04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

Just wondering if anyone knew the difference between the PKJ20CR-M11 regular platinum plug that comes standard on our Civic, and the Denso IK20 Iridium plug available for our cars. These Iridiums are supposed to be better but they only cost roughly $8 a plug on amazon as apposed to the standard platinum that cost almost $14. Just curious why is that, I assume the Irridiums are better and should cost more then the platinums. I know that expensive doesnt always mean better, but in this case I think it should especially with the same company.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

stock is double platinum, relatively the worst plug you can use (copper is better). only reason for the hi price is platinum being expensive i guess. copper conducts better, but doesnt last long. iridium ik20 is the best due to ultra small electrode and it greatly reduces the electrical load to make the spark. no hp gains, even denso will not lie and says it increases hp. but it will make the car run better and free up electrical power (better gas mileage). however, they only last 30k miles being "racing" plugs with a thin electrode. my first set made it to 30k recently and still performed exactly like the fresh set i dropped in. so no performance loss as the plug gets old like other plugs.

04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

hmm so I guess using the regular OEM Densos are a waste. My current ngk v powers are not doing so good right now. I will pick up some Ik20s then, thanks

Mad Dog Tannen

Make sure you gap whatever you get!

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

ik20 should not need gapping. i verified and they are all set properly. if you try to gap iridium, the tip will break off. oem plugs are a waste yes. and vpower are good but to keep the same performance you need to change em yearly (at most 2 yrs but thats pushing it).

04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

How can I be sure they are gapped correctly? I plan to buy them from Autozone where they sell the same plug for 1,000's of the same car?

Mad Dog Tannen

Just gat a gapper tool. Auto zone has em for under a dollar...

They should also be able to tell you what gap to set them at. I suggest buying a Chiltons or Haynes manual for your car while you are there. It will cover all of this stuff and will show you how to do it all.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

when i gapped my ik20s, they were all at 0.040-0.044 which is pretty much what our car calls for. always good to double check tho.

02civicsi02

They have gapping tools at auto zone and other auto parts stores. Just get it and check the gap like in the picture demonstration that Mad Dog put up. Its real simple and takes like 2 mins to check all 4.

04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

lol I know HOW to gap spark plugs, but I thought these were not supposed to be gapped? Am I able to change the spark gap slightly on irridiums?

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

no, you can only check the gap. any forceful gapping will damage the electrode.