spark plugs - SV650.org

01-08-03, 07:20 PM

whats better? iridium spark plugs, platinum plugs or oem plugs, or any others u prefer

Sid Squid · 03-08-03, 08:49 AM

Performance wise it doesn't matter, the SV ignition system can't really take advantage of different plugs.
Platinum/Iridium/U groove plugs might make it easier to start in borderline conditions, but if your bike is properly maintained and running OK anyway, they're unlikely to make much difference. Save your money.

Sid

Viney · 03-08-03, 11:22 AM

I run a set of OEM plugs for 16K, with no troubles whatsoever. I have used all the fancy types in my car(s) and never seem to get the milage out of them, when at IRO £20 each, dont help matters.

The performance gain on a stock engine, does not balance the cost. Now, of you had a fully tuned engine..blah...blah...blah

03-08-03, 12:40 PM

yes true but bike engines are in a slightly higher state of tune than most performance cars ie 1000cc gsx-r=152bhp how many 1liter cars do you know that have 152bhp? my 2.0 16v calibra had that, ok car engines are designed for more for torque than outright bhp+cars are a lot heavier so you arent really going to notice a bhp or 2, but you can see what im saying, someone on this board said they noticed that the platinum plugs helped throttle response and made their engine smoother, just wondered if anyone had tried iridium?

04-08-03, 05:04 PM

There is a mistaken assumption that a fancy spark plug will give a "better" spark and burn the mixture better and give more power, etc, etc, etc. This is not really the case.

Think about it. All a spark plug has to do is ignite the mixture, period. Once this has happened, it will have absolutely no impact on extent and the rate that the mixture burns. Unless you have a problem in the first place, like a dodgy mixture that is reluctant to ignite, a regular plug will set the mixture burning just as well as a fancy plug, thank you.

People may well report improvements such as "It seems smoother", etc. Well if you've just replaced some old worn-out plugs with some new ones, thats likely to be the case, but don't automatically attribute it to fancy plugs.

I will openly admit I am not an expert on this topic, but I have followed the car tuning world (and I don't mean Lax Power or any of that bollox!) and the writings of Dave Walker for some time. For those that don't know, Dave has tuned race engines for many years and has a bee in his bonnet about expensive plugs. I paraphrase him above. His company makes programmable ECUs for competition cars so I think he knows what he's on about.

Waste your money if you must!

View Poll Results: whats better?
iridium plugs	3	30.00%
platinum plugs	0	0%
oem plugs	7	70.00%
other	0	0%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

01-08-03, 07:20 PM	#1
weegaz22 Guest Posts: n/a	spark plugs whats better? iridium spark plugs, platinum plugs or oem plugs, or any others u prefer

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Iridium spark plugs....yay or nay?	sv-robo	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	13	03-09-08 11:54 PM
spark plugs	daddy_sperm	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	12	01-03-06 06:12 AM
cheap spark plugs	Warren	Bikes - Talk & Issues	10	12-02-06 08:45 PM
Spark Plugs	fred_dillon	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	5	19-06-05 06:45 PM
Spark Plugs	valleyboy	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	15	18-05-05 07:51 AM

03-08-03, 08:49 AM	#2
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Performance wise it doesn't matter, the SV ignition system can't really take advantage of different plugs. Platinum/Iridium/U groove plugs might make it easier to start in borderline conditions, but if your bike is properly maintained and running OK anyway, they're unlikely to make much difference. Save your money. Sid

03-08-03, 11:22 AM	#3
Viney Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: In the shadows to the left Posts: 7,700	I run a set of OEM plugs for 16K, with no troubles whatsoever. I have used all the fancy types in my car(s) and never seem to get the milage out of them, when at IRO £20 each, dont help matters. The performance gain on a stock engine, does not balance the cost. Now, of you had a fully tuned engine..blah...blah...blah

03-08-03, 12:40 PM	#4
weegaz22 Guest Posts: n/a	yes true but bike engines are in a slightly higher state of tune than most performance cars ie 1000cc gsx-r=152bhp how many 1liter cars do you know that have 152bhp? my 2.0 16v calibra had that, ok car engines are designed for more for torque than outright bhp+cars are a lot heavier so you arent really going to notice a bhp or 2, but you can see what im saying, someone on this board said they noticed that the platinum plugs helped throttle response and made their engine smoother, just wondered if anyone had tried iridium?

04-08-03, 05:04 PM	#5
smgee Guest Posts: n/a	There is a mistaken assumption that a fancy spark plug will give a "better" spark and burn the mixture better and give more power, etc, etc, etc. This is not really the case. Think about it. All a spark plug has to do is ignite the mixture, period. Once this has happened, it will have absolutely no impact on extent and the rate that the mixture burns. Unless you have a problem in the first place, like a dodgy mixture that is reluctant to ignite, a regular plug will set the mixture burning just as well as a fancy plug, thank you. People may well report improvements such as "It seems smoother", etc. Well if you've just replaced some old worn-out plugs with some new ones, thats likely to be the case, but don't automatically attribute it to fancy plugs. I will openly admit I am not an expert on this topic, but I have followed the car tuning world (and I don't mean Lax Power or any of that bollox!) and the writings of Dave Walker for some time. For those that don't know, Dave has tuned race engines for many years and has a bee in his bonnet about expensive plugs. I paraphrase him above. His company makes programmable ECUs for competition cars so I think he knows what he's on about. Waste your money if you must!