out that Accel plugs tend to get clogged up with some strange white, almost stone like substance. Curious me wanted to know if it were the plugs or just a issue because of LPG. I had NGK plugs in for the first 3000km in my truck and they came out coffee brown as they should be. I have replaced them with Accel plugs and after 2000km they already showed the strange substance on the tips... So my next set of plugs will be NGK again. I will take some pictures of the plugs to show it.

 

[Joey D]

I've just bought whatever's on sale. As long as it's from a big name manufacturer you'll be ok. I have some cheap Mopar plugs in my Neon and they spark as intended too in the same way a plug that was 4x's more expensive would have.

 

[Keef]

You'll probably find out the OEM plugs were made by NGK anyway. They're a huge supplier to Japanese companies especially.

 

[niky]

Most American V8's over here run on LPG, and I found out that Accel plugs tend to get clogged up with some strange white, almost stone like substance. Curious me wanted to know if it were the plugs or just a issue because of LPG. I had NGK plugs in for the first 3000km in my truck and they came out coffee brown as they should be. I have replaced them with Accel plugs and after 2000km they already showed the strange substance on the tips... So my next set of plugs will be NGK again. I will take some pictures of the plugs to show it.

Sure it's not the typical "running lean" white powdery look?

LPG runs hot. In some cases, if the venturi or injection system isn't tuned quite right, it runs really hot. LPG lacks the benefits of evaporative cooling that gasoline spray has (next-generation liquid injection systems are supposed to cure this (and even go one better than gasoline, since liquid LPG is frigging cold!) but I haven't seen one on the market yet...). Plugs can turn whitish from the heat, and sometimes melt.

One quick and easy cure is to go one step colder on the plugs. Oh, and retune, if possible... just to be safe.

 

[Dennisch]

No, it seems to have to do something with the timing, and duration of the spark. LPG requires a longer duration, as it doesn't burn as well as gasoline. Sounds strange for a gas but it's true...

 

[JrDarknes]

My Question is about spark plugs =|

If oil is in one of the holes? Will It give you rough Idle??? I Only get the rough Idle sometimes, as I just changed the plugs a month ago. Last one we pulled had tons of oil. My car was doing really fine idling til a a couple of days ago now making me think is it because oil is going through one of the spark plug holes.

I just wanna make sure I didn't waste money buying this valve gasket.

 

[colepepper]

Well just got a new set of OEM plugs...

Turns out they are in fact NGK. I was surprised that Nissan used three different models of this same type of plug in the 2003 model year alone. Had to look at the VIN number to verify the the exact part needed.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I just wanna make sure I didn't waste money buying this valve gasket.

Oil in the spark plug well is going to be a valve cover gasket, so no you didn't waste money on it. Just make sure you do the install correctly.

 

[Dennisch]

My Question is about spark plugs =|

If oil is in one of the holes? Will It give you rough Idle??? I Only get the rough Idle sometimes, as I just changed the plugs a month ago. Last one we pulled had tons of oil. My car was doing really fine idling til a a couple of days ago now making me think is it because oil is going through one of the spark plug holes.

I just wanna make sure I didn't waste money buying this valve gasket.

The oil comes from the valve gasket. And the rough idling could be that with changing the plugs you tore up one of your plug cables. Check it for small tears, or try to listen to a leaking current. Sounds like a very tiny whip. And the best way to look for them is in the dark, then you can see the spark escaping from the wire..