Rep Power: 0

My mechanic advises me to keep using the stock plugs in my 1997 Civic LX, but I want to switch to platinum or iridium. He says it might damage the engine to do that. Is that true?

 
Rep Power: 277

The only thing I can figure is if the plug ignites too hot and burns into the cylinder wall. Or if it changes the compression but that can be compensated for with higher/lower octane. No idea man, seems to have some validity but I wouldn't worry about it. He might be following warranty precautions.

 
Rep Power: 811

he knows. stick with a good copper plug like NGK v-power. if you really have the extra money, go with denso iridium or ngk iridium IX. they will not hurt your engine, just take a small load off the electrical system because the iridium electrodes are smaller and require less energy to make the same spark. you wont see any extra hp tho. platinum plugs are terrible and the worst conductor (copper is best, iridium is pretty good). the only reason people use platinum is for longer life, on cars where it takes 4 hours to change the plugs.

 
Rep Power: 0

When I was working as a GM mechanic, I loved people who bought into the "autozone tune-up" as I called it. Brand new Bosch Platinum plugs, and misfire codes out the wazoo..."BUt I just put new plugs in it"....yeah, you plugged the holes...but as far as spark plugs, well...
Run what the factory calls for, unless you are highly modded. Honda spent millions of dollars figuring out what plug would work best in your car...sure, that guy makin 7 bucks an hour at autozone prolly does know best


ROb

 
Rep Power: 811

hey i used to work auto parts and i refused to sell people bosch plugs lol.

 
Rep Power: 0

Bosch plugs are good, don't get me wrong...if you have a German car that was designed to run Bosch plugs...and only then, the plugs that the manufacture calls for. ANd just a warning...never run those bosch platinum 4 plugs in a car that burns oil at all. Did that once. Couldn't figure out why the car got to running not so bueno after a couple of years...pulled the plugs. The area inside the 4 electrodes was completely filled with the carbony byproduct of an oil burner.


ROb

 
Rep Power: 245

You're the man, Rob.

Stick with OEM NGKs.

 
Rep Power: 0

thanks for the info too mates..