copper plugs

[WazR32GTSt]

hi all.

i have a slight misfire at idle and was thinking of changing the plugs. coppers are $3 and platinums are $20. so basically i can change the coppers 6 times for one platinum change...

BUT...

are the coppers inferior in any way?

all i have heard is that they foul easier than the platinums. it would be great to hear accounts from people who have put coppers in an rb20det or rb25det and how long they have lasted and what they thought.

i have platimuns in now and they have been there for at least 15,000 kms maybe more as i have not changed them since buying the car.

also, i will hopefully be tweaking the boost in a few weeks - will this increase the chance of my older current plugs shitting themselves?

from what i have read is the part number (NGK) BCPR6ES or BCP6E ?

and please DO NOT say do a search. there was too much crap info to deciper through to find the answer i needed.

cheers for all your help,

Waz.

[WazR32GTSt]

and another related question:

i have read some accounts of getting a miss after turning up the boost.

how common is this amoung everyone? or is this a smaller issue? from what i have read mainly R33 owners have been the only ones affected by this. (go the R32's!!)

[TTT]

hi.

I have an RB20.

I run copper plugs.

Mine have been going for about 15,000kms so far and no problem.

I run 13 psi through an RB25 turbo and there is no miss.

My copper NGK plugs are gapped to 0.8mm

One other thing...

Copper is a better conducter of electricity than IRIDIUM or PLATINUM.

I won't bother going to an expensive plug.

If I have to change 2 sets of copper plugs to 1 set of platinum, then so be it.

still costs me a SH1T load less and better performance..

[nissky]

The main difference is the platinum plugs (factory standard) are suppose to last 100,000kms, whereas the copper ones are 10,000kms.

(The platinum electrodes dont get eaten away as quick as copper so last longer..)

I replaced my platinum plugs at 75,000kms with copper ones and gapped at 0.9mm due to running higher boost, and i havent had any problems at all. That reminds me its probably time to change them...

If you dont mind changing more often get the copper ones...

i like copper ones because changing more often you can see the state of each cylinder by the plugs condition (too lean, too rich etc)

Oh yeah, what gtst said the copper ones are suppose to have slightly stronger spark.

[WazR32GTSt]

thanks for the info...

anyone else?

[Steve]

I took my stock plugs out at 50,000 to drop a heat range and drop the gap to 0.8. They were in ok condition, but definately showed signs of wear - not just a little, they were well overdue for a change.

I put in copper plugs (NGK BCPR6ES, 0.08mm gap) and they worked fine. They were just replaced when I fitted a larger turbo, and the dyno operator used iridiums. He reasoned that the finer electrode provided a more consistant spark over copper, and he also droped another heat range.

I dont think the extra cost is warranted, compare $3 per plug and $18.50 per plug. The coppers were still in quite good condition after 10,000 (better than the iridiums at 50,000) - but at around the cost of 1 iridium plug for a full set, you can change them every 10,000 and still be better off. It never hurts to change the plugs regularly.

[Sydneykid]

Hi WazR32GTSt, we run NGK copper plugs and like Steve, use 7's. They last long enough to make it an easy decision. Around 1/2th to 1/3rd what platinums last and cost 1/6th as much.

[Leewah]

I'm still using NGK BCPR9ES, 1.1mm gap on my car and no problems as yet.

These are the same plugs I used for Melb Auto Salon (495 rkwk) and when we raced at Heathcote last (10.47@137MPH).

I'm going to move down to a 7 heat range plug though as 9 is a bit excessive.

[Duncan]

I've used 2 sets of platinum plugs in only 40,000klm, and my car isn't modded and doesn't run particularly rich.

Coppers for me for sure next time....for $20 all up just change em every 5000 with the oil....

[Chef_32]

sssssso whats the part number for copper plugs gapped to .8 for an RB20???

[Xeron]

dont worry what gap they come pre-set at, always absolutely always regap them anyway. Who knows if the packs been dropped, or how much they got bumped around in shipment and knocked the gap out a bit.

[Kinks]

Will be able to tell you the exact Champion part number for red top RB20s that works the best, tomorrow night. Basically 1 heat range colder than standard and they run perfectly.

[BU5TER]

My car came with HKS S40 plugs

Syndeykid does that sounds right as when I looked at ordering more it stated they were for a 4cyl

[WazR32GTSt]

chef_32,

part number for rb20det ngk copper is:

BCPR6ES

that's gapped to 0.8mm already

...and i have seen them at supercheap

can anyone verify this?

[Adam 33]

so what is the part number for a RB25det

for NGK coppers that are at 0.8mm?

[JimX]

My biggest reasoning for choosing the iridiums over coppers are mostly due to the longer life of the iridiums.

Copper plugs tend to deteriorate noticably over time, even while the plugs are still good. eg, after 10000 or 20000 cold starting is a bit harder and economy is down a bit than when new. And because of the intake being in the way I didn't want the hassle of pulling it all apart everytime I had to change them.

But now I have the front-facing plenum it's not nearly as big an issue to change the plugs every 5000 or 10000, so I think I'll go back to coppers when these iridiums wear out.

[ed]

Originally posted by Buster

My car came with HKS S40 plugs

Syndeykid does that sounds right as when I looked at ordering more it stated they were for a 4cyl

S40 is equiv to a heat range of a 8 in the NGK line up and a 24 in the Denso line up.

The S denotes the plug style, they also have Si, SiL etc.

Where/who stated they were for a 4 cyl motor?

[ed]

Originally posted by JimX

My biggest reasoning for choosing the iridiums over coppers are mostly due to the longer life of the iridiums.

And because of the intake being in the way I didn't want the hassle of pulling it all apart everytime I had to change them.  

I think that is why most people would go iridiums

[BU5TER]

http://www.perfectrun.com.au/performance%2...ksspargplug.htm

I may of read it wrong but I thought it said the S40 is for a 4cyl

[ed]

it says 4 cycle?