Copper vs. Platinum? plugs

rwhite65 · 09-29-2004, 02:21 PM

I was looking through the archives...and saw lots of guys are having good luck with the Autolites 3924's. Just out of curiosity....are those gonna perfomr better then the Autolite Patinum's I put in the car a few seasons ago? The car sees about 2500 miles a year if I am lucky....but how long they last really does not matter to me...lookin for the best spark I can get.
Ryan

rwhite65 · 09-29-2004, 02:23 PM

shoulda put my mod's....600 holley Mallery ignition...unilte dist., Full length headers, Edelbrock performer 289, Taylor 8mm wires, and a crane cam.....have to find the card, cause I forget the specs.....crane 1.6 rockers.
Ryan

GhettoPop · 09-29-2004, 03:56 PM

copper is better for performance

platinum for long life, but changing plugs are fun!

mustangII460 · 09-29-2004, 04:19 PM

Ditto ghettoPop

Platinum for long life NOT performance.

rwhite65 · 09-29-2004, 04:42 PM

I think I am gonna swap them out then. Not that I think it will make an extreme difference...but my plugs are not extremely hard.....except for the one near the power brake booster..it makes me have extreme cursing matches with myself

Ryan

crazypete · 09-30-2004, 08:00 AM

How much worse are platinums? I have some gt-40p's that are about to go in and I was sold them with fresh bosch platiunum shortie plugs. I acquired some accel shorties to use instead but I'll be darned if they simply didnt want to thread into the spark plug hole no matter how much I twisted and wiggled and pushed. The bosches went right in so I guess that is what I will be using.

Is this a 1 hp or a 5 hp type loss?

Rev · 09-30-2004, 05:49 PM

I don't think platinum plugs really hurt performance. They won't help it any though. I use them for longevity and certainly pay for that privilege. You will do just as well performancewise with plain copper plugs, but not better, IMHO.

Rev

mustangII460 · 09-30-2004, 06:59 PM

Platinum plugs (and Iridiums) were introduced to provide longevity
(60k-100k+) to vehicles compared to copper plugs which foul after 3000-5000 miles, but
they do NOT dissipate heat fast enough (which leads to pre-ignition/detonation)
and do NOT provide a "better spark" like they have claimed...with their
"fine-wire electrode" (which only causes problems).

Copper is one of the best conductors, but they just plain don't last. Using
Platinum and Iridium plugs, the center electrode (fine-wire) thin, that get really hot, they will begin to "heat glow" and cause premature
ignition in the combustion cycle (pre-ignition => detonation). This is especially a
problem for turbo/supercharged guys. Copper on the other hand, has a much thicker
center electrode, on top of that, the copper material is able to dissipate heat
from the combustion chamber fast enough to keep the combustion temperatures
lower.

88fivepointoh · 09-30-2004, 08:37 PM

Don't get me started on this one, COPPER PLUGS ONLY!! platnium sucks, They go to $hit under load and blister. Copper offers better performance. Enough Said.. Go motorcraft!

rwhite65 · 09-30-2004, 09:38 PM

An old hot rod builder buddy wanted me to run the motorcraft bf32's or something like that. Said they were resistor-less...and burned colder. Said it was an old school trick. I think no matter what, I am gonna switch back to copper.
Ryan

09-29-2004, 02:21 PM	#1
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	Copper vs. Platinum? plugs I was looking through the archives...and saw lots of guys are having good luck with the Autolites 3924's. Just out of curiosity....are those gonna perfomr better then the Autolite Patinum's I put in the car a few seasons ago? The car sees about 2500 miles a year if I am lucky....but how long they last really does not matter to me...lookin for the best spark I can get. Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

09-29-2004, 02:23 PM	#2
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	shoulda put my mod's....600 holley Mallery ignition...unilte dist., Full length headers, Edelbrock performer 289, Taylor 8mm wires, and a crane cam.....have to find the card, cause I forget the specs.....crane 1.6 rockers. Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

09-29-2004, 03:56 PM	#3
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	copper is better for performance platinum for long life, but changing plugs are fun! __________________ 1990 GT,stock T-5,K&N w/o air silencer,March underdrives,FMS wires,timing@14*,PA Perf 130amp alt,Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter,Steeda adj quadrant/clutch cable/firewall adj,Centerforce II clutch,o/r x-pipe,Magnaflow SS catback,g-load brace, subframes,Bilstein struts/shocks,Autometer gauges, 136k and running strong!

09-29-2004, 04:19 PM	#4
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	Ditto ghettoPop Platinum for long life NOT performance. __________________ Frank

09-29-2004, 04:42 PM	#5
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	I think I am gonna swap them out then. Not that I think it will make an extreme difference...but my plugs are not extremely hard.....except for the one near the power brake booster..it makes me have extreme cursing matches with myself Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored

09-30-2004, 08:00 AM	#6
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	How much worse are platinums? I have some gt-40p's that are about to go in and I was sold them with fresh bosch platiunum shortie plugs. I acquired some accel shorties to use instead but I'll be darned if they simply didnt want to thread into the spark plug hole no matter how much I twisted and wiggled and pushed. The bosches went right in so I guess that is what I will be using. Is this a 1 hp or a 5 hp type loss? __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior

09-30-2004, 05:49 PM	#7
Rev Registered Member Join Date: Nov 1998 Location: Houston, Tx. Posts: 3,887	Not really worse I don't think platinum plugs really hurt performance. They won't help it any though. I use them for longevity and certainly pay for that privilege. You will do just as well performancewise with plain copper plugs, but not better, IMHO. Rev __________________ '66 Coupe, 306, 350-375 HP, C-4, 13.07 e.t., 104.8 mph, 1/4 mi. O.B.C. #2 '66 coupe

09-30-2004, 06:59 PM	#8
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	Platinum plugs (and Iridiums) were introduced to provide longevity (60k-100k+) to vehicles compared to copper plugs which foul after 3000-5000 miles, but they do NOT dissipate heat fast enough (which leads to pre-ignition/detonation) and do NOT provide a "better spark" like they have claimed...with their "fine-wire electrode" (which only causes problems). Copper is one of the best conductors, but they just plain don't last. Using Platinum and Iridium plugs, the center electrode (fine-wire) thin, that get really hot, they will begin to "heat glow" and cause premature ignition in the combustion cycle (pre-ignition => detonation). This is especially a problem for turbo/supercharged guys. Copper on the other hand, has a much thicker center electrode, on top of that, the copper material is able to dissipate heat from the combustion chamber fast enough to keep the combustion temperatures lower. __________________ Frank

09-30-2004, 08:37 PM	#9
88fivepointoh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rochester Posts: 553	Don't get me started on this one, COPPER PLUGS ONLY!! platnium sucks, They go to $hit under load and blister. Copper offers better performance. Enough Said.. Go motorcraft!

09-30-2004, 09:38 PM	#10
rwhite65 Ride Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Wyoming IL Posts: 1,094	An old hot rod builder buddy wanted me to run the motorcraft bf32's or something like that. Said they were resistor-less...and burned colder. Said it was an old school trick. I think no matter what, I am gonna switch back to copper. Ryan __________________ 65 Fastback 91 roller 306, H/C/I AOD-Bauman, PI Stallion, 4.10's and traction loc 04 Grand Cherokee Freedom Edition 79 Ford F-250 4x4 - Restored Last edited by rwhite65; 10-01-2004 at 03:41 AM..

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