3rd gen Engine/Drivetrain Engine/Drivetrain Modification Discussions for 1999-2003 Models Only (BJ chassis)

Sparkplug Preference

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Old July-16th-2004, 09:58 AM
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Sparkplug Preference

What are people's preference/experience/rewcommendations with spark plugs? Go stock or throw something else in there? I'd like to change my spark plug wires and probably distributor eventually but those are stock right now too.

We're coming up on our first spark plug change and I didn't want to throw crap in there. I have a gapper, so I intend to do them myself.

Thanks!
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Old July-16th-2004, 10:46 AM
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You can't do better than the OEM copper plugs. Anything else is a waste of money. Your car doesn't have a distributor so you'll never have to change that. Unless there is something wrong with your plug wires, changing them will give you no increase in performance.

Both Magnecore and Sparcko make aftermarket plug wires for your car.

BTW, if you buy the plugs from a Mazda dealer or a place like www.sparkplugs.com , they will come pre-gapped.
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Old July-16th-2004, 10:52 AM
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/me removes egg from face

No distributor you say. Hmm, I'm obviously not as familiar with my engine as I thought. Heh.

Thanks for the advice on the plugs. I did a search and found a thread here about wires and seems people like the Magnacore and NGK kits. Our car is two years old so I'm wondering what kind of fatigue the stock wires are experiencing. The engine fires just fine, nothing performance-wise suggesting a change just my personal wish.

The plugs need to go though, I guess I will stick with the stock kind.
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Old July-16th-2004, 12:55 PM
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Sparkplugs

I don't have the part number here, but the plugs for the 1.6 liter engine are a projected nose design and seem to help the 2.0 liter a bit. the projected nose raises the compression a small amount and makes the engine smoother off idle.
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Old July-16th-2004, 01:40 PM
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In all my cars I run either Denso or NGK spark plugs. Though currently I'm running Bosch 4 in my Maxima. Denso's can be expensive, depending upon what style you get. But really the only thing I can tell you, is try what you want to try, and see what you like. But I have had good results with Denso
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Old July-16th-2004, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by kcidmil
In all my cars I run either Denso or NGK spark plugs. Though currently I'm running Bosch 4 in my Maxima. Denso's can be expensive, depending upon what style you get. But really the only thing I can tell you, is try what you want to try, and see what you like. But I have had good results with Denso

The expert has spoken.




p.s. for those who wonder why I dumped on this post...it's opinion, not fact. Opinions are cool and all but I think he was looking for a quality plug and just saying "good results" means nothing. You've gotta back it up with some fact.

Last edited by Roddimus Prime; July-16th-2004 at 02:25 PM.
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Old July-16th-2004, 02:31 PM
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NGK's period
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Old July-16th-2004, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by macdaddyslomo
NGK's period
There's your pure opinion right there roddimus. And you want some facts, here's a couple I noticed from a set of Denso's.

This was a test I did on my old D21. I went out and bought different sets of spark plugs for my truck. This was a few years ago, and I don't remember all the brands involved, but I do remember these. Autolite, Bosch, Denso, and 2 other brands. I noticed quicker response time and smoother idle for the Denso. Bosch had a smooth idle, and a good response time, but not as good as the Denso. The other brands did not compare as well as the 2 listed above.

Now I know this was a personal test, of my own interpertation. But it still has results.

OH and BTW. I don't see you listing anything for him to try there Roddimus
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Old July-16th-2004, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by rashley
I don't have the part number here, but the plugs for the 1.6 liter engine are a projected nose design and seem to help the 2.0 liter a bit. the projected nose raises the compression a small amount and makes the engine smoother off idle.
The extended reach spark plugs you are referring to, OEM in the 1.6L, are: NGK
ZFR5F-11. I use them in my engine along with upping the octane rating of my fuel from 87 to 89 in order to forestall any possible detonation problems. TheMAN was the first person to recommend their use as a performance upgrade in the 3rd gen 2.0L engines. Check out his thread on www.clubprotege.com for more information.

02 DX Millenium Red
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Old July-16th-2004, 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Roddimus Prime
p.s. for those who wonder why I dumped on this post...it's opinion, not fact. Opinions are cool and all but I think he was looking for a quality plug and just saying "good results" means nothing. You've gotta back it up with some fact.
opinions are like ********... everybody's got one
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Old July-16th-2004, 03:19 PM
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[QUOTE=Jayrox]What are people's preference/experience/rewcommendations with spark plugs?


Umm Rodimus, I think he was asking about everybody's opinion of spark plugs
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Old July-16th-2004, 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Matt03
opinions are like ********... everybody's got one
Killer Dwarfs fan?

Thanks to everyone who has posted with some info so far. Not sure if I have really decided what to go with. I used to run NGK in my motorcycle and other cars of mine in the past. I think I've used Bosch before. Are there really big differences between spark plugs or is it all just marketing glitz.

IE. "Here at Ford we designed our new truck around our new sparkplug..." paraphrasing, yadda yadda
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Old July-16th-2004, 03:29 PM
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You know that is a good question. I know there's a slight diff between the Japanese series, (Denso and NGK) and the american (autolite and Bosch). Mostly just the design it's self, Example, the Bosch 3 & 4, and say autolit's single prong
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Old July-16th-2004, 04:15 PM
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NGK's are recommended my the manufacturer, Mazda, along with Nissan and Honda too..not an opinion at all...however,if you want personal experience, I tried Denso's before and Autolite's...engine hesitated at high speeds, fixed by going back to NGK's
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Old July-16th-2004, 04:50 PM
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^^ Yep when I went to my mazda dealership because I was having arching problems with my coils I had bosch in the car. My mechanic Rick yelled at me for not using NGK's.
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