Spark plug question

[trooper182]

Getting ready to replace my plugs this weekend. What is the preferred plug for the V6? So many out there, so many options. Want to ge the best performance out of my plugs. Thanks

[JCunningham]

OEM the same plug that came in it is the best. There is no better performing plug. That's all marketing hype.

[LoneStar]

Originally Posted by JCunningham

OEM the same plug that came in it is the best. There is no better performing plug. That's all marketing hype.

This is what I read before I changed mine. Go with the ACDelco plugs. They're rated for 100K miles, but I went ahead and changed mine at 66K.

[JCunningham]

ya there rated at 100,000 but most see improvement changing them around 70,000. The ignition systems in these new vehicles are very refined. they need the tight tolerance of the resistance of the oem plugs and wires to run at their peak. Aftermarket parts are made to fit many different vehicles so they make them to in the middle of the tolerance of all the vehicles so they will work on all those vehicles. Manufacturers also know that by the time your replacing 100,000 mile plugs and wires if there new ones don't perform as well you are more likely to blame it on the miles not there product.

[tonyko1]

Any of you have any problems taking out the plugs after 70k miles or so? My bud a mechanic states to at least loosen them at 40k and re-install as some plugs just don't want to give up the ghost at 100k

[JohnnyBfromPeoria]

Use anti-seize on the plug threads.

John B.

[CWI]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBfromPeoria

Use anti-seize on the plug threads.

John B.

Never seize is not needed. Use the correct torque value (15 ft lb) on the LS3, and the plug will come out fine regardless of miles or time. If they are difficult to come out or strip threads while removing, they were probably over torqued. They only need tightened enough to compress the metal washer on them. In the old days I would tighten them finger tight with the socket plus 1/8 of a turn or about 22 degrees. Most plugs are nickel plated and won't corrode anyway.

There are many different types of anti seize compounds for use with different metals and alloys depending on service demands such as heat or exposure to environment. Just something to make a mess on spark plugs. Use it if it makes you feel better but I see no benefit. It's like nitrogen in tires. Normal air is 70% nitrogen, another 30 % is minimal in it's benefit to be cost effective.

There are only two benefits of using nitrogen in tires. One is moisture. If that is an issue, just use dry air from a dry air compressor. Most tire shops already use dry air systems anyway. Second is that nitrogen doesn't expand as much with temperature change and again the change is negligible.