[Poz93]

Hey everyone, I guess you could call me a newbie when it comes to cars so I'll be asking a lot of questions in the future but for now I'm just asking about spark plugs.

I have a 2006 Jimny and I think I should change the spark plugs because I haven't done it since I got the car (9000km ago) and I don't know when it was last done.

I read somewhere that these were the ones I needed:
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/NGK-Spark-Plug-BKR6E-11.aspx?pid=6394&menuFrom=50201#Cross

A Supercheap mate called them an 'Iridium' plug.
Whats that mean in basic terms?
What are everyone's preferences?

Plugs that can be bought through Supercheap are preferable!

Thanks!

[Mike57]

I have never changed my Jimny plugs (only done 20,000km) but my preference is to only use NGK plugs. These are the only sort I have ever used since about 1975. Sorry that is all I can offer.

[Poz93]

No thats heaps of information! Thanks!

[Scales]

+1 to mike. Dont get sucked into all the fancy shit when it comes to plugs. If you REQUIRE iridium or splitfires etc (some cars reccomend), your manual will specify that in writing. Otherwise they are a waste of time IMO. just get the recommended NGK plug.

[Scrawny]

BKR6E-11 plugs aren't Iridium, they are just a standard plug. Iridium and Platinum plugs have a centre electrode made from a different material to standard plugs. They last much longer (100,000+ compared to 20,000 for standard) but they cost more ($20+ compared to $5 for standard).

[Jezza86]

they say the precious metals make more spark sometimes, but if not enough spark is a issue, you have bigger problems

[martinez]

I just changed the spark plugs on my 2006 Jimny for the 80k km service. Went with Bosch platinum plus and they're working just fine.

The last two services were done with Suzuki but they had not changed the standard NGK plugs (which according to the service manual they should have done at 60k). Anyways, the plugs still worked fine except that they were a bit sooty.

Hope that helps.

[Poz93]

Yea price isn't a problem but I might just keep it simple!

Thanks guys for all your feedback!

[kristov]

copper has more conductivity so i would think that would have more spark all the other materials they use are just a market gimmick in my eyes

[Virt]

Just use standard - I.E what your manual says.

[PORL]

I'll probs get chewed for this comment but, I never replace plugs on my cars until the engine is missing on cylinders, I keep 4 spare in the glove box and always have a tool kit in my car.

[atari4x4]

IMO that's pretty poor form & aren't you a mechanic or similar from memory?

i'll bung in a new set every 20thou & even then you can notice an improvement.

[PORL]

I know it's poor, my Mazda gets a new set every 5-8k but its putting down serious power a Missfire could do serious damage.
To be honest I don't notice a power difference that's why I never bother, if anyone asks me I say every 15 - 20 thou
But I just don't notice a difference. I do remove them every now and then and clean them up but that doesn't do very much,
Yes I am a qualified mech, but I haven't worked in the industry since 2004, that's just what I do, I don't recommend anyone do it, I'm just saying what I do.

[PORL]

Here's a snippet from NGK website, just saying
A: A common misconception is that changing spark plugs will result in a large power increase. In most cases, removing even seriously worn out spark plugs will only result in very modest power gains, typically about 1-2% of total engine output. This could be even less for computer-controlled vehicles, primarily because most newer vehicles have more powerful ignition systems and the vehicle's computer can make adjustments so that vehicle operation seems smoother and more seamless.

Many people think that simply supplying more spark to the firing tip can and will combust more fuel. What they don't understand is that most newer cars' engines are so efficient that they are already burning all of the available fuel. Simply adding more spark voltage can't burn more fuel because there is no more fuel to burn.

When a stock or near-stock engine is given a fresh set of spark plugs, peak efficiency is restored. The power gains that come from this restored state of tune are usually minimal. Any company that tells you that their spark plug will provide significant gains in power in a stock or near-stock engine is making blanket statements that may not be supportable.

[atari4x4]

i didn't mention anything about increased power.

my main increase was the fuel economy returning back to normal figures.

[PORL]

Yeah I still see little difference even in that. But if you do then all power to you.
I get around 10ltr to 100km no matter what I do in the Jimny.

[Jezza86]

as i see it spark plugs are digital. is it making a spark? if yes dont touch them, if no check gap, clean or replace if necicary

[JrZook]

Jezza86 wrote:

as i see it spark plugs are digital. is it making a spark? if yes dont touch them, if no check gap, clean or replace if necicary

So if spark is arcing from the center electrode to the ceramic insulating tip instead of the side electrode it wont need replacing cause it still sparks?

[Jezza86]

then your gap would be wrong