How do I know if my spark plug is iridium?

Most spark plugs are copper core spark plugs — meaning they have a copper core. A normal or regular spark plug has a copper center electrode with a nickel alloy coating. On the other hand, an iridium plug has an iridium tip on the center electrode. Double iridium spark plugs also have a coating on the ground electrode.

Are all spark plugs iridium?

All spark plugs have a central electrode and a side electrode. These electrodes were traditionally made of copper but now they are being manufactured from materials like iridium and platinum. Also, the center electrodes are being made much smaller than they used to be.

How do I know what kind of spark plug I have?

What is the difference between iridium and normal spark plugs?

Iridium is said to be six times harder and eight times stronger than platinum with a 700° higher melting point. Iridium spark plugs have extremely fine electrodes while retaining excellent wear characteristics. Thanks to its strength, iridium spark plugs can last up to 25% longer than comparable platinum spark plugs.

Where is the iridium in a spark plug?

Iridium spark plugs use a precious metal called iridium at the tip of the plug's center electrode. Since iridium is a highly durable metal with a very high melting point (2,446 °C), it ensures that these plugs offer complete combustion and superior engine performance.

Iridium v/s ordinary spark plug

Can I use copper plugs instead of iridium?

Platinum and Iridium plugs perform at a lower level than copper spark plugs, because they are less conductive and they tend to overheat. However, the overall longevity of these two types of metal is better than copper plugs. In reality, copper has the best performance of all three and the worst longevity.

What do the markings on a spark plug mean?

The heat range of a spark plug is the range in which the plug works well thermally. The heat rating of each NGK spark plug is indicated by a number; lower numbers indicate a hotter type, higher numbers indicate a colder type.

What are the 3 types of spark plug?

Nowadays there are different kinds of spark plugs available in the markets to choose from i.e. copper, platinum and Iridium spark plugs. The copper spark plug is the most commonly used spark plug as it is the cheapest among the three.

Can I use platinum spark plugs instead of iridium?

Platinum may be harder than copper, but iridium is the hardest among the three, and iridium spark plugs outlast platinum spark plugs by almost twice the mileage. The only issue with iridium is that it costs double the price of platinum with little improvements in performance.

What spark plugs are better than iridium?

The platinum increases the durability of the plug, adding 100,000 miles to its service life. Platinum spark plugs can generate more heat than their iridium counterparts, ensuring lesser buildup of debris. This kind of spark plug is best if you have a new car equipped with an electronic distributor ignition system.

Can the wrong spark plug damage the engine?

Installing the wrong spark plug for your car will cause poor engine performance and can seriously damage your engine.

Do iridium spark plugs increase horsepower?

Yes, NGK iridium spark plugs can increase horsepower. By providing more spark to the firing tip, you combust more fuel, producing more horsepower.

What Colour should spark plugs be?

Normal Condition

If the firing end of a spark plug is brown or light gray, the condition can be judged to be good and the spark plug is functioning optimally.

Do iridium plugs burn hotter?

Denso Iridium Power plugs feature the heat range at the end of the part number. ... Denso plugs get colder the higher the number, hotter the lower the number. Starting with part # IK20 (heat range 20), a colder plug would be # IK22, a hotter plug would be # IK16.

What does the 11 mean on NGK Spark Plugs?

An example of an NGK racing plug is R5671A-11. Here, R5671A represents the plug type and -11 represents the heat range.

What does NGK stand for?

NGK Spark Plugs was founded as a spin-off of the spark plug division of NGK Insulators. Originally, NGK supplied most of its products to Japanese automakers. In 2018 the company became a shareholder of aftermarket data firm TecAlliance. NGK stands for Nihon Gaishi kabushikigaisha, the Japanese name of NGK Insulators.

When should you run a hotter spark plug?

Spark-plug heat ranges should stay the same as at sea level, unless racing above 3,000 feet, where one step hotter usually suffices. 10. Engine condition: Hotter plugs can crutch a worn engine suffering from worn or leaking piston rings or valve guides—for a while.

Which NGK plug is hotter?

On NGK spark plugs, the lower the number the hotter the plug (higher numbers are colder). Thus, your NGK BR9ES is colder than a BR8ES.

Are NGK Spark Plugs good?

Consistently high quality, a comprehensive applications catalog and time-proven performance make NGK an excellent choice for standard electrode and noble metal wire tipped spark plugs.

Are iridium spark plugs good for older engines?

Colder plugs shed heat more rapidly, keeping the plug "cooler." Using a platinum or iridium spark plug in an older engine may lead to the fouling of the plug rather rapidly because the plug is too cold to burn off any excess fuel and oil that get into the combustion chambers of the engine.

How often should I change iridium spark plugs?

Long-life (iridium- or platinum-tipped) spark plugs need to be changed between 60,000 and 150,000 miles, depending on the vehicle. The recommended replacement intervals are posted in the Maintenance Schedule, which can be found in the owner's manual or in a separate Warranty and Maintenance brochure for your car.