Spark Plugs

Technical advice Q&A

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Simon S
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#1 Spark Plugs

Post by Simon S » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:33 pm

I've just bought some Champion N9YC plugs to replace existing plugs. Have always used Champion, but the new ones look cheap, nasty and almost fake.
Anyone got any preferences? I've got an MSD Ignition system and thinking of using NGK BP5ES plugs and leaving gap factory set at 35 thou.
Thoughts appreciated

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Heuer
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#2 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Heuer » Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:18 pm

If you have any electronics in the car (ignition, satnav, phone etc) you should fit Resistor plugs to avoid interference. The NGK BPR5ES plugs (note the 'R' in the part number) are what I use and they are excellent.
David Jones
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rswaffie
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#3 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by rswaffie » Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:20 pm

:yeahthat:
Richard

Previous owner and restorer of a S1 3.8 FHC Opalescent Golden Sand with Tan Trim 889504 (now sold and headed for Athens)

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Simon S
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#4 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Simon S » Mon Aug 10, 2020 4:51 pm

Thanks for the advice.
The car has had Champion N9YC in it since I got it. I've been using a plug in SAT Nav without problems, and never heard interference on my phone (which of course I don't use while driving - couldn't hear it anyway) No radio in car. So....is a resistive plug really necessary? I have the basic BP5ES ready to go

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#5 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Heuer » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:01 pm

For the cost I would certainly recommend the resistor plugs especially as you have a MSD ignition system. Bear in mind it can affect other road users even if you don't see a problem. You may get away with it but if you start noticing misfires then the non resistor could be the cause. This explains things:

ImageImage

"At the moment the spark jumps the gap it causes a high frequency burst of energy, this is known as RFI (radio frequency interference). This is why resistor spark plugs were introduced in the mid 1960's. Placing a resistor within the spark plug suppresses the RFI. Without resistor plugs in your car you can experience static on your radio as well as interference with other sensitive electronic equipment. Some later model vehicles as well as newer Powersport engines must use resistor plugs for a proper "talkback" to the electronic ignition. As a rule, performance is in no way impaired by resistor spark plugs."

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David Jones
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Simon S
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#6 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Simon S » Mon Aug 10, 2020 5:34 pm

You're right - since there are only pennies difference in price, I wonder why all plugs aren't made with resistors. Come to think of it, just why are there so many types??

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splosh
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#7 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by splosh » Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:53 pm

Simon, if you have any doubt and think they are fake - then you could be correct.

I bought some NGK plugs for my other car (aston martin V8) from Ebay.
I ran the car last June after fitting them on a very long European road tour. Firstly we thought it was the E5 / E10 fuel abroad for the coughing and spluttering. No. On return to the UK I bought a new set from a reputable dealer being Opie oils and I compared them firstly side by side with new and old.
It was alarming and very apparent the difference in the manufacturing marks, identification marks and alarmingly how smoother the engine instantly ran after the replacements were fitted.
Smoother idle and more mpg.

All I can say is caveat emptor and buy your plugs from a reputable source as the market is flooded with fake plugs.
Clive
August 1961 Flat floor ots

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malcolm
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#8 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by malcolm » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:30 am

splosh wrote:
Mon Aug 10, 2020 8:53 pm

All I can say is caveat emptor and buy your plugs from a reputable source as the market is flooded with fake plugs.
Quite right, although unfortunately, reputable sources can also unwittingly buy fakes. The same thing happens with pharmaceuticals. So the reputation of the supplier doesn't ensure the authenticity, but does of course make it more likely you're getting the real McCoy
Malcolm
I only fit in a 2+2, so got one!
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Joes66
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#9 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Joes66 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 7:46 pm

Its well known that there are fake spark plugs on e bay
Joe
1969 series 2 2+2

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#10 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Gfhug » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:10 pm

Joes66 wrote:
Tue Aug 11, 2020 7:46 pm
Its well known that there are fake spark plugs on e bay
Joe
Strangely I’ve never heard of that, though I don’t buy spark plugs from fleabay I’d say that is a bit of a generalisation to imply we should all know that :shrug:
S2 FHC Light Blue
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splosh
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#11 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by splosh » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:42 pm

C19F4298-9A94-459E-893D-A853E65E1DED copy.jpg
C19F4298-9A94-459E-893D-A853E65E1DED copy.jpg (80.82 KiB) Viewed 4304 times
This photo is of fake ones currently for sale on Ebay.
34CECA0D-B12A-42A0-B559-32CE4975FB4E_4_5005_c.jpeg
34CECA0D-B12A-42A0-B559-32CE4975FB4E_4_5005_c.jpeg (18.06 KiB) Viewed 4304 times
In this case the Fake ones have blue logo, and genuine ones have black logo and black insulator bands.
30D510B3-DAB1-4E3C-AFAD-CA12B5208F5E copy.jpg
30D510B3-DAB1-4E3C-AFAD-CA12B5208F5E copy.jpg (86.64 KiB) Viewed 4304 times
Clive
August 1961 Flat floor ots

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splosh
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#12 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by splosh » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:46 pm

and how they are assembled in China ??!!
20ABD708-5F8A-412E-A4AF-A99AB3F18DDB_4_5005_c copy.jpg
20ABD708-5F8A-412E-A4AF-A99AB3F18DDB_4_5005_c copy.jpg (24.63 KiB) Viewed 4302 times
Clive
August 1961 Flat floor ots

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#13 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Gfhug » Tue Aug 11, 2020 9:00 pm

So we all have those photos of the assembly line? :banghead:
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#14 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by mtnjag » Sat Jan 16, 2021 3:02 pm

A little late on this, and without questioning which is fake or not, i believe the Blue NGKs “R” are the color of their resistor plugs and black is non resistor.
I don’t note the black bands on the non resistor NGKs i have.
In many PNs they do make the same plug application with either a Resistor or Non-resistor plug, with or without the R. At least they used to. I understand from the NGK tech that they have discontinued Non-resistor plugs in other than a colder heat range for racing.
Also made with a removable threaded contact top or a fixed/permanent top for different types of spark plug loom connectors and that also has a variation in the cosmetics.

The box certainly isn’t like any NGK boxes I’ve seen but NGK does have different colored and logo’d boxes based on the type of plug.
Layne
Car #876005, 62 OTS

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#15 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by mtnjag » Sun Jan 17, 2021 6:51 pm

Going through old NGK plugs and found some of the NGK Iridium that have the black bands. None of the the
others do. Again, the Standard Copper core NGKs- R plugs are blue logo, Non-resistor black logo with no bands.
Layne
Car #876005, 62 OTS

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#16 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by Heuer » Mon Jan 18, 2021 11:23 am

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David Jones
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gtjoey
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#17 Re: Spark Plugs

Post by gtjoey » Thu Jan 21, 2021 11:29 am

Put in the NGK and forget it......
Champions for almost the last 20 years are made in a sweat shop in Mexico, they are junk
Ive used NGK for close to 35 years, they are the best.
gtjoey1314

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