Iridium Spark Plugs Anyone?

[QBhoy]

There are guides online to spot the fake plugs. Lots of the jet ski guys got stung with it. One guy I’m aware of had an engine failure because of it. 1 of 4 plugs came apart and the other 3 had started to show signs of doing the same.

 

[QBhoy]

On changing the gab between the injector housing and the throttle linkage cam, the manual states that the gap determines the kick in point vs throttle setting. It recommends 30 thousandts. I have already proven that it works better for what I do with the boat.

On what engineers do and don't do I am a retired electro/mechanical design engr. of 35 years and know what it takes to design equipment and things to be considered in doing so.

On 9000% torque increase I find that totally amazing.

Texasmark...I wouldn’t rise to the man’s nonsense. He is just out to cause a fuss. Can’t help himself.

 

[achris]

... but my Mercruiser MPi V8 inboard has them as a requirement in the manual.
with the latter, I’ve tried the lesser platinum plugs and they just simply don’t do as well as the iridium.
down side is the cost of them. Up side is the longevity.....

I concur. I tried the Platinum in my MPI V6 the first change. Ran like crap, and the plugs didn't last. Put the $$$Iridiums in and it's much happier. And they are still in. (5 years)

Chris......

 

[QBhoy]

I concur. I tried the Platinum in my MPI V6 the first change. Ran like crap, and the plugs didn't last. Put the $$$Iridiums in and it's much happier. And they are still in. (5 years)

Chris......

Did exactly the same. Totally agree !

 

[achris]

Where'd you pick up on that?

Reference: Low cost Iridium spark plugs.

I was just shopping for spark plugs for my mother's car which uses iridium. I also spotted a set of 4 for less than everybody else was selling one for. Sent a message to the (ebay) seller asking for more information. All I got was that they were 'aftermarket'. When I pushed for a brand, I got ghosted.

Ended up with the cheapest proper NGK plugs... For the cost 'savings' for cheap parts verses replacing/repairing an engine, I'll stick with the known good stuff (same reason I don't buy Sierra, GLM, etc,etc). Happy to pay a few hundred dollars to save a few thousand.

Chris.....

EDIT: Here's NGKs 'how to identify'.. http://www.ngk-sparkplugs.jp/english/techinfo/fake/index.html

Other articles online speaking about the damage....

 

[flyingscott]

Texasmark...I wouldn’t rise to the man’s nonsense. He is just out to cause a fuss. Can’t help himself.

I owned one of those 2+2 motors for over 10 yrs. Made adjustments, changed plugs and I never got the transition to change by more than 100 rpm. So unless you have owned or worked on a 2+2 motor. You may not want to run your mouth. But it is good to know that you had a hand in engineering that motor. Everybody thinks they can change settings on that motor and make it better. What happens is you get a bad idling and running motor and people cant figure out why. What you think you change will never be backed up by the tach.

 

[achris]

2+2 transition is governed by the carburetor calibrations, not spark plugs or fuel accel pump adjustment. You may FEEL like it's kicking in earlier due to the higher accel volume, or picking up sooner, but the carb supplying fuel to bring the bottom 2 cylinders back to being rich enough to start firing is all about the carb calibrations.

One trick I did heard about and had a :facepalm: moment was some (insert appropriate word) removing the 2 lower carbs and putting a couple of upper carbs in place. Took me forever to work that one out! (yes, he bought it to me to 'fix' when it ran like crap!).

Chris..........

 

[flyingscott]

On changing the gab between the injector housing and the throttle linkage cam, the manual states that the gap determines the kick in point vs throttle setting. It recommends 30 thousandts. I have already proven that it works better for what I do with the boat.

On what engineers do and don't do I am a retired electro/mechanical design engr. of 35 years and know what it takes to design equipment and things to be considered in doing so.

On 9000% torque increase I find that totally amazing.

I love how engineers are the only ones who know anything. And anything designed and spec'd by another engineer is never right.

 

[QBhoy]

I love how engineers are the only ones who know anything. And anything designed and spec'd by another engineer is never right.

I suppose it’s good to remember that you are often addressing engineers here in this forum. I certainly know of at least one with MCA certification as well as Naval Architecture under his belt. Haha.
All the best.

 

[flyingscott]

Vro was designed by engineers, Ficht was designed by engineers, . Mercury dockbusters were desinged by Engineers. The Edsel was designed by Engineers. The titanic was designed by engineers. Engineers are not infallible and some of the comments left by engineers on this sight are head scratchers. Qbhoy your comment is typical of an engineer, nobody else knows anything. By the way the most knowledgeable people on this sight are NOT engineers. You did not even get the 9000% joke. By the way the.OP thinks 2 strks make no torque and loop charging is in the exhaust. I have already left a couple forums and I think its time to leave this one. People dont want the truth they just need to be told they are right. The Op asked a question and he got the answer. By the way I was the one who recomended that motor to the.op because I did.own.one for.so long. So.adios people it has been fun.

 

[achris]

Vro was designed by engineers, Ficht was designed by engineers, . Mercury dockbusters were desinged by Engineers. The Edsel was designed by Engineers. The titanic was designed by engineers. Engineers are not infallible and some of the comments left by engineers on this sight are head scratchers. Qbhoy your comment is typical of an engineer, nobody else knows anything. By the way the most knowledgeable people on this sight are NOT engineers. You did not even get the 9000% joke. By the way the.OP thinks 2 strks make no torque and loop charging is in the exhaust. I have already left a couple forums and I think its time to leave this one. People dont want the truth they just need to be told they are right. The Op asked a question and he got the answer. By the way I was the one who recomended that motor to the.op because I did.own.one for.so long. So.adios people it has been fun.

Most 'engineering' designs that fail are usually because accountants have been allowed into the process. Titanic's a great example. The ENGINEERS called for 1-1/2" bottom plates. The accountants said that would be too expensive, you can have 1"... Look deeply enough behind any disaster and you'll find an accountant lurking somewhere!

And by the way, it's 'site', not 'sight'..... Just saying.

Chris...........
(part-time member of the grammar police )

 

[flyingscott]

Most 'engineering' designs that fail are usually because accountants have been allowed into the process. Titanic's a great example. The ENGINEERS called for 1-1/2" bottom plates. The accountants said that would be too expensive, you can have 1"... Look deeply enough behind any disaster and you'll find an accountant lurking somewhere!

And by the way, it's 'site', not 'sight'..... Just saying.

Chris...........
(part-time member of the grammar police )

You must be an engineer because it.took you all of 30 seconds to find someone to blame. And this is my last post have a good one people. By the way site was auto corrected another program designed by an engineer. By the way it was the metals composition that sank the titanic.

 

[achris]

flyingscott You seem to have a problem with engineers.

Let's remind you about the things you take for granted that 'engineers' designed...
GPS satellites,
Computers,
car,
boat engines,
roads,
bridges,
your beloved guns,
the city sanitation system,
aeroplanes,
submarines,
electric power stations,
oil rigs that get the petrol to run your car,

I hope you get my point.

Chris......
And go look up the real facts about the Titanic, not just the stories you want to believe.

 

[Chris1956]

You guys do know that the Titanic lost a 12 foot by 27 foot piece of her double bottom, right? That was a bilge keel- to - bilge keel piece that was ripped off.

Better steel or thicker steel would have made no difference.

 

[Texasmark]

The fake ones you mean ?

Yeah and how did you know that they were fake?

 

[Texasmark]

Vro was designed by engineers, Ficht was designed by engineers, . Mercury dockbusters were desinged by Engineers. The Edsel was designed by Engineers. The titanic was designed by engineers. Engineers are not infallible and some of the comments left by engineers on this sight are head scratchers. Qbhoy your comment is typical of an engineer, nobody else knows anything. By the way the most knowledgeable people on this sight are NOT engineers. You did not even get the 9000% joke. By the way the.OP thinks 2 strks make no torque and loop charging is in the exhaust. I have already left a couple forums and I think its time to leave this one. People dont want the truth they just need to be told they are right. The Op asked a question and he got the answer. By the way I was the one who recomended that motor to the.op because I did.own.one for.so long. So.adios people it has been fun.

Is your rant over yet?

 

[Texasmark]

Reference: Low cost Iridium spark plugs.

I was just shopping for spark plugs for my mother's car which uses iridium. I also spotted a set of 4 for less than everybody else was selling one for. Sent a message to the (ebay) seller asking for more information. All I got was that they were 'aftermarket'. When I pushed for a brand, I got ghosted.

Ended up with the cheapest proper NGK plugs... For the cost 'savings' for cheap parts verses replacing/repairing an engine, I'll stick with the known good stuff (same reason I don't buy Sierra, GLM, etc,etc). Happy to pay a few hundred dollars to save a few thousand.

Chris.....

EDIT: Here's NGKs 'how to identify'.. http://www.ngk-sparkplugs.jp/english/techinfo/fake/index.html

Other articles online speaking about the damage....

Thanks for the tip.....Mr. Bertram. Grin. Geez, I love your Avatar every time I see it.

I checked mine and must have lucked out. On performance, so far they are running great and have a nice tan, dry insulator on the top two, the bottom 2 right color just slightly oily.....but you gotta idle through the no-wake zone. Grin

 

[QBhoy]

Vro was designed by engineers, Ficht was designed by engineers, . Mercury dockbusters were desinged by Engineers. The Edsel was designed by Engineers. The titanic was designed by engineers. Engineers are not infallible and some of the comments left by engineers on this sight are head scratchers. Qbhoy your comment is typical of an engineer, nobody else knows anything. By the way the most knowledgeable people on this sight are NOT engineers. You did not even get the 9000% joke. By the way the.OP thinks 2 strks make no torque and loop charging is in the exhaust. I have already left a couple forums and I think its time to leave this one. People dont want the truth they just need to be told they are right. The Op asked a question and he got the answer. By the way I was the one who recomended that motor to the.op because I did.own.one for.so long. So.adios people it has been fun.

I meant no such thing, by my post. No clue what you mean.
Are you an optician ? Lots of references to their field of work above.

 

[QBhoy]

Yeah and how did you know that they were fake?

The guy took the other 3 plugs that were still in tact and sent pictures. They were deemed counterfeit afterwards.

 

[dingbat]

Better steel or thicker steel would have made no difference.

Well, yes and no. Obviously inferior steel given the technology of today’s steel making.

Bad microstructure.....

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg...VPUB-C13-17a17f71ae2f9d4316c52e62d4650c9f.pdf

“Conclusion:
Given the knowledge base available to engineers at the time of the ship’s construction, it is the author’s opinion that no apparent metallurgical mistakes were made in the construction of the RMS Titanic.”