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Posted: 10/2/2004 8:51:54 PM EDT
[#1]
Not sure, but Bosch has a Performance Guarantee to refund your money...no questions asked if you don't like their product.
Don't believe all the hype of premium plugs. The only advantage of platinum is that it last longer. The advantage of multiple electrodes is the spark plug last longer by maintaining the optimum gap. The + 4 was Bosch's answer to the 100,000 mile plug. Always change plugs by the manufacter's interval. A spark plug is a very simple part. |
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Posted: 10/2/2004 8:54:17 PM EDT
[#2]
I got them in my Impala, I replaced the Splitfire Platinums that were in it with them.
They seem to do decent. Changing plugs in a LT1 sucks |
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Posted: 10/2/2004 8:56:06 PM EDT
[#3]
the only difference i found in them is they work better in motors where the sparkplugs and in the top of the head (i.e. import 4 bangers,hemi,and geo prizms)
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Posted: 10/2/2004 9:01:29 PM EDT
[#4]
Pure hype. Most of them don't even come close to being symmetrical in electrode gap. You end up with only one marginal discharge path instead of 4. Some of the best plugs I have ever used in 20 years of hot-rodding and road racing are plain NGK's.
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Posted: 10/2/2004 9:02:46 PM EDT
[#5]
I use them in my pickup, they work better than the AC Delco platinums, For better results you should change over your air filter to a K&N. They seem to work better as a package.
More Air+better spark =better performance |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 12:15:55 AM EDT
[#6]
The difference between the bosch platinum +4 plugs and a standard plug or a platinum plug is the life of the plug. The bosch is a true 100,000 mile spark plug. Electricity is like water in that it follows the path of least resistance, but at the same time the spark will only go to one electrode. So what ends up happening is that the spark will groun to the electrode with the least resistance, until that electrode builds up resistance, then the spark will go to a different electrode. (For those of you who dont know, the Bosch +4platinum plugs have 4 grounding electrode.) What I have learned about the +4 plugs is that they are a good plug to use when plug access is limited, but they dont resopnd well ro octane boosters or higher octane gasoline so I would stay away from these plugs in a performance application.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 12:34:54 AM EDT
[#7]
I use the double platinum's with e open tip and I felt a difference and get better gas mileage after I had put them in.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 2:11:39 AM EDT
[#8]
I put them into my BMW 5 years ago. Made a BIG difference over the twin electrode Bosch that came out of it. More responce, better starting & revs like hell.
BUT they are not recommended for my F250 Super Duty. Those engines have 100,000 mile plugs and have to be ever so carefully torqued in or you'll waist the head. What are you driving? I have put the +4's in many cars & they were great. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 4:10:48 AM EDT
[#9]
This is only true in a pure DC circuit. A more accurate statement would be, electricity follows the path of least impedance. An automotive spark arc is not DC, it is a rapidly rising pulse that will seek the electrode/ground path that has the least impedance. This path may be to the electrode that is farther away and has more resistance. Where the arc travels is a function of both resistance and capacitance. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 7:55:11 AM EDT
[#10]
There's a lot of truth to that statement. I was able to pick up around 10 horses by indexing my spark plug gaps so the gap is toward the exhaust valve. Since this is the hottest part of the chamber and has the worst burn properties you get a more even/comnplete burn by lighting this area first. This gives more HP and fuel efficiency. A 4 electrode plug may mimic this effect to some degree, but if you are getting only one spark path, it will end up hurting you. You really can't feel an improvement until 10-15 horses. I got that with an engine that was pushing over 500hp to start with. I could measure it from my elapsed times, but most people won't see it from a set of plugs. Get some Moroso indexing washers from Summit Racing Equipment and some NGK's. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 8:19:10 AM EDT
[#11]
I use the regular Bosch platinums in my 1989 Toyota. Never had any cause to use (and pay more for) the +4 plug. I tune the truck up once a year, right before hunting season.
One time I tried Nippon Denso plugs, because everything else electrical under the hood of my Toyota is ND. My truck ran WORSE after installing new tune-up components and the ND plugs than before I did the tune up. So I yanked the ND plugs out and took 'em back to Auto Zone and paid more to exchange them for Bosch platinum. Put them in and the truck ran like it was supposed to. I haven't tried NGK because I get such good results from the Bosch I currently use, though a buddy of mine that drives a Subaru SWEARS by them. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 8:22:40 AM EDT
[#12]
Spark plugs are auto specific.
Some autos will work just fine with them, some autos(ALOT) run the best on the OEM plugs and you should only move away from OEM plugs when you've already reached the limits on the OEM ones(MODS, and alot of them or significant internal changes). Do yourself a favor, and buy the OEM ones. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 8:35:40 AM EDT
[#13]
You can start a fire with a match or a blowtorch. Either way, a fire will start. I use stock plugs.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 8:36:21 AM EDT
[#14]
By the time one electrode is burned up the others will be fouled by the same crap that caused the first electrode to get fouled up, or else it will be covered in the crap from the first electrode that burned up.
When they first came out for motorcycles they had problems with the electrodes breaking off after they had gotten fouled up. Bosch fixed the problem. I'll stick with NGK's.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 11:41:29 AM EDT
[#15]
Been running the same set for 3 years now.
No issues. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 11:53:14 AM EDT
[#16]
Electricity will follow the path of least resistance so there's no way you'll get multiple spark out of one of these pluge. The spark will go the the electrod with the least resistance, period. If that electrode gets fouled or burnt then the spark may go to the next one but you'd just be better off with a single electrode plug. Platnium is good but multi-electrodes= gimmic, don't waste your money.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 12:10:43 PM EDT
[#17]
In a truck application, Champion truck plugs or NGK's have worked well for me.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 12:27:30 PM EDT
[#18]
Lots of variables....... but as stated, seems to work better in imports or small engines....
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Posted: 10/3/2004 9:52:17 PM EDT
[#19]
Many of which use Hemispherical chambers so the open gap at the top may help to some degree. Flame travel still con't be good around those 4 electrodes, though. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 9:57:13 PM EDT
[#20]
Got 'em in my 99 Merc Village(aka Nissan Minivan), I can feel a slight difference but enough to warrant the increase in price of a normal spark plug. I'm going to leave 'em since I bought and paid for it already, but I probably won't buy new ones.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 9:59:30 PM EDT
[#21]
This thread is worthless without dyno results.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 10:24:19 PM EDT
[#22]
I've never used platinum. But I use the next step up. Iridium ultra fine plugs by NGK. I haven't dyno'ed my car with them. But I have noticed a bit more response and power. I like'em.
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Posted: 10/3/2004 10:37:42 PM EDT
[#23]
Methinks CnA is onto something there. One more thing you forgot, CnA. It's a "SPARK" plug. It creates a plamsa in the cylinder by cusing a static discharge through the fuel-air mixture. Electrical discharges and the related plasma are typically initiated at microscopic defects and/or sharp edges in the cathode surface which cause regions of increased electric field intensity. This region of high field strength can be more important than simple electrode spacing in determining the necessary breakdown. |
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Posted: 10/3/2004 10:38:27 PM EDT
[#24]
Get NGKs. Bosch plugs foul FAST. The only way you'd get horsepower out of them is by changing them for a new set.
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Posted: 10/4/2004 12:12:55 AM EDT
[#25]
The fucking plus 4's melted 2 ENGINES in my 91 esocrt, they were made for my car. To cut a long story short, never buy bosch plugs.
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Posted: 10/4/2004 1:21:27 AM EDT
[#26]
I would hope not. I would hope any man that stands to pee would have got the diesel in that truck. If you're gonna stroke it... Powerstroke it. |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 1:22:50 AM EDT
[#27]
I tried the double platinums in my mortocycle, but it seemed like less performance that the old plugs. I went back to NGKs the next time I had the cover off, and all was good.
My smog guy told me to never use platinums on older engines. He smogs a lot of cars, and said they are too hot for old motors. |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 1:24:03 AM EDT
[#28]
I run Bosch supers in my 78 TA it runs well with them. |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 2:09:27 AM EDT
[#29]
Hmmmmmmm Actually a more accurate statement is that electricity follows ALL paths to ground . Kirchoff's Laws cover this indirectly . More specific to automotive ignitions would be the "Greatest Gap Theory" The problem is that in a modern automotive ignition coil , be it segmental bobbin wound , lamstock , etc . They will ionize a gap and produce an Arc by capacitance alone . No conventional ground at all . Here is waveform capture of a capacitance firing event on the left , and a normal grounded event at 5 Micro seconds per division:  the oscillation is the energy being dissipated back into the coil windings , Its called ring back . Not to  here , but this is something I know a little about , and the point I'm trying to make is that unless you have redesigned the combustion chamber of your engine . The plugs that came in the engine when you bought it were designed for that configuration . You can upgrade to a more durable electrode design , like platinum or Iridium , but other then that your pretty much wasting money . |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 2:38:24 AM EDT
[#30]
Bosch Supers are Copper core non platinum , Great plugs . Bosch platinum’s ( Single Electrode ) cheepy’s on the other hand are JUNK . mejames smog guy is an  |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 2:45:57 AM EDT
[#31]
I know the Supers are copper. I had heard platiums were not the best for an older engine
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Posted: 10/4/2004 3:21:31 AM EDT
[#32]
Good Plats with the same specs as the original plugs will give you a longer service life because they erode at a slower rate . The problem is that Older , (and were talking the days of Points) . Vehicles needed other adjustments long before the platinum plugs became a problem . Anything with electronic ignition will handle the longer service life of plats with no problem . |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 3:42:12 AM EDT
[#33]
I've gotten good results in several cars with platinum plugs.
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Posted: 10/4/2004 10:16:47 PM EDT
[#34]
My thoughts exactly. Anyone who can "feel" the difference between two different spark plugs (assuming they both are firing correctly) has a much more sensitive ass than mine. I run the Bosch +4 in my 95 Nissan Pathfinder, not because I thought I would gain more horsepower but because of reliability. I want a spark plug that fires first time every time and lasts at least 60k miles. The +4 stands four more chances to fire than a coventional plug, assuming the center electrode is'nt burned away or fouled. My vehicle starts easy and runs good but has'nt come close to getting away from me yet due to abundance of horsepower.
I believe spark plug temperature is directly related to driving habits ie. length of trip, speed ect. Platinum has a lower electrical resistance and is a better conductor of electrical current. Resistance, wether it be in the spark plug, plug wire, rotor button or distributor cap is what causes your coil(s) to fail and/or causes a misfire. Something to think about when installing those pretty bright yellow aftermarket plug wires that are two feet too long.
Here is a man that done "melted" two engines running the Bosch +4's, I would say they were running pretty durn hot to do that kind of damage. |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 10:28:08 PM EDT
[#35]
I think the mistake was probably mine. It was a few months ago when I was getting my truck smogged, and he probably said colder and I just got it wrong. Sorry. |
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Posted: 10/4/2004 11:29:36 PM EDT
[#36]
Rather then explain exactly why and how a spark plug gets it heat rating , I'll just say : You’re entitled to your opinion .......... |
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Posted: 10/7/2004 6:16:07 PM EDT
[#37]
I melted a set of AC42 tapered seat plugs during a hot nitrous run. ANY detonation can hammer a plug fast regardless of the engine requirements and style.
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