Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs
 

I was just searching through some threads and found a lot of debateable info about copper and iriduim plugs.

from what i learned...copper conducts better, iridium is "too hot" for turbo but lasts longer.

which plugs should i get for my teg. stock ignition, NGK wires.

NGK BCPR7ES #3330
NGK BRK7E..???
????

gapped to .030 for 7.5psi daily and 10psi on high boost?

thanks https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (Integra21)
 

no one?

i also wouldnt really like changing the plugs every oil change but if it will be beneficial then i wont mind.

thanks

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (Integra21)
 

who said you had to change them every oil change?

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (SiKid86)
 

Iridium are not to hot for turbo applications.

last year in tampa, Matt scranton dynoed 1100hp on iridiums bkr7eix to be exact.


But honestly you will not notice a difference between copper and iridiums, I have run both on my supra,integra and na civic and have not noticed a difference.

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (DRAGLS)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DRAGLS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Iridium are not to hot for turbo applications.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think he was thinking of "platinum." Platinum plugs are junk for turbo applications, IMO. Iridium is best, and copper will do just fine, imo. https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (Unsivil_audio)
 

Why are Iridiums the best?

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nfn15037)
 

which NGK iridium plugs should i get for my 7-10psi turbo teg?

gapped to .030???

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nfn15037)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nfn15037 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why are Iridiums the best? </TD></TR></TABLE>

1) According to NGK iridium is 6 times harder then platinum, which it ensures maximum durability and life of the plug.

2) The fine center electrode reduces the voltage requirement for spark.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Integra21 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">which NGK iridium plugs should i get for my 7-10psi turbo teg?

gapped to .030???</TD></TR></TABLE>

Use either the 6 or 7 heat range. part and stock numbers are below.

6-hottest
9-coldest

Iridium plugs
Bkr6eix- 6418
Bkr7eix- 2667
Bkr8eix- 2668
Bkr9eix- 2669

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nfn15037)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nfn15037 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why are Iridiums the best? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Iridium melts at a very high temperature and does not oxidize. Iridium plugs are used in aircraft piston engines for this reason.

Platinum does not melt at a high temperature. It does, however, not oxidize. SO they are good for OEM engines for people that don't want to replace their plugs all the time. Don't use them in a high-power engine, though.

Copper melts at a decent temperature and is the most thermally and electrically conductive common metals. It does oxidize, though, so they have to be changed periodically. I change mine every 8000 miles or after I have to regap them twice.

Good info in this thread, thanks for the read.

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (Integra21)
 

Read this and what kind of spark plugs did they say to use?

http://www.xs-engineering.com/...t.pdf

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nfn15037)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nfn15037 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why are Iridiums the best? </TD></TR></TABLE>

They aren't. They are a expletive in the ass, marketed to you as performance by someone trying to sell you something.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DRAGLS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">2) The fine center electrode reduces the voltage requirement for spark.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Translation: The pinprick of pointy metal aka iridium electrode makes an excellent hot spot in the combustion chamber, allowing pre-ignition to destroy your engine. Also, lowering the voltage requirement for spark to bridge the plug's air gap reduces the amount of energy discharged from the coil, which in turn reduces the amount of amperage available to flow across the initial ion trail and form a decent plasma kernel, whereby you have trouble igniting charge densities that are mundane to a properly designed spark plug with copper, steel, or silver/nickel electrode that cost as much as 1/6th the price.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emsad.gif

But, then again, I am commonly regarded as an idiot. Do not listen to me.

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (J. Davis)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DRAGLS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Iridium plugs
Bkr7eix- 2667
</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats a lot - goin out to buy a couple sets https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emthup.gif

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (J. Davis)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J. Davis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They aren't. They are a expletive in the ass, marketed to you as performance by someone trying to sell you something.

Translation: The pinprick of pointy metal aka iridium electrode makes an excellent hot spot in the combustion chamber, allowing pre-ignition to destroy your engine. Also, lowering the voltage requirement for spark to bridge the plug's air gap reduces the amount of energy discharged from the coil, which in turn reduces the amount of amperage available to flow across the initial ion trail and form a decent plasma kernel, whereby you have trouble igniting charge densities that are mundane to a properly designed spark plug with copper, steel, or silver/nickel electrode that cost as much as 1/6th the price.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emsad.gif

But, then again, I am commonly regarded as an idiot. Do not listen to me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Glad to see someone else questioning the mass marketing tactics https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nfn15037)
 

Let me tell you my probelm with these junk plugs.

I had them in a supercharged motor I built, the motor pinged a high end a little after installing them, Little did I know untill the next run one of the tip fell off into the motor.
Iridium is very hard, a lot harder then the sleeve it destroyed by cutting a slot from top to bottom.

Go with copper plugs, I have never seen /had an issue with them. Change them every 5000miles or so and your set.

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (CRVRX)
 

John, quite being modest, your ITR has nearly 600whp https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmilep.gif

anyway -- ill just buy a few sets of the brk7e - #1283 and change them every 4-5k

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nfn15037)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nfn15037 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Glad to see someone else questioning the mass marketing tactics https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...es/emsmile.gif </TD></TR></TABLE>

No, that is the furthest thing from what I am doing. What I am doing is understanding how the system functions so I can determine what works, how it works, how I need it to work, and how I can improve upon it.

But, when you have companies whose advice and products fly in the face of physics... or more often, plain common sense... I have no other explaination for their actions than they are trying to create TeChNoLoGiCaL hYpE to sell snake oil. Great way to pad your pocket, I guess.

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (J. Davis)
 

I heard that if you use a tornado(R) the iridumb plugs will add up to 13% more power for only pennies per mile!

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (J. Davis)
 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by J. Davis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Translation: The pinprick of pointy metal aka iridium electrode makes an excellent hot spot in the combustion chamber, allowing pre-ignition to destroy your engine. Also, lowering the voltage requirement for spark to bridge the plug's air gap reduces the amount of energy discharged from the coil, which in turn reduces the amount of amperage available to flow across the initial ion trail and form a decent plasma kernel, whereby you have trouble igniting charge densities that are mundane to a properly designed spark plug with copper, steel, or silver/nickel electrode that cost as much as 1/6th the price.</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRVRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had them in a supercharged motor I built, the motor pinged a high end a little after installing them, Little did I know untill the next run one of the tip fell off into the motor.
Iridium is very hard, a lot harder then the sleeve it destroyed by cutting a slot from top to bottom.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Holy shit!
https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmileo.gif https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmileo.gif https://honda-tech.com/forums/images...s/emsmileo.gif

Re: Copper vs. Iridium Spark Plugs (nholmes)
 

ordered bkr7e today, 2 sets

no one local stocks them https://honda-tech.com/forums/images/smilies/emsad.gif

I tuned a KMIII surpa once that had 6 month old iridiums. Past a certain power level it would miss like mad, so we changed them out for the good 'ol coppers and it cleared up the problem.