Say no to champ plugs

[arsenalpsu]

Well i've been chasing a spark issue the last few weeks on my 84 115hp and never bothered to check my 3 week old spark plugs.(all 6 new after I finished my 25-1 break in mix from my rebuild was done) Well after testing my entire electrical systems and it all looking good, i decided to replace my plugs with a better quality plug (NGK) and i decided to test them as i replaced them. #5's plug was 40-45 ohms, all others .4 or less. SO problem found! What I learned- stay away from old looking $1/plug packages from Walleyworld!!!!

 

[13crazyhorse]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

You get what you pay for. Don't blame the plugs that you bought at a flea market. I was a Champion warehouse distributor for many years and they make a quality product. Did you bother to check the gap? There could be may factors in your problem such as cracked ceramics, be careful with the blame.

 

[arsenalpsu]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

The towers have gapless plugs buddy (L76v) & this was not a flee market, they were new unopened from Wall Mart- i was just saying a package or two looked older. It ran fine for about a month. The only thing i will use Champ plugs in anymore is my lawnmower. If you have an i-6 tower go with NGK BUHW. An inline forum with many expers on the old ladies only use them.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

Not having owned this engine long ('85 I6 90hp) it's hard for me to tell really, but I did see an improvement when I switched. Kinda hard to tell how the PO treated the engine with the champion plugs in it though.

 

[Doernuth]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

Without knowing the maintenance history it is probable that the PO did not maintain and residue caused the plugs to foul. Gapless plugs are suseptable (sp?) this. Try cleaning them and keep as spares.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

Without knowing the maintenance history it is probable that the PO did not maintain and residue caused the plugs to foul. Gapless plugs are suseptable (sp?) this. Try cleaning them and keep as spares.

Thought about that, I may try that as an experiment. The NGK's were so cheap (bad sign I thought) that I'll just buy 6 new for spares.

 

[arsenalpsu]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

Where are you getting the NGK cheep? At autozone they're 4.75 each, the champs were only $0.98/each. I ended up buying mine on e-bay for 3.50/each including shipping. Saved about 8 bucks with tax.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

While working at a dealership, we usta have a saying;
"Champion spark plugs are only good for lawn mowers, Chrysler products, and to keep paint out of the cylinders while painting your engine". I have pulled countless champion spark plugs out of cars with misfires. Those misfires all attributed to carbon tracking (a streak of carbon going down the outside of the insulator from the tip to the body). Usually the customer had just had a tuneup done at some grease pit shop a few months before hand.

I usually just keep plug makes with what the manufacturer recommends.
Motorcraft/Autolite with Ford, AC Delco with GM's, Champions with Chrysler's, Bosch with German cars, NGK and Denso with Japanese cars. I usually find that NGK's work in most anything without a hitch though.

 

[arsenalpsu]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

lol, glad I'm not the only one. The problem is that my OEM book specifies Champ plugs, I guess that was in a time (1984) where Champ made better products...NGK for me!


PS- Autolilght also makes a gapless plug, anyone have any luck with them??

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

I used NGK, Champ and Autolite gapless plugs in my TOP. I never liked any of them, and they all performed about the same, IMHO. I kept hoping Merc would specify a gap plug for the inlines.

 

[donzi gt230]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

I too have come to have champ plugs on many engines. My last set was on my '98 Explorer, they were the only ones available and needed plugs right then. 6K. miles later carbon tracking started. Cleaned that one, then 1K later another started, will break down and toss them. These were their top of the line double platinum and hoped they wouldn't suck since I bought the most expensive ones. Had one in my leaf blower take a dump too, I'm way done with champs. Had them in one of my boats (OMC Ford IO) and one crapped on my first outing 20 miles off-shore, made fishing weights and bought Autolites for the motor. Good thing I had a spare. The only plug I've seen with multiple issues is splitfire (I think now gone) and bosch platinums. The bosch are just inconsistent, good ones are great, but too many bad ones.

 

[RaScLeS]

Re: Say no to champ plugs

I too have come to have champ plugs on many engines. My last set was on my '98 Explorer, they were the only ones available and needed plugs right then. 6K. miles later carbon tracking started. Cleaned that one, then 1K later another started, will break down and toss them. These were their top of the line double platinum and hoped they wouldn't suck since I bought the most expensive ones. Had one in my leaf blower take a dump too, I'm way done with champs. Had them in one of my boats (OMC Ford IO) and one crapped on my first outing 20 miles off-shore, made fishing weights and bought Autolites for the motor. Good thing I had a spare. The only plug I've seen with multiple issues is splitfire (I think now gone) and bosch platinums. The bosch are just inconsistent, good ones are great, but too many bad ones.

never had issues with champs.....heard of issues though. i seen the grimiest 10 year old champ run a motor perfect then were changed for new ones