deanshark

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.

python

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...

sam12345

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)

3UZFTE

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.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

copper does spark hotter and is more resistant to fouling (this bit is hearsay/observational data since i haven't empirically tested it) and subsequently is used in most high performance apps, both NA and FI.

RA40

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. )

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

really? my plugs cost ~$2.20-2.50/each (NGK V-Power), and the last VIP mag i bought (VIP Style) was ~$10.40

deanshark

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.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

I would not use pulstars, from my research they break easily and fall into the cylinder.

RA40

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.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

mine are copper, not precious metal.

bees

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.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

lol nickel? they're copper.

just because they're silver doesn't mean they aren't copper electrodes

bees

Lol, I'm not kidding. Look it up now. I was confused when O'reilly told me they were nickel as well.

aptoslexus

All plugs have a copper center electrode. When people talk about nickel or iridium, they're talking about the metal that coats the electrode to withstand the conditions of the combustion chamber. The cheaper plugs use nickel-alloy. I think you'll see from the chart below that iridium plugs are superior in every way except price. And if you add in longevity, they probably win there too.